• Hello MLAers! We've re-enabled auto-approval for accounts. If you are still waiting on account approval, please check this thread for more information.

Duo 280 not working anymore

Hello,

I have two Duo 280, one wich never worked, the other one was working well since two years in a Duodock. I do not have any working battery (one will cause the duo to shut down when inserted, the other one will eventually charge, but will only last no more than 5 seconds).

The first non working 280 make only a little "tic tic tic" when plugged to the adpater. I used it as part for the other one (RAM, disk, keyboard).

The second one was working in the dock, I used it sometime with a minidock. This WE, I bring it to make some demo. I tried it with the adapter (I use a noname PowerBook G3/Clamshell power, wich work great, a little bit more powerfull (1.5A)), it was working. I used this power adpter for a while with all my Duo). It work for about one hour without problem.

Two days later, I tried it, again and no way... Only this "tic tic tic" sound, and eventually, a flickering screen.

With the original adapter, a loudder tic tic, no screen flickering.

Tried with or without a battery, tried the PMU reset, tried another power brick (wich I know is good, because my 210 and 230 works).

Tried in the duodock, this time, the duodock was making clicking sound, nothing else.

One point: there is a curious smell around the left rear side, something like... fish ???

Damned... Any help ? Does a recap could help ? Or I killed it ?

Thanks for help.

 
Don't know about a Duo, but probably capacitors in the charging side area (just removed and replaced a lot of them in my 5300, probably more or less the same problem.

 
Yes a lot of them next to the PSU plug.

vintage-apple-powerbook-duo-280-280c-computer-logic-board-820-0523-a--working_141863984011.jpg.fe1b190e90ef50d397d1c14e400df6b3.jpg


 
Will it work, its subjective.  I have a PB100 that recapped and came back to life, I have 3 280's that did not, except one would work in the dock, which may mean nothing.  Portables have a great track record with Techknights' skill.  With all this old tech your mileage may vary, depends on how much effort you put into it.  Cleaning is key, pre and post.  Getting the capacitors takes a day or two but from like mouser or digikey most can be had for cheap, plus shipping which seems to always be more than the parts.

 
It definitely needs a recapping. I recapped one of my Duos a couple of year ago and posted it here. You would have to look in the 2014 as to when I did it.You need to wash the board out and blow it dry, in a worst case - use a hair dryer! And distilled water!

It was a 250 Duo I believe I did but they are more or less the same inside. Only the 2300 is different. I think I spent $30 in caps (with 1/2 of that going to overnight delivery). It took me about 2 hours to recap a bit at a time. The main problem ones are those small 47uf @ 16v and 10uf @ 16v can caps - there are about 4 of those on the board. Do them first and carefully. Replace them with Solid State Caps if you can. When you remove those 4, check the traces under the caps and clean with with a q-tip and acetone or alcohol.

Since recapping, it has never been a problem since. When I get the chance, I need to check the others. They were working back in June.

 
Back
Top