Apple PowerBook - noise when charger connected + battery problem

[weekay]

PowerBook G4 15" computer from year 2005.

The laptop functions when connected to ac adapter, I am using it at the moment when typing this message. However, when the machine is off there is electrical noise coming from the machine, not from the charger, but from the machine. When the machine is started the noise stops (or it cannot be heard).

Battery does not have any charge left and the computer does not charge it like it should. The charging led may switch from green to orange for brief time but it is unclear whether or not battery is really being charged. The computer has difficulties in displaying battery info, sometimes it claims that the battery has never been charged, sometimes it says 159 cycles, sometimes the maximum capacity which the battery could hold is over 4000mah, sometimes it drops to half. I know that if batteries deplete totally, left uncharged for a long time they will die.

One very interesting thing is that I have three third party chargers in addition of this original one. Those third party chargers were tested to work with another PowerBook which I don't have anymore. But, none of them work with this problematic machine, no charge, no noise, no power on.

I have already ordered new battery before I discovered that noise issue and started to suspect that something is wrong so later I can test that.

But what could be wrong? That noise + three adapters not working

[3d0]

Re: Apple PowerBook - noise when charger connected + battery problem

I had my friends old IBM thinkpad a30 brought in for a fix. I didn't notice the noise till it was time to sleep. Searched for the noise everywhere, trust me I had a laugh at it.

Finally found his IBM was making the noise, disassembled the laptop and found what seems to look like a coil, near the battery connecting pins. The sound it makes, drives me crazy!!!

It could be the same problem with your G4, since both laptops are pretty old.

[weekay]

Re: Apple PowerBook - noise when charger connected + battery problem

Thanks for reply.

With that laptop, was there charging problem or anything strange with battery? I googled about this issue and some say it is relatively normal, not good but most of the time harmless.

I don't know the exact history of this laptop but externally it looks like new and I mean really, couldn't find any scratches which are very hard to avoid and this aluminum shell should display clearly. The battery info varies, sometimes it shows that the battery has never been charged, maximum capacity also varies. The laptop says that there would be current flowing to battery and that number changes repeatedly as it does with working laptops / batteries, but the battery isn't really charged.

But what do you think, why those three chargers cannot power up the machine and not even cause that noise?

[3d0]

Re: Apple PowerBook - noise when charger connected + battery problem

The laptop was charging fine, if powered off and the batt. left in, it would make the strange noise.
Same thing for the IBM a30, it looks brand new, externally and internally. Nice to see old hardware still in use.

Test it with your new battery first, then I would update the bios.
If the symptoms are not gone then I would start checking the mb.

Here's an article you might want to read.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2339

[weekay]

Re: Apple PowerBook - noise when charger connected + battery problem

OK.

Arrival of my new battery will definitely answer lots of questions.

The fact that the computer has trouble reading battery info (values change) makes me to think that this battery is simply bad, it is old, from year 2005 as the machine itself. If the load cycles which the machine sometimes is able to view are true, 159, that's pretty low if the machine has been in use all this time. Then again because it looks like new, it might be that the battery simply depleted fully and died because the machine was not used for long time. Again, that still does not explain why it will not accept the three chargers I tested.

I installed that firmware update but it didn't help. PowerPC Macs do not have bios, these have Open Firmware, but there are no updates (well, that battery update might have done something there).


EDIT: Okay, it seems that the machine did not detect the removal of the battery, I just removed it when the machine was on and it still says that battery is in place.

[weekay]

Re: Apple PowerBook - noise when charger connected + battery problem

Update: Still waiting for the battery, but I have noticed that yes, the machine does actually try to charge battery. Once the battery has fully depleted, the machine tries to charge it and this results in the charging led to change from green to orange and there is one blink in the battery but that's it. Soon after that charging led goes from orange back to green.

This whole process can be repeated and when the battery is in a state where it receives power, the charging led will function normally, if I remove the battery while charging (orange) it will go green and when I put the battery it will go back to orange.

New battery will solve this I think, but it might be that the battery is simply bad or there is something wrong in the motherboard and the machine cannot provide correct type of voltage or something, I have repeated this thing while the machine is on (higher power draw) and while off (lower power draw).

[weekay]

Re: Apple PowerBook - noise when charger connected + battery problem

Well, installed new battery and there seems to be no problem in charging and using the machine with only battery installed. I guess battery was just bad. I haven't tested other chargers yet so that may remain a mystery why they don't work with the machine.