IBook won't run on battery

Hi Folks
Wondering if someone can point me in the right direction here. I have an iBook G3 900 mhz model that I just replace the logic board in (video issue). The ibook runs great now, but all of a sudden it won't work with out the power adapter plugged in. I thought maybe the battery went bad, but I checked it in my other iBook and it is fine.
I bought the Logic board at a discount because it had a missing plug in connector, which is the one that connects from the Logic board to the power button. I soldered it back on and powered up the Laptop fine. and it even worked with just the battery for a short while, but now only works with the adapter. Should I open it up and re solder the connection, or is this another issue?
Thanks
Don

Hey Don,
I have an iBook G3 900 mhz model that I just replace the logic board in (video issue).
Just curious. Did the GPU chip die? or was it the BGA issue? I repair and donate iBooks to inner city school teachers.
it had a missing plug in connector, which is the one that connects from the Logic board to the power button. I soldered it back on and powered up the Laptop fine.
Wow good job! That's not easy to do. BTW that plug would have nothing to do with the not running on battery problem. It's part of the "soft start" circuit.
This is from the service manual for the 900:
"The computer runs when plugged into a wall outlet but not on battery power
1. Reseat battery to verify battery is seated correctly with battery lock engaged.
2. Try known-good charged battery.
3. Reset the power manager by pressing the key combination Control-Option-Shiftpower.
Warning: Make sure you do not hold down the "fn" key when resetting the
power manager.
Warning: Resetting the power manager will permanently remove a RAM disk, if
present, and all of its contents. You will also need to reset the date and time
(using the Date & Time control panel).
4. Replace logic board."
That "power manager" they speak of is a PMU 99 which I believe is CMOS and very sensitive to static charges.
Richard

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IBook won't run on battery. Battery IS fully charged.

AC power supply works fine. Battery charges fine (runs another iBook). When powered down if iBook is unplugged the white power indicator light near the front release latch flickers quickly as do the caps lock and num lock lights.
Tried resetting PRAM and PMU. Apple store says it might be the logic board and I can leave it with them and pay a flat $300 to fix. Wanted to put this out there to the community before I send it away. Any other ideas?

jjj,
Venturing inside the hermetically sealed iBook case, eh?
Well I've done that a lot. Probably close to 50 now.
Let me know what you find.
Well took it all apart. Disconnected everything connected to the logic board. (learned that from a Mac tech) Especially the keyboard and track pad since I know that runs through the PMU. You might try that.
But no joy at all. I'm going to try to inspect the PMU and if that doesn't work I'll probably try replacing the PMU. That could take some time but then this is a donated 1.42.
I tried getting into my iBook once to retrieve a broken off headset jack and was amazed how user inaccessible those cases are.
Yup they're pretty bad.
Email if you want to do that again. I've got some things around here that can help.
(Although I did install a new drive in a Macbook Pro once... I deserve a merit badge for that.)
I just worked on two of these and I thought they were pretty to work on. Love the way they're made.
Doing that on a MacBook is dead easy.
I hear the Unibodies are also nice to work on.
Richard

IBook does not run on battery

My Ibook does not run on battery when it reaches 48%. It just shutsdown with no warnings. I have to connect the AC adapter to work if i disconnect it the ibook just shuts down. I have to waut until it reaches 100% and then i take the AC adapter. I book shuts down and after i turn it on with out the AC and it stays running on bat until the 48%. Then i have to go through everything again.

Jobbaman wrote:
Till now my battery has been working perfectly. The machine is about 1 year old and I use it heavily for my work. I prefer to unplug my battery when it's full, and use it till it go's to sleep before plugging it in again. This results in a very high Cycle count (453) but a still perfectly working battery (98% according to CoconutBattery), I can use the machine for about 4 hours on a full battery.
The amperage would be 0 since your battery is not in a charge cycle.
Part of your problem could honestly be your cycle count and method of caring for your battery. If you check some of the research about Li_ion batteries this is the worse way to use it. Li-Ion batteries work best with little charges. Deep cycling Li-Ion can kill the cells. There is no good reason to charge the battery and then use it as you have been doing. This just kills your battery for no reason. The MacBook is designed to cut the charge off when the battery is full and it does not hurt the battery to lie idle like this. The method you're using can prematurely kill your battery.
Either the battery has a problem that is not showing on you readings or the battery circuit is fried. Do you know someone that has a MacBook or live near an Apple store so you can test your battery on a known good MacBook. Or you could try one of their batteries in it.

