Success and Failure
Jun. 16th, 2010 11:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
errantemberSo my last major laptop was a 15" Powerbook G4. This series of computers had a really shitty power connector design on an otherwise great machine, and they invariably end up getting to the point where looking at them sidewise makes them disconnect. I'd like to sell this system while it's still worth something, but I didn't feel good about doing so when the connector was in that kind of shape. So I decided to try a little project.
It was fairly involved.
So after soldering on the new, much more standard power connector, and getting all the major components assembled, but with about half (maybe 20) of the screws still lying around on the table, I plugged in the new power connector...
...flipped down the keyboard....
...and hit The Button.
And it CAME ON.
It got all the way through a normal boot!
Then, after I turned my back for a second, the screen went crazy. I pulled the power connector out (there was no battery.)
And now it won't come on anymore.
Fuck.
The new power connector leads are exposed on the inside of the case, and there is a chance a piece of metal that sticks down may have bridged that gap. I measured the voltage at the board-side of the connector, and it's correct. I found a few other trace voltages, but I don't really know what the hell I'm doing. I'm just following the instructions.
Right now I'm just leaving it alone for a while and hoping that the Repair Fairies might pay me a magical overnight visit.
Anyone have a 15" powerbook battery I could borrow? Mine seems to be totally dead.
It was fairly involved.
So after soldering on the new, much more standard power connector, and getting all the major components assembled, but with about half (maybe 20) of the screws still lying around on the table, I plugged in the new power connector...
...flipped down the keyboard....
...and hit The Button.
And it CAME ON.
It got all the way through a normal boot!
Then, after I turned my back for a second, the screen went crazy. I pulled the power connector out (there was no battery.)
And now it won't come on anymore.
Fuck.
The new power connector leads are exposed on the inside of the case, and there is a chance a piece of metal that sticks down may have bridged that gap. I measured the voltage at the board-side of the connector, and it's correct. I found a few other trace voltages, but I don't really know what the hell I'm doing. I'm just following the instructions.
Right now I'm just leaving it alone for a while and hoping that the Repair Fairies might pay me a magical overnight visit.
Anyone have a 15" powerbook battery I could borrow? Mine seems to be totally dead.
