Troubleshooting the PowerBook Battery

What's the biggest drain on my PowerBook's battery?

How can I conserve battery time on my PowerBook?

Will I save time by running my PowerBook in black-and-white instead of color? What about turning the contrast down?

Is there a list of all PowerBook adapters and how to identify them?

Is there a list of all PowerBook batteries and chargers?

What is the proper method for recharging a PowerBook battery?

How long will my battery retain its charge if it is being stored outside of the PowerBook?

Whereas I once was able to work for two hours on a single battery, I now only get about 45 minutes. What's happened?

Through troubleshooting, I have come to the conclusion my PowerBook battery is bad. It is my understanding that this battery contains unpleasant chemicals. How can I safely dispose of this battery?

My PowerBook will not start off the battery at all. Should I just buy a new battery, or is there something else I can do?

What's the biggest drain on my PowerBook's battery?

- Appletalk.
- A built-in modem.
- The hard (or floppy) drive spinning.
- The neon light bulbs that illuminate the screen.

How can I conserve battery time on my PowerBook?

Before Using Your PowerBook:

Shut down your PowerBook and charge its battery overnight. This ensures that the battery becomes fully charged.
Reduce the number of extensions and control panels that load by using an extension manager program.

Settings and Controls:

Turn down the brightness.
Turn Backlighting down to minimum. Set the shortest delay before dimming (move the slider in the PowerBook Display control panel to the left). Use this dimming feature instead of a screen saver program. Screen savers access the hard drive and keep backlighting turned on (which uses battery power) but dimming does not.
In bright light, you can even turn backlighting off, greatly increasing battery life. Some people use a booklight with no backlighting, but this is an extra gadget to carry. Also, the PowerBook File Assistant software offers the PowerBook Display control panel that provides controls over automatic screen dimming.
Avoid desktop patterns with many black pixels or solid dark areas. (These don't consume more power, but they tend to make you turn up the backlighting, which does consume more power. For color displays it is good to use darker colors, like black, that reduce the use of Red, Green, or Blue pixels.
Use Chooser to turn off AppleTalk. This saves power and lets the PowerBook wake up faster. You may wish to have AppleTalk turned on when you restart and then turn it off. That way you can turn AppleTalk on and off without restarting. If AppleTalk is turned off when you start up a computer, certain system code doesn't get loaded, and a restart is necessary to get it loaded again. If you have the PowerBook File Assistant Toolkit extension installed, AppleTalk is always available, thus avoiding the need to restart the system to load the AppleTalk drivers.
Turn the sleep wait period down to a minimum using the PowerBook control panel, or set the Battery Conservation slide control to Maximum Conservation in the PowerBook control panel.
Set system and hard disk sleep to their minimum settings.
Select Reduced Speed in the Battery Conservation Options section of the PowerBook control panel.
Use Sleep in the Special menu, or the Battery desk accessory, as often as practical. If the PowerBook File Assistant is installed, you can also use the Sleep Fkey sequence, Shift-Command-0.
Unless you have a RAM disk you want to preserve, select Shut Down rather than Sleep when you won't be using the computer for more than 30 minutes. Note: This does not apply to the PowerBook 100, whose RAM disk is preserved after shut-down.
Enable "Allow Processor Cycling" to reduce the power draw of the microprocessor.

Using Memory:

Use the Memory control panel to set up a RAM disk. Use the Installer to create a minimal System Folder on the RAM disk, and then use it as the startup disk. WARNING: Except in the PowerBook 100, the contents of a RAM disk are lost when you shut down a PowerBook. In other models, use Sleep to preserve RAM disk contents, or use the Persistent RAM disk feature of the PowerBook File Assistant software.
Use the Memory control panel to turn off Virtual Memory.
Use third-party RAM cards that contain low-power RAM chips.

Application Software:

Under battery power, don't use applications or features (such as spell checking or QuickTime) that require lots of hard drive access.
Instead of a full-featured word processor, use TeachText, AppleLink, or a program designed specifically for PowerBooks. Many word processors constantly access the hard drive, which uses battery power.
When you're near an AC outlet, and you're planning to use battery power later, launch your applications and open data files with AC power, then put the PowerBook to sleep. Your work will be in RAM when you come out of sleep.

Using Peripherals:

Quit any program that uses a modem as soon as you're finished with it.
Turn off features such as "ring on incoming call" and "fax receive"
Don't use external devices when operating the PowerBook from battery power.
If any SCSI devices are connected to the computer, make sure they're turned on, even when you're using the AC adapter. Power can drain from your battery through attached power supplies.
Use the disk drive as little as possible and eject any floppy disks you're not using.
Use only low-power ADB devices that are designed for PowerBooks.