Dv7 Laptop won't run on battery

Laptop Data&colon;
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Upon unplugging my laptop last night, it simply shut off, and since won't run off of the battery. It seems like the battery isn't connecting to the motherboard, but I ran a test in the support assistant that gives me this:
[Image Removed]
Is one of the cells dead, and that is why it isn't working, or could it still be failure to connect to the motherboard?
I have another battery, but unfortunately not currently with me.
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I understand your notebook battery no longer powers the notebook and the battery test has failed.
Reviewing the battery test, it looks like the battery (when fully charged) is only holding about 35% of the original charge. This means that the battery life wont' last very long as it will drain much faster. This is the most likely reason that the battery is no longer functioning is that it has reached the end of its usage. The battery test requires the battery to interface with the motherboard for it to test the battery, so I don't find the motherboard very likely at this point since the test was able to detect the battery.
You stated you have another battery to try. Try using that battery at your convenience to see if it can power up the notebook before purchasing a new battery. Should you proceed with a new battery, the replacement part number should be listed on the current battery.
Let me know if this answered your question.
↙-----------How do I give Kudos?| How do I mark a post as Solved? ----------------↓

Brand new macbook won't run off battery, only when plugged in

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Hello leighdk,
Welcome to Apple Discussions!
You can by all means take some good advise from the people on this board in response to you problem.
But here is the best advise, especially since you're new to Mac.
Call Apple Care or take it back to the store and have them check it out. It is under warranty. You have 14 days from the date of purchase to return the Mac for a completely different or give it back because you do not like it. they may try to charge you a restocking fee but this should not be the case since there is an issue with you machine.
Call Apple, see what they say... Then if you can't get it resolved then post back and maybe we can give you some sound advise.

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I'm not sure how thoroughly, if at all, the Apple Hardware Test disc that came with your machine is able to test the power management system. Try running it and see whether anything shows up. Post back with results.
Message was edited by: eww

PB 1400cs won't run on battery power

I've got a 1400cs, purchased second-hand, and it seems to have a problem running on batteries. Even with a new battery, it doesn't want to run on battery power. `Runs fine on AC power, though!
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Keith,
I also have a 1400 with the original battery which will not even run the 'book for a second when I unplug the power adapter, but I don't use the 'book anymore. Surprisingly, the battery level gauge in the menu bar is all red and the Control Strip shows a fully charged battery.
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As of a couple days ago, my MacBook Pro won't run off its battery. When I press the button, all the battery lights light up, indicating a full charge. But the computer won't turn on. Only when I plug in the power adapter does it work. If I pull out the adapter when the computer is on, it shuts off.
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Battery Information:
Model Information:
Serial Number: W0017PQJEBX0A
Manufacturer: SMP
Device name: bq20z451
Pack Lot Code: 0000
PCB Lot Code: 0000
Firmware Version: 0201
Hardware Revision: 000a
Cell Revision: 0157
Charge Information:
Charge remaining (mAh): 0
Fully charged: Yes
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Full charge capacity (mAh): 0
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Cycle count: 44
Condition: Replace Now
Battery Installed: Yes
Amperage (mA): 0
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G560 won't run on battery

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Using laptop last night on battery, hit 7% and I plugged it in. Finished what I was doing and shut down windows applied critical updates. This morning unplug laptiop and try to turn it on...nothing. Plugged it in and it started. Tried a couple times disconnecting battery and reinserted, battery meter working, shows charged just won't work on battery. Tried to roll back to previous restore point, as I didn't know if it was windows related. Still nothing. Read to leave it unplugged for a full minute...nothing. Any ideas?
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Hey actioncam 1,
This is the official Apple line
"The battery won't charge
1. Remove any connected peripherals.
2. Try known-good power outlet.
3. Try known-good power adapter and power cord.
4. Try known-good battery.
5. Reset the power manager by pressing the key combination Control-Option-Shiftpower.
Warning: Make sure you do not hold down the "fn" key when resetting the
power manager.
Warning: Resetting the power manager will permanently remove a RAM disk, if
present, and all of its contents. You will also need to reset the date and time
(using the Date & Time control panel).
6. Replace logic board." (Right!)
Now I just had this problem with a 12" iBook G3 500 that had been sitting for a while. It wouldn't boot and the battery was dead. Now I've had this happen before and I just let it sit for a while on the adapter and then it did boot.
However it would not charge the battery and wouldn't take any of 5 extras I have around here, which were all dead.
Additionally it would suddenly go to sleep like in a matter of seconds.
(actually at second sight I should have reset the PMU at this point)
I put in a fully charged battery from a G4 and it became completely normal, even to charging a dead battery. Go figure. But I've seen it before.
Richard
Message was edited by: spudnuty

