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PowerBook Duo 230 repair and preventive maintenance

Fizzbinn

Well-known member
*** This content is from a thread lost in the 6/30/2021 outage. I'm reposting attempting to include info (if not images) posted by others. ***

** @Fizzbinn 5/3/2021 **

A while ago I picked up a cheap Duo 230 with a cracked screen that was otherwise working, been on the lookout for parts machine and recently found one that appeared to have a good screen.

Combining them into one did result in a working machine (yay!), but both screen lids had broken hinge area screw stand-offs that needed repair, and before buttoning everything up I thought it would be a good idea to replace the logic board and LCD capacitors too.


Hinge Repair:

There is a lot of info/discussion out there on this problem common to a lot of PowerBooks, the bottom line is the plastic case pieces that secure brass stand-offs crack and break off over time and use which not only leads to non-secured components but also further case damage due to new stress points.

The fixes/repairs all involve finding a way to reestablish a case secured mounting point for the screws in question. Most seem to focus on resecuring the original brass stand-offs but I have seen drill holes and use case external screw nuts.

I had thought about making an ABS slurry with broken bits of other PowerBook plastic and acetone but after some unsuccessful tests I decided use JB Weld PlasticWeld epoxy. I was hopeful as it specifically mentions ABS plastic compatibility.

I cut away the broken/remaining plastic pieces of the brass stand-off support, made sure the brass stand-offs were seated in the remain original depression and applied the epoxy with a wooden chopstick. The thickish epoxy sets relatively quickly but you have plenty of time to work with it. The fact that it spreads seems like a plus to me, more surface area to to bond with.

I think It turned out great, although I guess only time will really tell.

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** @Fizzbinn 5/4/2021 **

On to the logic board capacitors:

PB-Duo230-capacitors.png

PowerBook Duo 230 (820-0426-D) logic board capacitors:

2 x 100uf - 25v - D:8mm H:10mm (C2, C11)
3 x 100uf - 35v - D:10mm H:10mm (C3, C5, C9)
1 x 330uf - 16v - D:10mm H:10mm (C14)
1 x 33uf - 25v - D:6mm H:6mm (C36)

I didn’t see any leakage so I did hesitate a bit but decided to proceed since I had two working boards and they are bound to leak eventually.

Removing the capacitors turned out to be a bit of a chore, mainly since I didn’t feel comfortable using the twist off method with the larger, non-corroded, cans and how tight they are packed together. I ended up using ChipQuik, a very small amount melted into each pad (with lots of flux) stays liquid long enough that you can remove the caps with a single soldering iron and a gentle nudge.

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(Note in this picture I had already replaced C36...)

For the replacement capacitors I decided to use Aluminum Organic Polymer Capacitors and see if I could find smaller diameter equivalents (I could!) to make them easier to install. Here’s what I ended up with along with the Mouser part numbers:

2 x 100uf - 25v - D:6.3mm H:8mm (C2, C11) - 647-PCH1E101MCL4GS
3 x 100uf - 35v - D:8mm H:10mm (C3, C5, C9) - 647-PCZ1V101MCL6GS
1 x 330uf - 20v - D:8mm H:10mm (C14) - 647-PCH1D331MCL6GS
1 x 33uf - 25v - D:5mm H:5.9mm (C36) - 667-25SVPK33M

...and partially reassembled, with my fingers crossed, it passed the start up chime test and proceed to boot just fine!

IMG_1390.jpeg

...and partially reassembled, with my fingers crossed, it passed the start up chime test and proceed to boot just fine!


And lastly the LCD panel capacitors:

The passive matrix LCD display was working pretty good from my prospective but again the capacitors would eventually go and I had already had some experience replacing caps like this on my PowerBook 100’s LCD panel.

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PowerBook Duo 230 Sharp LCD panel (LM64N794) capacitors:

8 x 3.3uf - 35v - “Plastic Encased Electrolytic” (C1 - C8)


Those are the same quantity and specifications as the capacitors I had replaced in my PowerBook 100 LCD! In that case I had used size B tantalum capacitors but even with their small size it was a somewhat tight fit.