Other Tips:

If you're near an electrical outlet, use the AC adapter.

Travel with a spare battery.

Regularly "exercise" the Battery. Warning: this tip does not apply to the PowerBook 100, whose lead-acid battery should not be fully discharged. To maximize battery life, discharge them completely once every 90 days. Just use the computer as you normally would, but ignore the low-power messages that appear on the screen (make sure to save your work). When the computer goes to sleep automatically, recharge the battery completely before using that battery again.

Will I save time by running my PowerBook in black-and-white instead of color? What about turning the contrast down?

he savings you would receive, if any, would be so minuscule that it really wouldn't be worth the sacrifice. The backlighting, on the other hand, is a different story. Turning this down WILL definitely prolong battery time.

Is there a list of all PowerBook adapters and how to identify them?

On the brick of the AC adapter it will have a model number on it. This helps identify how powerful the AC adapter is.

M5140 - First AC adapter, 15 watt, ships with 100, 140, 170. The tip can be damaged and cause the logic board to be damaged also. Symptom is that the machine will not run from the battery or start with the battery out of the unit but works fine with the adapter plugged in.

M5651 - Second AC adapter, 19 watt, ships with 145b, 160, 165, 180. Works with 140, 145, 145b, 160, 165, 170, 180. The tip has been revised to alleviate possible damage to the tip and logic board.

M5652 - Third AC Adapter, 24 watt, also identified with 24w on AC adapter tip. Ships with 165c and 180c, works with 140, 145, 145b, 160, 165, 165c, 170, 180, and 180c.

APS-17ADP - Fourth AC Adapter, 17 watt, ships with PowerBook 150, works with 100 or 150. If a PowerBook 100 needs to have the AC adapter replaced, it should be replaced with this one only. More powerful AC adapters can damage the PowerBook 100 and 150.

M7783 - First AC adapter shipped with Duo 210/230/250 produces 1 amp.

M2693 - Second AC adapter shipped with Duo 270c/280/280c, produces 1.5 amp.

Is there a list of all PowerBook batteries and chargers?

M3053 - Lead acid battery only works with PowerBook 100

M5417 - 2.5 amp battery. Shipped with 140, 145, 150, and 170, works with 140, 145, 145b, 160*, 165*, 165c*, 170, 180*, and 180c*.

* Should not be used with these PowerBook computers because battery life will be very short.

M5653 - 2.8 amp battery. Ships with 160 and 180, works with PowerBook 140, 145b, 150, 160, 165, 165c, 170, and 180c.

M5654 - 2.9 amp battery. Ships with 165c and 180c, works with PowerBook 140, 145b, 150, 160, 165, 165c, 170, 180c. This battery will provide the most battery life out of all Apple NiCad batteries.

M7782 Duo Type I - Shipped with 210/230. The battery door could interfere with proper seating of the battery. The door must be in a locked position when inserted in the Duo. The battery will work in newer Duo computers but because this battery provides less power, battery life will be greatly diminished. Works with Enabler 201.

M1499 Duo Type II - Shipped with 250/270c/280. Has an High Capacity Type II logo, twice the battery life of a Type I battery. Required a new battery charger to charge these and newer batteries. The Type II battery requires PowerBook Duo Enabler 1.0.

Note: If an Express Modem is installed make sure the battery patch is installed.

M1499 Duo Type III - Shipped with 280/280c. 15% more power than the Type II. Requires PowerBook Duo Enabler 2.0 if using system software 7.1.1 or greater. If you do not have system software 7.1.1, you should just install the Type III battery extension. The Type III extension is not required with the PowerBook Duo 2.0 Enabler.

M1906 - Battery for PowerBook 500.

M1027LL/A - Battery Charger, use with the AC adapter that comes with the PowerBook, works with 140, 145b, 150, 160, 165, 165c, 170, 180, and 180c.

M5130LL/A - Battery Charger for the PowerBook 100.

M7778 - First Duo battery charger, would only charge Type I batteries.

M1812 - Second Duo battery recharger, will charge Type I, II, and III batteries.

What is the proper method for recharging a PowerBook battery?

Apple uses three different types of batteries for PowerBook computers:

Sealed Lead Acid (SLA - PB100)
Nickel Cadmium (NiCad - PB 140-180)
Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH - Duo and 500 series)

Each type of battery requires a different recharging technique to ensure maximum battery life:

Sealed Lead Acid

If a lead acid battery becomes fully discharged, it may experience sulfation. Sulfation occurs when the lead electrodes inside the battery convert to lead sulfate. This destroys the battery making it unable to hold a charge.