AC adapter bad? Powerbook won't run without battery

I think my powerbook (G4 aluminum, purchased Dec 2005) AC adapter is bad--the powerbook won't boot up without the battery (which, thankfully has not been recalled!).
I did check the AC issues listed in this Apple doc:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=302461
The light on the adapter is green, the battery charge indicator menu states "Charged." However, none of the 5 lights on the battery are lit when the AC adapter is plugged into the computer and an outlet.
I have both AppleCare and ProCare--would a replacement AC adapter be covered under either plan?
P.S. the logic board was replaced in this powerbook last week by Apple because the computer would not boot up, there was a loud "fan" sound and one beep every 3 seconds.
Anyway, help!
powerbook G4 ( Dec 2005) - ARRRGHH! Mac OS X (10.4.7) and ibook G3 (10.3.9) -- never any problems!

I appreciate your advice! I agree that I should take in the powerbook for another round of repairs. However, I want to get some idea of the possible causes of this problem before returning it. Here's why:
[warning: venting ahead]
I am not taking it back to the nearest Genius Bar because of the poor, indifferent service there. Specifically: first guy guesses that the logic board needs replacement, and says the contents of my hard drive are not "protected," then tries to sell me ProCare, which has some kind of hard drive back up deal included. Since I hadn't backed up in months, I bought the Procare contract.
The next day, a different local Genius tells me that the hard drive could not be recovered, it was the cause of the computer crash, and just the hard drive will be replaced at the factory, and it will take 2 weeks.
Two days later, another Genius calls to say my computer's ready for pick up. They replaced the logic board, and the hard drive is fine--untouched. Hurrah.
I used my Procare status to get a Genius appointment to pick up the computer. Yet another Genius doesn't want to listen to my complaints about the "hard drive disaster Genius." I make him turn on the computer [battery power] to make sure the hard drive is OK (yes). I am then shooed out the door.
This is why I don't trust the local Geniuses to examine my computer again. The second nearest Apple store is 25 miles away, so I guess I'll go there for future repairs.

PB won't run on battery

I have tried everything and been to the genius bar, they can't solve either.. I have new apple battery, have passed all hardware ans software test, even the extended apple tech's test. all passed.. PB 15" 1.5G bt2.. won't power up on battery, shuts down if ac plug is pulled. sometimes it won't power up at all (w/a/c) until I re-set the pram by holding down power button 5 sec.. all indications are to the Pram battery which I replaced w/a used one.. it worked for about a day and now back to the same..do I need another Pram batt? I won't pay apples service prices because I have seen what it takes to change the pram, I could do it in 15 minutes.. but Apple will not sell me a new pram over the counter. Not sure if i should buy one on line for 80.00 or not.. I may have to sell and get a new(used) Imac or something. I really love this PB and don't like the macbook pro, mostly for the price.
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The Apple hardware test doesn't test the charging circuit ... there are only 4 components to the charging/power circuit: Power adapter, DC-in card, battery, and logic board. Assuming the power adapter is good (Apple store should have confirmed that) and the battery is good (when you push the button on the back the 5 LEDs light up?) .... does the power adapter charge the battery when both are in use in the system? A DC-in card problem usually manifests itself by not charging the battery and/or not running on a/c. If the battery is charging and as you said it runs on a/c, the DC-in card is probably OK. Before you get excited about the logic board, since it seems that you had some success with a used PRAM battery, go buy one from ifixit.com or pbparts.com. If that doesn't cure it, then it's likely there's a logic board problem. It's been reported that Apple offers a fix everything service for $350 and up, which is a price performer if you need a new logic board (actually a refurbished board), or you can buy a used one and install it yourself.

IBook won't run on battery

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