iBook battery/charger issue

  1. Brent J. Nordquist - 20 January 2004

    I have a dual-USB 600MHz iBook running 10.2.8; there was also a "Battery Update" that came down with System Updates in December, but I don't know if that's related to this problem.

    For the past couple of weeks, the iBook will start running off the battery even when it's plugged in. The light around the connector shows green at these times. If I don't catch it, the battery drains and the iBook goes to sleep.

    If I wiggle the connector, both the green and the amber lights go on simultaneously! Then the battery will charge and the iBook will stay powered and not go to sleep. It seems like the battery is holding a full charge.

    Today I found the procedure for a "PMU Reset" on the Apple support site, and I did that (pushing the tiny button on the left side while the iBook has no battery and is unplugged). That reset the system time to 1969 but didn't solve the problem.

    Any thoughts on what would be the likely cause--the battery, the charger, or the iBook itself? Or thoughts on what I should try next by way of troubleshooting? Thanks much.

  2. nospam - 21 January 2004

    chances are the charger plug is failing - its a common problem. try a different charger to verify it.

  3. Jason Williamson - 21 January 2004

    I had the same behaviour when I was holidaying in Scotland. After trying two power adapters and both doing it we worked it out to be the mains supply. Where we were had a poor supply and when something like the fridge switched itself on a second or two later the iBook stopped charging. I wondered if something tries to protect the iBook if the supply is a bit dirty, or perhaps it messes up the auto-switching side of the charger, when the voltage fluctuates.

  4. sami - 22 January 2004

    yea use your software update to get that batery updater, sami

  5. Brent J. Nordquist - 22 January 2004

    That was it; managed to locate someone else nearby that has the same adapter, and theirs works fine with my iBook. Guess I need a new one. Thanks much!

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