Wallstreet battery & optiical drive issues

[TMW2N]

Hi folks

Do any of you have any idea where I can source a replacement pram battery for a 300MHz Wallstreet (PDQ) laptop? or know the spec of the battery so I can make a replacement?

Also, do any of you have any tips on opening the main battery, for rebuild? Before I start trying to hack it open, I'm hoping someone has been there before!

I've decided to revive my oldest still in one piece laptop, my old PC laptop went pop, so had to get binned. This got me through university, so has a lot of memories.  The main battery does take a charge, but only barely. the PRAM battery is shot as far as I can tell. I'm going to leave it plugged in for a day or so, see if it'll top up the battery and revive it, but I'm not hopeful.

The CD drive works, but only if i mvoe the laser to the furthest out part of the track before putting a cd in. I think it's getting stuck right in the centre upon eject, is there an easy way to sort that out, or am I looking at a new drive? It doesn't seem to be a standard atapi cdrom in the case, so I doubt I can replace the guts of it easily

I'd like to use it to get files onto my mac classic at some point in the future too, is it possible to use the serial ports in both machines to do localtalk, or are they too far apart in age?

Thanks

 

[TimHD]

Hi folks

Do any of you have any idea where I can source a replacement pram battery for a 300MHz Wallstreet (PDQ) laptop? or know the spec of the battery so I can make a replacement?

Also, do any of you have any tips on opening the main battery, for rebuild? Before I start trying to hack it open, I'm hoping someone has been there before!

Am looking to do the same, here's a US site that has some PRAMs for PDQs it seems (some UK sites sell them too): http://www.usedmac.com/products/powerbook-g3-wall-street-pram-bios-battery

Here's a good link on how to disassemble your PDQ (which I used) -A MERE 30 STEPS TO REMOVE THE PRAM!!! https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/PowerBook+G3+Wallstreet+PRAM+Battery+Replacement/11

Finally, a german site with info to help you create your own replacement PRAM -

http://www.cubeuser.de/showthread.php?t=2402

In particular, the PDF linked in the second message down (nb: hosted on a ext. storage site but I was able to D/L ok). This has ALL the types of PRAMs for Powerbooks and some guides on restoring them (in German, but enough pics and technical words to make sense of what needs to be done):  PowerBook PRAM Batterien v02

If you're keen to make a new Main Battery too, here's a good link -

http://fweb.wallawalla.edu/~frohro//Powerbook/Pismo/Battery/

Am very interested in sourcing a PRAM for my PDQ but I find that trying to buy it from a US or UK site they're not keen due to current limits (and additional costs) for shipping batteries by air overseas nowadays... you might have more luck if US or UK based as that could be ground shipped.

 

[TMW2N]

Am looking to do the same, here's a US site that has some PRAMs for PDQs it seems (some UK sites sell them too): http://www.usedmac.com/products/powerbook-g3-wall-street-pram-bios-battery

Here's a good link on how to disassemble your PDQ (which I used) -A MERE 30 STEPS TO REMOVE THE PRAM!!! https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/PowerBook+G3+Wallstreet+PRAM+Battery+Replacement/11

Finally, a german site with info to help you create your own replacement PRAM -

http://www.cubeuser.de/showthread.php?t=2402

In particular, the PDF linked in the second message down (nb: hosted on a ext. storage site but I was able to D/L ok). This has ALL the types of PRAMs for Powerbooks and some guides on restoring them (in German, but enough pics and technical words to make sense of what needs to be done):  PowerBook PRAM Batterien v02

If you're keen to make a new Main Battery too, here's a good link -

http://fweb.wallawalla.edu/~frohro//Powerbook/Pismo/Battery/

Am very interested in sourcing a PRAM for my PDQ but I find that trying to buy it from a US or UK site they're not keen due to current limits (and additional costs) for shipping batteries by air overseas nowadays... you might have more luck if US or UK based as that could be ground shipped.

Thanks

I'll definitely give making a PRAM battery a shot, it looks relatively straightforward.  Looks like it'll cost me about £30 to make one, and an hour of messing about with soldering iron.

The 17670 cells in the main battery are an unusual size, I've got access to a near unlimited supply of laptop batteries using the more standard 18650 cells, unfortunately I don't need to rebuild any battteries using those cells

 

[rsolberg]

Making a replacement PRAM battery pack sounds like a sensible option. I bought a new old stock Apple part for my Wallstreet a few years ago. It was dead as a doornail when it arrived. I managed to get it to charge leaving the PowerBook on for an extended period. Within a few weeks, it was failing to hold a charge and I was losing PRAM and the clock again.

 

[TMW2N]

I've ordered the cells to make a battery, need to work out what the connector is called, as it seems nobody makes the packs anymore, so it could be handy having a spare.

I've sourced a spare main battery, as mine does hold a charge, so I'll take whichever is in worst condition apart, replace cells and test it out, then repeat if I end up with a decent battery

 

[TMW2N]

I've taken my wallstreet apart to get the PRAM battery out as the repllacement cells arrived yesterday.  I've taken some reasonably high res pictures of the battery, with some notes if anyone else wants to have a go at repairing their battery.

I May be able to source the cable and connectors in a small quantity for a reasonable price if anyone has damaged / disposed of their original battery.  If there's enough interest, I can also look into building a few of these, but I'm not sure how shipping would go, since they are lithium batteries and my local postal service doesn't like to carry lithium batteries at all.

You will need 6 VL2330 rechargeable lithium cells.  There are two rows of cells, with 3 in each row, the rows are connected in parallel with a bar running across top and bottom of each set of cells.  They are then connected together at ONE point only.  This is where the white wire connects.  The two rows are inverted in reference to each other, so the + of one set is connected at the white wire to the - of the other set. 

Red Wire connects to the + side of one of the rows

Black wire connects to the - side of the other row

White wire connects between + on the battery that black connect to and - on the battery red connects to.

See the picture for a better idea.

 

[TMW2N]

I've taken the main battery apart and taken a picture if anyone wants to see the guts, unfortunatley i can't find 17670 lithium ion cells anywhere, so replacing the cells is impossible.  Wallstreet batteries seem to be in the unfortunate situation of being constructed of extinct cells.

It seems to have 12 lithium ion 17670 cells, i believe 6 pairs, but as I can't replace them I didnt take it fully apart.  

 

[fimbulvetr]

Where did you order the PRAM cells from? I've been trying to find a place that will ship to Canada that has batteries for less than US$14 a cell. I will just have to put up with resetting the clock and a slow start if it is going to cost US$84 plus shipping to rebuild the thing...

 

[TMW2N]

unortunately, as i'm in the uk the supplier i used can't ship them to you, not for less than £50 ish in shipping.  our postal service won't touch lithium cells at all.

i ordered from https://cellpacksolutions.co.uk/products/batteries/panasonic-vl2330-1vce-rechargeable-coin-cell-tagged-battery/

the part you need is VL2330 although in theory, if you were never ever going to use the battery swap part, you could replace it with CR2032 cells, but you would need to add a diode in series to stop charging. if it was only to keep the clock going, you could wire up two cells, or four, won't need the 6.