PowerBook 3400

[AlpineRaven]

Just obtained PowerBook 3400 - As I haven't even plugged in & pressed the power on button or power it up at all. I just want to be sure before I do as pre-caution.
 

• A) Main Battery is dead flat, has not be charged for years as the seller informed.

•  B) PRAM Battery will be flat for sure.

• C) As the main battery, I have new cells to put it in - yes they are the same ones - are they memory effect type ie. if the battery has been dead for longtime can it indicate the laptop saying its dead - hence wasting my time to rebuild it?

• D) Someone was telling me that these won't start up with dead main or PRAM Battery can cause damage to something on logicboard or powerboard or something - can someone confirm?

Thank you
Cheers
AP
 

 

[chickenplucker]

I guess depending on how rough of shape the batteries are in, being corroded and flat dead could cause an issue.

Mine when I got it had both a flat dead main battery and very corroded PRAM battery and it fired up with no complaints. I've since removed the PRAM battery to keep the logic board safe and tend to keep the main disconnected when running it to avoid the stress of trying to charge it. It runs without both with no complaints and happily bongs to life when asked. Now if that's good or not for it I'm not sure, but it doesn't seem to mind. Battery does seem to act like a NiCad pack but never had it apart to confirm that.

 

[Compgeke]

You can remove both PRAM and main battery no problem. Mine has neither installed and works fine. Just note it won't keep startup disk (if multiple partitions), time, date, sound volume, etc without either battery installed. When you first get it though, open it up and remove the PRAM battery right away. They're known to leak and cause damage.

As for the main battery, very likely that it has a safety controller inside the battery cell itself that'll need an EPROM reprogrammed. The earlier 500 series did, can't imagine Apple did away with that on the 3400.