Macintosh Portable Charger, 1500ma (MAX) Aftermarket Options

[uniserver]

By now we all better know that a Powerbook 1xx power adaptor is not to be used for "charging" the Mac Portable's battery.

Do not even THINK of attempting to run the Mac Portable, w/o a battery.

I have a stack of Re-Capped *Dead* Mac Portable boards here to prove this,

These came from a customer of mine, He verified PowerBook 1xx Chargers were used with these.

Stack consists of m5120 & m5126. By far the m5126 boards are the most troublesome.



The switching regulators require a working battery to be present, just as your car uses its battery in conjunction with the alternator.

If you don't want to spend big bucks on the OEM replacement cells for the battery

you can use this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/UPG-6V-5AH-UB645-Replacement-for-UPS-Battery-for-APC-AP200-/120948255249?pt=US_Rechargeable_Batteries&hash=item1c2913ea11

10 bucks free shipping - AGM - Sealed Lead Acid, Cant go wrong, its almost as good as OEM replacement cells.

Now for battery chargers.

looks like there is LOW cost solutions here. 1500ma / 1.5a @ 7.5v

$10.99 free shipping, would be used to directly trickle charge the battery.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/UPG-D1724-6V-12V-Charger-for-Securitron-BPS246-12V-5Ah-SLA-Battery-/130787309931?pt=Battery_Chargers&hash=item1e7387f96b

$12.95 free shipping, might even include the proper plug for the rear battery charging port.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-NA-1500mA-Universal-Multi-Outlet-AC-DC-Adapter-3v-4-5v-6v-7-5v-9v-12v-15v-/261237581285?pt=Travel_Adapters_Converters&hash=item3cd2f925e5

$5.49 free shipping, and example of a generic power brick that has the proper output.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AC-DC-Power-Adapter-M-N-MKD-48751500-Input-120V-AC-0-3A-Output-7-5V-DC-1500mA-/321136026830?pt=Multipurpose_AC_to_DC_Adapters&hash=item4ac532e4ce

However might be a bit of a gamble weather or not the end will plug into the power port.

Also i would always verify the polarity at the plug, before you plug anything into your portable.

( Center pin is Positive (+) / On the rear battery charging port of the Mac Portable.

I have seen every now and then the actual 1.5a 7.5v Macintosh Portable battery charger on ebay.

They do come up if you are patent. I bought mine for 25 bucks + $6 shipping

 

[Paralel]

What a sad stack of dead mac.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

By now we all better know that a Powerbook 1xx power adaptor is not to be used for "charging" the Mac Portable's battery.Do not even THINK of attempting to run the Mac Portable, w/o a battery.

I must have missed that memo. 8-o

I can understand not using the 100 series adapter with a good battery, can it be lethal to use one with a dead bat?

Do you need to have at least a dead bat in circuit to use the 100 series adapter or should these NEVER be used under any circumsatnces?

What parts crap out under abuse and can they be replaced?

 

[Juror22]

I agree with uniserver, the first portable (5120) that I had seemed to only require a recap. Running a high amp 1.x power adapter and a working 9v presumably killed it. Perhaps, if there are still links on the forum that indicate this is a working solution, the moderators could edit them to point here?

Thanks Uni, for posting the links to reasonably priced alternatives and the rather sobering picture.

 

[uniserver]

What parts crap out under abuse and can they be replaced?

I do not have all the answers right now.

For the time being I'm adding to my bad stack, and trying to get the rest of these boards out.

Mcdermd and Techknight should be able to kick in some info regarding your question of what blows and is it repairable.

In-fact Mcdermd has Juror22's 5120 right now, he has it on the bench, in the bat cave.

I believe he might have some info shortly, same Bat-time, same Bat-channel!

I need for now to get the working ones done and back to the customers.

When I get a hunk of free time, I will crack my knuckles and try to find a common denominator.

 

[mcdermd]

No pressure or anything

I'll be ordering some parts and doing some testing in the next couple of weeks. Hopefully, we can find the culprit and document the parts needed. Once we do, uniserver can start turing that stack of lemons into lemonade.

 

[techknight]

I am thinking the switching buck/boost converters. Theres also a load-switch MOSFET on the DC-jack, could be that too.

But thats IMHO. I hadnt seen a failed one yet to verify.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

I'm heading to the rental office to pick up my package. Any tips on how to go about using the adapter and battery?

I'm thinking in terms of alligator clip jumper cables and leaving it plugged in for a while before attempting a boot.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Just the AC adapter came in . . . at least I've got time to wait for replies. :-/

 

[uniserver]

Yes that sounds like a fine idea.

You could use a VOM and check the voltage after its been charging for a little while.

Most of the time the AGM SLA batteries come mostly charged up.

I think 6.5 or 6.6 is fully charged, with the 10 dollar 6v 5ah SLA batteries.

That same battery is $12.95 with a commercial discount at batteries plus.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Excellent, thanks for the info, I'll check the mail for the battery on the way to work today. The plug on the AC Adapter is a perfect fit, BTW.

Is this the type of battery that's used in EXIT signs? If so, the duty cycle for which it's designed might be very different from the OEM type cells. :?:

 

[uniserver]

The same battery is also used in kids power wheels.

Pretty sure 5AH is 5AH

My son got his power wheels for christmas.

He uses it occasionally, I have honestly never charged it.

It still goes when he presses the button.

So the eBay universal charger for $12.95 you say that one includes the proper power plug for the portable?

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Nah, $5.49 shipped. I'm chea . . . thrifty.

I should have specified. I've got one charger and most of two Luggables, so I snagged an extra adapter. I didn't realize that there was only the one available. Is the polarity correct?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/321136026830

5AH of continuous duty (Marine Battery) is different than a deep discharge (Automotive Battery) duty cycle, but ISTR deep discharge bats as having a different spec.

 

[uniserver]

I checked both OEM and These are both 6v 5ah AGM / SLA.

What you are referring to is WET CELL Batteries.

Yes, Marine and Automotive in that application is different.

All Though OPTMIA does sell Gell Cell Automotive batteries.

but I hear differing opinions on them.

Grats on the chep---- Thrifty purchase

Check polarity. Middle/inner should be positive outer should be negative.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Yep, correct polarity as in the auction piccie . . . center positive, shell negative . . . now I await the battery arrival! [] ]'>

 

[uniserver]

Well that is great.

Maybe that power adaptor is somewhat common?

Of corse your portable will need a re-cap. But Maybe it will just work for you right now?

That would be nice!

After all your positive efforts.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

I've got two chances to get the NASA Luggable up and running as is.

 

[uniserver]

do yours have NASA stickers on them?

:-D

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Just the nice one and the property tag way nicer than a sticker, I'll take a picture of it tonight after work.

The battery made it through the Raleigh sort facility at 5pm today! [] ]'>