On battery = dimmed video, Power Adapter = OK

Has anyone a solution for this strange problem?
When starting up the mac with AC Adaptor connected, no problem.
When starting only with battery, there is dimmed video.
Does anyone knows which part need to be replaced?
(Powerbook G4 667 MHz - Aluminium)
thanks,
Bart

Hi all,
This is strange a strange phenomenon, but not limited to just you. I have a PB 1 GHz (Ti) running 10.4.2 and the exact same thing happens to me. A few other details -- after the screen goes dark, if you plug into AC, close the lid and then re-open it, the screen lightens up again.
I've tried zapping the PRAM, resetting the PMU and booting into Open Firmware, and the problem recurs each time. I had no problems at all with the display before this suddenly started happening.
One thing that I wonder -- how many of the people on this thread are suing a non-Apple replacement battery? I recently bought a new battery, and that's the only thing that I can think of that I've changed in the recent past. Could it be a culprit? Could it have caused some problems with the inverter board or cable?
I'll (hopefully) be dropping by the Apple Store in SoHo later this week, and I'll post any progress....

Similar Messages

  • Power adapter light is dim, new power adapter no light at all

    My power adapter went dim and wouldn't charge. I bought a new adaptor and this one doesn't light up at all. Any ideas? tried different outlets that have worked for other electonics. Did I just buy a second adaptor coincindentally?

    Try this. Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)

  • Remove battery while using power adapter?

    I mostly use my Macbook running on the power adapter and was told that this would kill the battery if left in the laptop. Is this true?

    welcome to macbook forum.
    the answer is no, if you use the battery occasionally to keep the juice flow, and or calibrate it once a while like a month or so.
    http://www.apple.com/batteries/notebooks.html
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86284
    and pull the battery out will reduce the speed if used with magsafe alone.
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=305336
    Good Luck.

  • Remove battery when using power adapter?

    Just picked up a 12" PowerBook G4 on eBay. Is it best to remove the battery as I use the power adapter exclusively?

    Whether you remove the battery or not, the battery will die an early death if it is never used.
    Removing the battery deprives you of its value as an uninterruptible power supply if the AC power should fail. In a power outage, if the battery is removed the computer instantly shuts down, and whatever you were working on but hadn't yet saved is irretrievably lost. If the battery is in place and charged and the power goes out, the machine instantly and automatically switches over to battery power, and you continue to work as if nothing had happened.
    Even if you never need to work away from AC power, it's worth unplugging the AC adapter cord from your computer for an hour every day or two, just to give the battery the exercise it needs to keep on functioning. That way you'll continue to benefit from its uninterruptible-power-supply services as long as possible.

  • Consuming battery while on Power Adapter

    I have a MBA bought 1 year ago, and lately I have noticed that the battery is not charging and it is consuming battery while having it on the power adapter. When netflixing, it is having the status: battery not charging and power source: Power Adapter, however, it is consuming my battery. Anyone experiencing this issue as well?

    remcodebtje
    however, it is consuming my battery.
    If you are on charge and using your Air, and the battery charge is steadily dropping, and there is either red or no green charge indicator on the magsafe,   this is not normal.
    Make an appt. for a visit with your local Apple store.
    It will only take a few mins to connect a charger and verify a blown / bad charging block board and likely blown capacitor
    which would be causing non-charging or preventing max-charge state when on power with your Air.

  • Battery Backup With Power Adapter

    When the Power Adapter is being used to power the laptop, does the battery take over when the main power to the power adapter is interrupted?

    With respect to your system shutting off when power is interrupted, yes. However, it's no protection against power anomalies such as surges which can blow your MBP away.
    While it does mean you can do away with a UPS it does not mean you can do away with surge protection. FWIW I still use UPS power whenever possible with my MBP as I prefer not to put my power adapter and other circuitry under any unnecessary strain due to irregular power.

  • MBP discharges battery even while power adapter plugged in.

