• Updated 2023-07-12: Hello, Guest! Welcome back, and be sure to check out this follow-up post about our outage a week or so ago.

Powerbook Duo 280c …recap (how? ...where??)

wish

New member
Hi - new to this forum, but I've really enjoyed reading everyone's posts here.

I recently got a Duo 280c – in pristine physical condition – and it even booted! – well, before it was mailed to me. (Right now, I'm getting the chimes of death.) I'm no collector, this is just the one vintage model I've had my eye on for a while. Admittedly, since they first came out.

From everything I've read, it sounds like I ought to have it recapped, because even if there is nothing wrong inside it, yet, preventative service is the way to go.

Unfortunately, such servicing looks wayyyyyyy beyond my own expertise. There are plenty of things I have done to old Macs back in the day, but not that. That's why I'm here. To turn to the experts. It seems like everyone here has been recapping their machines themselves. But are there any people or companies who do this as a service? Not sure where to begin... and not sure what else to do while inside it (replace the hard drive, too?)... thanks in advance for any tips!
 

Nixontheknight

Well-known member
There’s a few options I know:
If you live in the us, you can send it to Mac84 or Amiga Of Rochester (you have to contact them first, I know that Amiga of Rochester has a 68kmla account, but for Mac84, you can contact him on mac84.net (click on modern site))
And if you live in Australia, you can contact Branchus Creations
Otherwise, you can ask around and see if anyone in your country can recap them
 

mdeverhart

Well-known member
Here’s @Amiga of Rochester ‘s info:

Thread 'Recap and Repair Services in USA'
https://68kmla.org/bb/index.php?threads/recap-and-repair-services-in-usa.39015/

I’d recommend getting it recapped ASAP, and would avoid powering it at all (disconnect the AC adapter, remove the battery) until you get it done. The high voltage battery charging and power regulation circuit contains most of the leaking caps, and shorts due to the cap goo can burn out the power circuit or short high voltage to the logic circuits, killing the board.
 

Johnnya101

Well-known member
Can somewhat vouch for Amiga of Rochester, sent a few boards to him recently, haven't received them back yet, but he seems good.
 

Nixontheknight

Well-known member
Can somewhat vouch for Amiga of Rochester, sent a few boards to him recently, haven't received them back yet, but he seems good.
I can too, he's really good with recapping boards, I sent him a botched recap on my LC III and he repaired it like a pro. Then I sent him a Macintosh Classic and he recapped the analog board and logic board
 
Top