Nickel Cadmium
Recharge nickel cadmium batteries when they become depleted. Apple recommends fully discharging and recharging the battery approximately every 90 days.

Nickel cadmium batteries are subject to an issue known as "memory effect." If a NiCad battery is only partially discharged then recharged many times, it will begin to "remember" the level it was discharged to and won't fully recharge.

Here's an example: Let's assume your PowerBook battery has a normal capacity of 2.5 hours and you use your PowerBook for 1 hour a day, then recharge the battery overnight. After a period of time, approximately between 30-90 days, you'll discover that your battery now has a capacity of a little over an hour, instead of 2.5 hours.

The only way to recover the battery's full capacity is to fully discharge it, then fully recharge it.

Nickel Metal Hydride
Recharge nickel metal hydride batteries when they become depleted. Fully discharge and recharge the battery approximately every 30 days.

Nickel metal hydride batteries are also subject to "memory" and should be treated like nickel cadmium batteries.

How to fully discharge NiCad and NiMH Batteries:
The best way to fully discharge NiCad or NiMH PowerBook batteries is to use your PowerBook normally, but to ignore the low-power messages that appear on the screen. Be sure, however, to save your work frequently. When the computer goes to sleep automatically, recharge the battery completely before using that battery again.

Length of time to recharge:
Allow plenty of time to recharge a battery. It may take six to eight hours to completely charge a battery on some PowerBook models, longer if you're using the computer.

When you use the power adapter to run the computer and recharge the battery simultaneously, the battery may not be completely recharged during your work session. It's a good idea to leave the adapter plugged in overnight occasionally to assure that the battery is fully charged.

Here are some ways to recharge a fully depleted battery, from fastest to slowest:

In an external recharger (one battery)
In the computer while shut down
In the computer in sleep mode
In the computer while working

How long will my battery retain its charge if it is being stored outside of the PowerBook?

The three kinds of PowerBook batteries have different shelf lives. The PowerBook 100 lead-acid battery retains its charge for several months.

The NiCad and NiHy batteries, according to Apple, lose their charge much faster; after about two weeks on the shelf, their charge is half gone. (Presumably they would be completely depleted after a month or so.) Batteries are extremely temperature-sensitive, though, and high or low temperatures can affect shelf life dramatically.

Whereas I once was able to work for two hours on a single battery, I now only get about 45 minutes. What's happened?

It is normal (and expected) for the battery to gradually decrease it's duration of service time. This is characteristic of any rechargeable battery. If you notice, however, that this change was NOT gradual, then your battery may be suffering from the memory effect.

If you repeatedly discharge a battery only to its halfway point, eventually the battery "remembers" that point, and decides that that halfway point is the full point. Thereafter, it quits recharging itself when it reaches that halfway point, thinking that it's full.

Avoiding this problem is simply a matter of letting each battery run down completely every couple of months. That's also how you cure a battery that does exhibit the memory effect -- just leave the Mac on, even past the low-battery error messages, until it shuts itself off (they call this "deep discharging"). Then plug it in. The battery will have forgotten its halfway-recharging point and will recharge fully.

Through troubleshooting, I have come to the conclusion my PowerBook battery is bad. It is my understanding that this battery contains unpleasant chemicals. How can I safely dispose of this battery?

Apple utilizes lithium, lead-acid, nickel-hydride, and nickel-cadmium batteries in their portable products. These batteries should be returned to Apple for recycling or proper disposal. Customers can take their failed batteries to an Apple authorized service provider who can utilize the Apple Direct Air Shipping and Handling Program to return the failed batteries. If the batteries are physically damaged, do not attempt to return them to Apple. Dispose of them according to your local ordinances.

My PowerBook will not start off the battery at all. Should I just buy a new battery, or is there something else I can do?

Generally when a PowerBook battery goes bad, it provides less operating life over a period of time. If your PowerBook suddenly will not work with its battery at all, this could be an issue with the battery itself, or the mother board of your PowerBook. If possible, try your battery with another PowerBook, or try a verified-good battery in your PowerBook to help isolate the issue.

If you are not in a position to try a known good battery or verify your own battery with another PowerBook, there are still some steps you can take:

Reset the power manager of your PowerBook. Instructions for resetting the power manager on various model PowerBooks are available in the Miscellaneous section of MacintoshOS.com's PowerBook Troubleshooting section.
Charge the battery overnight following this reset.

If your PowerBook still will no longer work with its battery after this process, you should seek service. Contact your local Apple-authorized service provider, or call 800-767-2775 for further assistance.

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