    Just recently, my MBP started discharging its battery even while the power adapter was plugged in. Eventually, it goes dead and shuts itself off, then starts recharging. I've turned off bluetooth and airport, going to a wired/plug in mouse, but that doesn't stop it, nor does changing to "better energy savings" while on Power Adapter. While it is going down, time of course remains "Calculating until full" -- I've checked the pins, and even spent 3 hours yesterday driving to the apple store, waiting, getting a new batter from the genius, and driving back home. Then it happened again with the new battery this morning, after it was fully charged last night.
    Any suggestions? thoughts?

    Have the MBP repaired via AppleCare. Just let them know what it's doing. I'd guess at a fault in the charging circuit, but this is obviously not normal behaviour!

  • ZR65MC camcorder does not turn on with battery in position unless the power adapter is plugged in

    Bought a ZR65MC camcorder in 2003.  Enjoyed it so much, but a couple of yrs. ago, the tape compartment stopped opening.  I just purchased another ZR65MC (used) on ebay in hopes that I could at least get the videos off & onto DVDs.  Also, we are planning trip to Yellowstone soon, so camera/camcorder will be nice.  Problem:  The used one does not turn on with a fully charged battery unless the power adapter is plugged in.  I assume battery is good because it turns on my older camera.  I do need backup batteries in both, but have not done this yet.  Please tell me I have not purchased a bad camera, maybe just doing something wrong?  Would have never purchased a used camera online, but did this time.  I have ordered a new battery BP-522 with wall charger.  It should arrive next week.  Any suggestions?

    Hi Sharon72064,
    If the new battery won't power the camcorder without the Compact Power Adapter, unfortunately, it's likely that an internal component has malfunctioned.
    Did this answer your question? Please click the Accept as Solution button so that others may find the answer as well.

  • Battery or power adapter

    Hi,
    I just wondering if my notebook is full battery or I just finished power supply, it is better to use power adapter or battery? (if power adapter is available)
    Thanks

    Keep the computer plugged in whenever possible.
    If you keep the computer always plugged in, make sure that twice a month
    run it on battery until battery level drops to about 50-40%.
    More about batteries:
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1446

  • HT2037 icon reads "battery not charging" with power adapter lit "green". Do I replace battery or power adapter?

    icon reads "battery not charging" with power adapter lit "green". do I replace the battery or the power adapter?

    Go to the Apple in the upper left corner and select About This Mac, then click on More Info, then select Power from the left hand column of the System Profiler. Copy and paste the Battery Information back here.

  • Mid-2009 13" MBP says "not charging" but seems to be slowly charging with power adapter

    I have a mid-2009 13" Macbook Pro with 8GB RAM.  I have the odd situation of the power indicator on top right of screen showing that the power adapter is plugged in, but the percentage indicator stating that the laptop is "not charging."  I have been working on the computer for several hours and the laptop has only charged to about 27 percent according to the battery health application that is runningI have.  It says the battery has gone through 281 cycles and is 2.4 years old.  It suggests the battery should still charge to 92 percent of its potential.  The battery is warm as is the power adapter cube, so something is happening.  The little light on the end of the power cord is green but only two of the little green dots light up on the left edge of the computer. 
    Any ideas if this is a battery, laptop, or power adapter problem?  Unfortunately, I don't have a second power adapter to test that idea.  Thanks for any suggestions. 
    doug

    Recalling another similar thread, I can recommend you thoroughly clean the male and female MagSafe connectors. The gold pins and pads must be shiny bright and totally debris free. Use a Q-Tip moistened with alcohol, disconnect the power brick beforehand. Also, make sure the rubberized area around the connector in the Mac, where the magnet lies and the steel ring around the cable connector nestles, is completely free of anything that can prevent the two from fully mating and ensuring a tight grip. Here's more info, look at the pics on #7: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1713  (click on the triangles to have them drop and show the pictures)

  • Macbook Pro Power Adapter

    Just a quick (and probably very easy) question: If I am using my Macbook with the power adapter plugged into it, am I running off my battery or the power adapter?