After reading this post I decided to use smaller Multilayer Ceramic Capacitors (thanks @superjer2000!)

<link lost>

Info with Mouser part number:

8 x 3.3uF - 35V - MLCC (C1 - C8) - 810-C3216X7R1V335M6A


Removing the old caps showed a couple had started to leak and corrode their pads.

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...another partially reassembled test ....and success!

Before:
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After:
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Above pictures are with default brightness and contrast. It’s subtle but definitely improved, noticeably less banding overall in use. Re-capped passive matrix screens look pretty good to me! Wonder if the modern capacitors actually perform better than the originals?


** @sutekh 5/4/2021 **

2 hours ago, Fizzbinn said:
I had thought about making an ABS slurry with broken bits of other PowerBook plastic and acetone but after some unsuccessful tests I decided use JB Weld PlasticWeld epoxy. I was hopeful as it specifically mentions ABS plastic compatibility.

This is the way. ABS / acetone slurry is quite porous after the solvent evaporates and lacks sufficient strength for this application.
 

Juror22

Well-known member
Thank you so much for reposting this, I have a couple of these that I am working on and I appreciate having the reference material back online!
 

chartreuse

New member
I also re-did my Powerbook Duo 230 earlier in May this year as well, nominally to try and improve the banding on the passive matrix. Can't remember if I posted in the old thread, and since I made my account in the last few months it was gone as well.

For mine the only caps that were leaking were the 8 in the LCD assembly itself, along with C36 on the mainboard. All the main filters were fine but I replaced them anyway. The via for C35 was damaged (but nothing else thankfully) so I had to run a small bodge wire around the edge of the board.

For the LCD I stuck with electrolytic caps, 3mm diameter ones matched the size of the originals (though I'd have had to remove the label to cram them into the plastic housings). I went with through hole ones and bent the leads down, much like the originals, which are essentially through hole caps pushed into a plastic housing with the leads folded.

Caps I used (from Digikey):
C3, C5, C9 - UWG1V101MNL1GS 100uF 35v
C8 - UWG1C331MNL1GS 330uF 16v
C2, C11 - UCL1E101MCL6GS 100uF 25v
C36 - ECE-V1EA330SP (Obsolete, was a cap I already had a spare from a previous order) 33uF 25v (Digikey's site isn't working right for me at the moment, but I'd probably go with something like UCW1V330MCL1GS as a replacement)
LCD Screen: UMT1V3R3MCD2TP 3.3uF 35v

Seems I didn't take photos of the new caps installed (besides C36 which I did before ordering the rest since I had it). Which is a surprise for me. But here's what the originals were looking like in the screen. If you do have a Duo series, I would consider looking at the screen caps, there's a good chance they're leaking, and replacing would also reduce the banding.

pdb1.jpgpdb2.jpgpdb3.jpg

Other thing that needs refurbishing in Duo's is the keyboard, It's not hard to take all the layers apart and carefully you can use a white eraser to remove the buildup on the contact surfaces, Contact cleaner doesn't seem to work and even Deoxit didn't do anything besides leave a film that I had to remove anyways, but carefully with a white eraser will work. Be most careful at the corners as you can easily bend the sheet and leave a fold in it (ask me how I know >_<). But the keyboard will work much more reliably after both layers contacts have been cleaned.

Screen before (left) and Screen after (right). Much, much improved, though banding is still present, but not as distracting.

pdb4.jpgpdb5.jpg

EDIT: Forgot to mention this but for the LCD mounts, I still had most of the original pieces so what I did as to super glue them back together then build up a layer of superglue + baking soda (cures it instantly and is a strong filler), to make it more durable and connect more with the plastic. An epoxy would probably be a better idea but I had that already on hand and had had decent results repairing a LCD hinge before.
 
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chartreuse

New member
How? I just replaced an old one because the keys were stiff. I'd love to be able to refurbish them.
You just pull all the keycaps off, they're what's holding the layers together, then all the layers come apart. If the keys are still probably some cleaning and maybe some teflon dry lube on the sliders would free them up. Mine weren't stiff, mainly just didn't work without pressing down really hard to make contact.
 
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