Clamshell iBooks - Capacitor Life Expectancy?

#1 Thu, 25 Jun 2015 - 17:34 68kMLA

On August 15, my Clamshell will turn 15. It's lived a pretty good life and works fine except for the fact that it hasn't been able to recognize ANY battery as being charged since 2005.

I am wondering--do these machines suffer from capacitor plague like other Macs? I know 15 is coming up on the age where these things start to rot, and I was wondering if I should start thinking about a potential re-cap (and maybe addressing that battery unit while I have the thing torn apart, maybe even installing an SSD while I'm at it).

#2 Thu, 25 Jun 2015 - 17:46 68kMLA

I don't even want to think about taking it apart, frankly.

#3 Thu, 25 Jun 2015 - 19:51 68kMLA

Clamshells are pretty simple actually. They just look like they would be iMac hard.

It's not much more than the older 68k PowerBooks really as long as you leave the board in.

#4 Thu, 25 Jun 2015 - 19:54 68kMLA

that is a good question. i have a broke 300mhz ibook up in the garage, i should pull it down and tear it apart.

#5 Mon, 13 Jul 2015 - 09:11 68kMLA

except for the fact that it hasn't been able to recognize ANY battery as being charged since 2005

The Clam needs a minimum charge on the battery to allow the full process, is the battery is flat, it won't work.

#6 Tue, 14 Jul 2015 - 00:08 68kMLA

Well, if the battery figures out its exhausted, itll write a permanently dead fuse in the controller's EEPROM.

the battery has to be revirginized after replacing the cells, and thats any lithium smart controller.

#7 Tue, 14 Jul 2015 - 16:00 68kMLA

There is a trick to revive a flat battery, won't always work, but worth a try.

Using a charger and forcing the process for a couple of minutes, the Clam will probably will be able to charge again.

http://forum.macbidouille.com/index.php?showtopic=326723&pid=3248037&mode=threaded&start=&do=findComment&comment=3248037

the Text is in french, but you will probably catch the idea.