iBook G4 Battery Question

Would a bad battery prevent the laptop from operating normally when the AC adapter is connected
pixel_a_ted wrote on :

Would a bad battery prevent the laptop from operating normally when the AC adapter is connected, or should the laptop switch to the external power no matter what the state of the battery?

Thanks.

Tom Stiller replied on :

In article ff5b6db0-f635-40c6-96cc-0edf1c65ee21@redacted.invalid, pixel_a_ted pixel_a_ted@redacted.invalid wrote:

Would a bad battery prevent the laptop from operating normally when the AC adapter is connected, or should the laptop switch to the external power no matter what the state of the battery?

Since the iBook will operate on the AC adapter with no battery installed, I would say that it would take something like an internal short in an installed battery to prevent operation.

David Empson replied on :

pixel_a_ted pixel_a_ted@redacted.invalid wrote:

Would a bad battery prevent the laptop from operating normally when the AC adapter is connected, or should the laptop switch to the external power no matter what the state of the battery?

Thanks.

Usually a faulty battery is ignored and will be shown as an "X" in the status icon in the menu bar.

What happens if you remove the battery and run the computer from the mains adapter? That should work fine. If not, then the battery isn't the probem.

Richard Maine replied on :

Tom Stiller tomstiller@redacted.invalid wrote:

In article ff5b6db0-f635-40c6-96cc-0edf1c65ee21@redacted.invalid, pixel_a_ted pixel_a_ted@redacted.invalid wrote:

Would a bad battery prevent the laptop from operating normally when the AC adapter is connected, or should the laptop switch to the external power no matter what the state of the battery?

Since the iBook will operate on the AC adapter with no battery installed, I would say that it would take something like an internal short in an installed battery to prevent operation.

..which can happen, as can some other things. I have had laptops (non-Mac, but this is general enough to apply) that would work plugged in with no battery, but not with the battery in. The batteries were obviously pretty "ill", details unknown.

pixel_a_ted replied on :

On Jan 20, 10:12=A0pm, demp...@redacted.invalid (David Empson) wrote:

What happens if you remove the battery and run the computer from the mains adapter? That should work fine. If not, then the battery isn't the probem.

I am giving up on this approx. 4-yr old iBook. In doing some research, it appears that I have a loose DC-in connector. You have to push the AC adapter plug to one side when it's connected in order to get it to work. This does not appear to be a trivial item to fix by yourself, and it seems to cost about $200 to have it done. Given that there may be other issues, such as the need for a new battery, I don't think it's cost effective.