Power trickle?

Whitehill

Whitehill

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I have the following laptop:

Model Name: PowerBook G4 17"
Model Identifier: PowerBook5,3
Processor Name: PowerPC G4 (1.1)
Processor Speed: 1.33 GHz
Number Of CPUs: 1
L2 Cache (per CPU): 512 KB
Memory: 1 GB
Bus Speed: 167 MHz
Boot ROM Version: 4.7.1f1

The last few times I returned from traveling, with the machine shut down, I plugged it into the wall and started it up. It looks OK but after a few minutes it goes dark, as if it has powered off. After a few more minutes, it comes back but the power indicator in the menu bar shows plugged in but very low battery charge, like 5% or less. After a few more minutes it charges up to 100%.

This is giving me moderate to severe heartburn. What's going on?
 
You will see improvement after you replace the battery, which, if original is probably just worn out (exhausted).

You can see if you really need to replace that battery: Open your System Profiler, then the Power tab. Check the value for 'Full Charge Capacity', then Cycle Count.
A new battery will show something over 4500 for Full Charge Capacity, maybe more.
Less than 2000 means you will get a an hour or so, if you're lucky. Less than 500, and you can unplug briefly, but you need to be plugged into power almost all the time.
Cycle Count in excess of 300 is definitely on the down hill slope to an exhausted battery.

You may have a very low Full Charge Capacity, so you get fully charged within a very few minutes - but there's not much battery time...
What do you get with yours?
 
Yes, it's the original battery.

Charge Information:
Charge remaining (mAh): 3795
Charging: No
Full charge capacity (mAh): 3864
Health Information:
Cycle count: 0
Condition: Good
Battery Installed: Yes
Amperage (mA): 0
Voltage (mV): 12358
 
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Although the other numbers seem OK, the Cycle Count should show some number other than (zero). That's the total number of full discharge-recharge cycles. Typically, you would accumulate more than 100 per year. Likely the data on the battery electronics is corrupted.

That battery appears to be fully charged.
How long does it last if you run just on battery? If less than 1 hour, the battery can be considered exhausted. If you need to run on battery, replace it.
6 or 7 years is a long life for a G4 PowerBook battery. Time to retire that bad boy...
 
Exactly why these end up for sale at this age. Dozens of otherwise still useful G4s/G5s on Craigslist.
Many folks adopt them as a cpmpact desktop, battery be damned LOL
If there were cheaper batteries available folks would be more inclined to get another year or so of portability usefulness out of older laptops.
 
I was on the road when I started this. I ordered a new battery and it was waiting for me when I got home.

At 95% charged:

Charge Information:
Charge remaining (mAh): 5139
Charging: Yes
Full charge capacity (mAh): 5387
Health Information:
Cycle count: 2
Condition: Good
Battery Installed: Yes
Amperage (mA): 396
Voltage (mV): 12540

Whitehill said:
Yes, it's the original battery.

Charge Information:
Charge remaining (mAh): 3795
Charging: No
Full charge capacity (mAh): 3864
Health Information:
Cycle count: 0
Condition: Good
Battery Installed: Yes
Amperage (mA): 0
Voltage (mV): 12358
Click to expand...
 
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