dudejediknight
Well-known member
Clamshell battery:
With my iBook Clamshell SE's battery being well and truly dead, and since it came second hand with the machine when I bought it (meaning no guarantee or warranty existed to be voided), I decided to CAREFULLY open it up and have a look inside. Upon getting it open, I noticed that the board inside (the internal power/charging board) had somehow cracked right where the connector exits the case. That would explain why the battery just refused to charge, but I can't really say if it was that way before I decided to open it or if I had somehow done it myself when opening it. [
] ]'>
The cells inside were about the thickness of a AA battery, and were set up in 4 pairs, three of which still held a decent charge. As to the pair that had no charge, it seems the metal tabs for that pair were no longer connected to those batteries. That would explain that set having no charge at all. Before the battery finally died, it would run normally down to about 25-30% before just shutting down with no warning. With 1/4 of the cells somehow becoming disconnected, it gives me cause to believe that the other cells are still good, and the ones that became disconnected may still be good as well.
The internet told me what the cryptic numbers on the cells: 18650 size (4/3 AA, I think), 1800mAh, produced early 2005.
Final diagnosis: Plastic casing is somewhat damaged, power board is broken and useless, but it seems possible that the battery cells may still be useable. [:O] ]'>
PowerBook 1400:
This case was a lot easier to open. It popped right open, though it was secured inside with some kind of tape or glue (hard to say which it was after all this time). A firm tug and it came apart without incident.
Everything inside seemed in order, though I did notice that these cells were much longer than the cells in the Clamshell battery, about twice as long. All the cells are completely dead, showing no charge at all. They were clearly labeled as Sanyo cells, though it doesn't say what size they are. They are 9.6V 3500mAh cells, model 8HR-4/3AU. The internet couldn't tell me anything more about them. I'm guessing they're probably not produced anymore, and are some odd size that will not be easy to find.
Final diagnosis: Casing totally intact, power board shows no visible damage, cells most likely dead from old age. [xx(] ]'>
It seems to me that since the Sanyo cells are twice the size of the Clamshell's cells, and hold about twice the amperage, that each pair of cells from the Clamshell battery is approximately equal to a single Sanyo cell. I've yet to find any sort of confirmation to back it up...anyone have any information/comments to add about either battery's cells?
Any idea how I should proceed? Should I try the implanting the Clamshell's cells into the PB1400's casing, or should I just get another battery case of the same type and try that? Worst case, I'll just cut my losses and start saving up for brand new batteries all around, but if there's some way I can get at least one working battery out of this, I'd really like to give it a try.
With my iBook Clamshell SE's battery being well and truly dead, and since it came second hand with the machine when I bought it (meaning no guarantee or warranty existed to be voided), I decided to CAREFULLY open it up and have a look inside. Upon getting it open, I noticed that the board inside (the internal power/charging board) had somehow cracked right where the connector exits the case. That would explain why the battery just refused to charge, but I can't really say if it was that way before I decided to open it or if I had somehow done it myself when opening it. [
] ]'>The cells inside were about the thickness of a AA battery, and were set up in 4 pairs, three of which still held a decent charge. As to the pair that had no charge, it seems the metal tabs for that pair were no longer connected to those batteries. That would explain that set having no charge at all. Before the battery finally died, it would run normally down to about 25-30% before just shutting down with no warning. With 1/4 of the cells somehow becoming disconnected, it gives me cause to believe that the other cells are still good, and the ones that became disconnected may still be good as well.
The internet told me what the cryptic numbers on the cells: 18650 size (4/3 AA, I think), 1800mAh, produced early 2005.
Final diagnosis: Plastic casing is somewhat damaged, power board is broken and useless, but it seems possible that the battery cells may still be useable. [:O] ]'>
PowerBook 1400:
This case was a lot easier to open. It popped right open, though it was secured inside with some kind of tape or glue (hard to say which it was after all this time). A firm tug and it came apart without incident.
Everything inside seemed in order, though I did notice that these cells were much longer than the cells in the Clamshell battery, about twice as long. All the cells are completely dead, showing no charge at all. They were clearly labeled as Sanyo cells, though it doesn't say what size they are. They are 9.6V 3500mAh cells, model 8HR-4/3AU. The internet couldn't tell me anything more about them. I'm guessing they're probably not produced anymore, and are some odd size that will not be easy to find.
Final diagnosis: Casing totally intact, power board shows no visible damage, cells most likely dead from old age. [xx(] ]'>
It seems to me that since the Sanyo cells are twice the size of the Clamshell's cells, and hold about twice the amperage, that each pair of cells from the Clamshell battery is approximately equal to a single Sanyo cell. I've yet to find any sort of confirmation to back it up...anyone have any information/comments to add about either battery's cells?
Any idea how I should proceed? Should I try the implanting the Clamshell's cells into the PB1400's casing, or should I just get another battery case of the same type and try that? Worst case, I'll just cut my losses and start saving up for brand new batteries all around, but if there's some way I can get at least one working battery out of this, I'd really like to give it a try.