    Technically both until the battery is fully charged. But the moment you unplug the computer, you are back to running off battery. Note how batteries work on this page:
    http://www.apple.com/batteries/

  • Macbook pro 15' power adapter not working

    When I was using macbook pro 15' early 2008 this morning, the power adapter suddenly did not work. The led light on the power adapter blanked and the status bar showed that I was using the battery. I am sure about the power adapter is fine cause I try it on another macbook pro and it works well. I have tried to take off the battery and the power adapter for 30 secs and then press the power button. But it does nothing good. I have tried to press the option + command + "R" + "P" and power button to reset PRAM. But the problem is still there. Now I have run out my battery what should I do ?
    Message was edited by: fivedays5
    Message was edited by: fivedays5

    Welcome to Apple Discussions
    It sounds like the power board inside the MacBook Pro has failed, best get it to an authorised repair centre.

  • Hi, I'm having a macbook pro here and it spoiled after a year of using, i though it was the power adapter problem because when i try to charge my mac battery that is depleted it shows a very dim light and my mac won't start up

    Hi, I'm a macbook pro user but recently my macbook just spoiled, i though was my power adapter problem because when i charge my mac battery that is depleted, it shows a very dim light and my mac just won't start up, even i bought a brand new 80 euro power adapter it still give out the same result.

    when I switch it on, the little led  light it up and u can hear the fun running and after 5 to 10 seconds switched off again /  ive got all my recordings in there
    Try Resetting your Mac's PRAM and NVRAM
    If that doesn't help, try Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)
    in really disappointed with apple,
    Serge... you are aware that you are responsible for backing up your importanta data correct ?

  • Doesn't recognize the power adapter. Have replaced battery and PRAM.

    Howdy,
    I'm having a devil of a time with my Powerbook. It won't recognize a power adapter.
    It won't charge my battery.
    Won't run when plugged into the power adapter.
    The only way it works is for me to charge my battery in my girlfriend's Powerbook and then sprint through any work I try to get done.
    I've replaced the PRAM with twice. (one i bought and the other I took from my girlfriend's which I 100% know to work) It didn't make a difference.
    Below is the info from the system profiler "System Power Settings"
    System Power Settings:
    AC Power:
    System Sleep Timer (Minutes): 10
    Disk Sleep Timer (Minutes): 10
    Display Sleep Timer (Minutes): 10
    Automatic Restart On Power Loss: No
    Wake On AC Change: No
    Wake On Clamshell Open: Yes
    Wake On LAN: Yes
    Wake On Modem Ring: Yes
    Display Sleep Uses Dim: Yes
    Battery Power:
    System Sleep Timer (Minutes): 5
    Disk Sleep Timer (Minutes): 10
    Display Sleep Timer (Minutes): 1
    Automatic Restart On Power Loss: No
    Wake On AC Change: No
    Wake On Clamshell Open: Yes
    Wake On Modem Ring: No
    Display Sleep Uses Dim: Yes
    Reduce Brightness: Yes
    Battery Information:
    Battery Installed: Yes
    First low level warning: No
    Full Charge Capacity (mAh): 3734
    Remaining Capacity (mAh): 3374
    Amperage (mA): -1231
    Voltage (mV): 11770
    Cycle Count: 235
    AC Charger Information:
    AC Charger (Watts): 0
    Connected: No
    Charging: No
    Hardware Configuration:
    Clamshell Closed: No
    UPS Installed: No
    If anyone has any suggestions I'll love them forever.
    My sanity is going on this.

    Welcome to the Apple discussions.
    There's only 4 components in the charging circuit: power adapter, DC-in card, battery, and logic board. Do you know for a fact that your power adapter is working? If yes, then not running on the power adapter says either the DC-in card is bad (the card that has the jacks on the left side of the computer) or it's a logic board issue. Is the female jack where you plug the power adapter in visibly damaged, loose, or the case around the socket damaged? If the socket is wiggly loose, likely a new DC-in card is in order. Does the power adapter light up at all when you plug it in?
    We had a similar, but not exact, situation recently on one of our Powerbooks, and ended up taking it to the Apple store, where they sent it to the Apple depot for repair. They replaced the logic board and put a new battery in. The Depot service returns the machine with anything needing repair, repaired. If everything is in good physical order, ie the case isn't damaged, it costs around $325, which is less than getting a new logic board put in at the store. If the case is damaged, a trip to the Apple depot costs more. A new DC-in card card + installation by Apple runs around $130, give or take. Used DC-in cards run around $75-$95 if you want to install it yourself.

Maybe you are looking for