M2785 rebuild

[macman0512]

Hi folks,

My Powerbook 5300CE's AC adapter just kicked the bucket. It's outputting random voltages, none of them even getting close to the required voltage to power the machine. I was therefore wondering if anyone has attempted to rebuild one of these (I assume it requires a recap), and what is required to get it going again?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[A24A]

For safety reasons, rebuilding a power adapter would not be my first choice. If you so wish, a good quality universal power adapter with a 24 V DC output at 2 A with an appropriate connector (barrel type with centre +) could be an alternative.

 

[macman0512]

For safety reasons, rebuilding a power adapter would not be my first choice. If you so wish, a good quality universal power adapter with a 24 V DC output at 2 A with an appropriate connector (barrel type with centre +) could be an alternative.

Why's that? I've done multiple desktop PSUs, so I can't see why doing a laptop one should be an issue?

 

[nathall]

My 1400 adapter gave up the magic smoke a few years back. I bought a replacement from power4laptops.co.uk about 3 years ago and it works great. They don’t look anything like an OEM adapter, but that doesn’t bother me personally.

Looks like they make a 5300CE variant also:

Apple PowerBook 5300CE Compatible Laptop Power AC Adapter Charger | Power4Laptops

Replacement AC Adapter Power Supply for your Laptop, manufactured and sold exclusively by Power4Laptops. Our chargers have overvoltage and overcurrent protection circuits built in, this means if you get a power surge a circuit in the charger will blow before it damages your Laptop. Power4Laptops...

www.power4laptops.co.uk

Granted, if you’re in the US I don’t know how the new tariffs might affect the price.

 

[3lectr1cPPC]

A recap might get it working again. There's one hidden screw under the label, then you can put the brick into a vice and bust it open. Mine opened fairly cleanly.

 

[macman0512]

My 1400 adapter gave up the magic smoke a few years back. I bought a replacement from power4laptops.co.uk about 3 years ago and it works great. They don’t look anything like an OEM adapter, but that doesn’t bother me personally.

Looks like they make a 5300CE variant also:

Apple PowerBook 5300CE Compatible Laptop Power AC Adapter Charger | Power4Laptops

Replacement AC Adapter Power Supply for your Laptop, manufactured and sold exclusively by Power4Laptops. Our chargers have overvoltage and overcurrent protection circuits built in, this means if you get a power surge a circuit in the charger will blow before it damages your Laptop. Power4Laptops...

www.power4laptops.co.uk

Granted, if you’re in the US I don’t know how the new tariffs might affect the price.

Thanks, but that's a bit outside of my budget. I'll keep it in mind though.

 

[macman0512]

A recap might get it working again. There's one hidden screw under the label, then you can put the brick into a vice and bust it open. Mine opened fairly cleanly.

Did you manage to put it back together again afterwards, or was the case too damaged?

 

[lobust]

A recap might get it working again. There's one hidden screw under the label, then you can put the brick into a vice and bust it open. Mine opened fairly cleanly.

Is the glue in these able to be softened with a hot air gun? I have a 5300 psu that I'd like to do at some point also...

 

[3lectr1cPPC]

It’s not glued shut, it’s ultrasonically welded. So that won’t work unfortunately.

 

[lobust]

It’s not glued shut, it’s ultrasonically welded. So that won’t work unfortunately.

That's not so bad - engineered USW joints generally have a few sharp edges around which to fracture cleanly...

I'm guessing on your one it left an easily glue-able fracture line?