iBook G3 Clamshell Is The Supercapacitor Required For Functioning?

[mcbeav]

I'm recapping my iBook G3 clamshell, and I was planning on just removing the "supercapacitor" unless it's going to cause issues. My battery is dead, and I don't plan on rebuilding the battery, and don't care my PRAM settings don't save, so I was thinking I'd just remove it, so I don't have to worry about it leaking, but it does look like console5 has a few in stock, so I could replace it. They are new old stock I assume, I don't think they're being manufactured any longer, so that concerns me with potential failures in the short term. Does anyone have any insight on if I can remove this cap without any issues with the operation of the iBook?

In theory, could you wire up a coin cell holder with a couple diodes inline to prevent the board from attempting to charge the coin cell?

 

[3lectr1cPPC]

My blueberry came with it missing, was ripped off. That board worked but it wouldn’t POST unless it was a cold boot. I’d have to unplug the power cable for like 15 seconds and then it would be fine.
More recently it’s developed another problem, hard to say if any of this was related to the missing supercap or not. I’d recommend replacement rather than removal.

 

[Byrd]

Why remove it, I've never heard of a supercapacitor leak let alone see leaking normal caps on an iBook. You need that (super) cap.

 

[treellama]

I had a supercap leak in the iBook. Was a pain to get out with the corroded terminals too.

 

[mcbeav]

My blueberry came with it missing, was ripped off. That board worked but it wouldn’t POST unless it was a cold boot. I’d have to unplug the power cable for like 15 seconds and then it would be fine.
More recently it’s developed another problem, hard to say if any of this was related to the missing supercap or not. I’d recommend replacement rather than removal.

I did see that post you made. I'm probably just going to replace it. I ordered a couple of them. I don't know enough

Why remove it, I've never heard of a supercapacitor leak let alone see leaking normal caps on an iBook. You need that (super) cap.

I've heard of them leaking, the reply below yours and above mine says his was leaking. This is the main reason why I want to remove it. I did order a replacement so I'm just going to replace it instead of just removing it.

 

[mcbeav]

Just an update for anyone looking in the future, mine is leaking as of now, in early 2025. It's probably time to consider changing or removing the supercapacitor.

 

[mac27]

This is good to know, and be aware of. Are you able to post any photos of the leakage?

 

[mcbeav]

This is good to know, and be aware of. Are you able to post any photos of the leakage?

I cleaned it as soon as I saw it, but I'll post up an image showing where, and a photo of the cap when I get home. The cap legs are all crusty.

 

[mac27]

Great, thanks. I had all six of mine opened up last year, and inspected this part. They all pretty much looked like this photo; no visible corrosion as far as I could tell. So I'm curious to see how a corroded one would manifest in this case.

 

[zigzagjoe]

Great, thanks. I had all six of mine opened up last year, and inspected this part. They all pretty much looked like this photo; no visible corrosion as far as I could tell. So I'm curious to see how a corroded one would manifest in this case.

View attachment 86245

Mine was still leaking despite the legs not being obviously crusty. In the interest of not dismantling these things more than strictly required it's best to just proactively replace it next time it's open.

 

[mcbeav]

I immediately cleaned the board, so in the photo you won't see the actual corrosion, but I've circled in red the areas. It's the underside of the board, and the barrel jack plug. The blue circle is the super capacitor location. It almost looked like battery acid. It was a blue-ish green in color like a battery bombed board, but it looks like I caught it just in time. It was all on the underside of the board, and on the bottom of the barrel jack pins.

I opened my clamshell g3 about 8-12 months ago to replace all the thermal pads, and to replace the hdd, and I did have the board completely out of the case, and at that point there was no leakage. So mine started leaking within the past 12 months. It's probably time for everyone to consider replacing them or some alternative option to replacing the supercap.

 

[mac27]

I immediately cleaned the board, so in the photo you won't see the actual corrosion, but I've circled in red the areas. It's the underside of the board, and the barrel jack plug. The blue circle is the super capacitor location. It almost looked like battery acid. It was a blue-ish green in color like a battery bombed board, but it looks like I caught it just in time. It was all on the underside of the board, and on the bottom of the barrel jack pins.

I opened my clamshell g3 about 8-12 months ago to replace all the thermal pads, and to replace the hdd, and I did have the board completely out of the case, and at that point there was no leakage. So mine started leaking within the past 12 months. It's probably time for everyone to consider replacing them or some alternative option to replacing the supercap.

I see, thanks for the photos. Here are some photos of several of my clamshells' boards. I noticed this whiteish substance on this area when I had them apart last year, but wasn't sure exactly what it was. It wasn't blue or green in color, and wiped away easily with a finger or dry cotton swab.

Could this also be this type of corrosion? The boards look clean and normal otherwise, with no leakage or corrosion visible on or around the supercaps, so I was uncertain if this was even something applied at the factory for some reason. I removed it all after taking these shots FWIW.

 

[mcbeav]

I see, thanks for the photos. Here are some photos of several of my clamshells' boards. I noticed this whiteish substance on this area when I had them apart last year, but wasn't sure exactly what it was. It wasn't blue or green in color, and wiped away easily with a finger or dry cotton swab.

Could this also be this type of corrosion? The boards look clean and normal otherwise, with no leakage or corrosion visible on or around the supercaps, so I was uncertain if this was even something applied at the factory for some reason. I removed it all after taking these shots FWIW.

It most likely is flux residue, it doesn't really look like corrosion especially if it wipes off easily, so I wouldn't worry too much. If your supercaps aren't leaking or crusty then I wouldn't worry, but they will need to be replaced soon. Mine was fully leaking.

 

[zigzagjoe]

Something to keep in mind with vintage caps that appear fine is they're still out of spec and have bad seals. If you start using the machine and getting them hot they typically leak very quickly, and very badly.

 

[mcbeav]

Another update, I bought 4 supercaps from console5, and the 1st one I installed was bad. A continuity test showed it was shorted when I touched both leads, and I had no power to USB, or to the LCD when it was installed. I installed a second and it works fine now, but I'm assuming these are new old stock. I don't know that for sure, but I think these have all been discontinued, so who knows how long it will actually last. Probably need to come up with a different solution eventually. I'd like to try to wire a coin cell holder with diodes inline, there is enough space in the clamshell, but I don't know enough about diodes to risk it. I might try something eventually, but for now the supercap is installed.