Aftermarket charger for the PB 160

[mitchW]

Anyone knows of a suitable aftermarket AC charger to use with an PB1xx series of laptops? I guess that 7.5V 3.0A regulated PSU should be okay.

I own 5 of these PBs, but I only have one charger for them. Used ones are prohibitively expensive and almost unavailable in the Europe.

Thanks

 

[bibilit]

7.5 v 2.0 A (3.0 is probably for the 180)  

Those are not so expensive nor rare in Europe (and can be repaired for cheap) but yes, i guess in Slovenia this is a different matter (very nice Country by the way)

 

[Bunsen]

Emphasis on the word regulated.

 

[techknight]

the older iHome stations for the original iPod had 7.5V 2.0A SMPS-based wall warts with them, I had a couple kicking around with broken dock ports so I kept the AC adapters. Works great with those powerbooks. 

 

[Scott Baret]

Be aware not all of these chargers are created equally.

I once acquired a PB170 with an aftermarket charger. The battery was already fried in the 170 so it was more or less a power adapter. It did the job of powering the PowerBook, but that thing ran HOT. I got so concerned about that part of it that I found an Apple one to replace it with.

Yes, some of the Apple chargers can heat up (the one for my black MacBook can certainly get toasty), but nothing like some of the aftermarket ones. Your best bet is to spend a little extra and track down a genuine Apple charger or one from a very reputable company. Don't go with the el cheapo knockoff!!

 

[techknight]

aftermarket chargers CANNOT heat up anything if they are specced and operate properly. if its 7.5V, and has a real current limit of 2 Amps then its fine. Only way this is possible if its the lighter weight switching version. not the big heavy iomega zip early days transformer version... 

If its one of those cheap $2 junk chinese chargers then all bets are off... 

 

[mitchW]

The cheapest genuine used ones I found were about $50 USD delivered from US. So it would cost about $200 USD to get the adapters for the all my PBs, not including possible import charges. Of course most of them would need recapping at some time or later, so yeah... not really wanting to go that way.

I know that aftermarket adapters might be worse than original new ones, but I used an aftermarket one with my trusty old PB G3 PDQ for almost 12 years now and it still works. Also it is much cooler running than the original black one.

There are also few available on Amazon, but as far I can see, there is no possibility to ship to Europe.

iHome stations are also rare in Europe, I doubt I ever saw one in person.

 

[mitchW]

I gave the eBay a quick search, and I found this one http://www.ebay.com/itm/AC-Converter-Adapter-DC-7-5V-2A-Power-Supply-Charger-EU-plug-5-5mm-2000mA-15W-/351354556853?hash=item51ce5d11b5:g:J7kAAOSwkNZUeLpu

I know it looks super cheap, but perhaps it will perform like it should. I hope that the barrel connector will fit (haven't measured the original one yet).

Any thoughts?

 

[techknight]

It should work, but I dunno about the barrel end, i think its the wrong size. 

 

[mitchW]

I checked the barrel and it seems like it will fit (5.5mm/2.1mm), so I ordered one.

Will post back when it arrives if it is the right one and if it will fit and work.

 

[mitchW]

It works!!

I got the charger today, it looks reasonably built, but still feather light compared to original one.

It measures 7.80V at the output with no load.

At first when I tried it, the barrel did not fit completely into the back of the plug, the insulating sleeve was too long. I then used x-acto to cut about 3 mm of the plastic sleeve off, and now it fits.

The PB 140 then started up with ease.

So I guess we now have a source of cheap aftermarket PB AC adapters.

 

[zuctronic]

This is good to know.