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Powerbook 180c psu replacement advice

Posted by: ClintonGoodfellow on 2022-12-07 14:07:24

Hi,

What is the current consensus of using a modern 7.5v 3a psu with the 180c?

I never received a oem one and I’m struggling to find one to purchase. Am i right in thinking I’m looking the m5652 model psu?

I also own a 180 but I’m aware that the 180c needs a more powerful psu.

I have been running the 180 without it’s internal battery and straight from the psu, is this alright to do? Is there a chance I could damage the pb?

Cheers

Posted by: imactheknife on 2022-12-10 07:47:45

I recapped mine, works perfect. It was a drag to get into it, but it recapped easy enough

Posted by: AndyO on 2022-12-10 08:52:31

What is the current consensus of using a modern 7.5v 3a psu with the 180c?

I never received a oem one and I’m struggling to find one to purchase. Am i right in thinking I’m looking the m5652 model psu?

I also own a 180 but I’m aware that the 180c needs a more powerful psu.

I have been running the 180 without it’s internal battery and straight from the psu, is this alright to do? Is there a chance I could damage the pb?

If I recall correctly, if the 180c attempts to draw more current than the PSU can provide, it causes the voltage to drop. I don't know how tolerant the 180c (or any of the 100-series PBs) might be to under-voltage, but I doubt that it's good over an extended time.

There is also a possibility of higher power draw causing extra heating of the PSU, or the 180c's on-board power circuit.

Voltage was the same for all the 100 series, but the 165c/180c adapters were 24w (M5652 or M4662) rather than 15 or 19w of the B&W models.

Posted by: 3lectr1cPPC on 2022-12-10 09:15:30

Getting an original that isn't recapped is a bad idea, it will die quickly. I've got a 3A one that somehow still works fine, but I don't use it much because of that. Also, running the 180 without a battery isn't an issue.

Posted by: ClintonGoodfellow on 2022-12-19 01:50:57

Happy days. So the route to take is to look out for an original 180c psu and recap it?

Would there be an issue using a modern psu within the parameters (7.5v, 3a) and using that?

I’ve no probs with either route, just keeping my options open as they’re hard to come by, esp with a uk socket. My other pb psus are us models and work grand with an adapter.

Posted by: 3lectr1cPPC on 2022-12-19 04:37:23

Modern PSU shouldn’t be a problem. I have one for my 2A PowerBooks, but have to use the original still as I don’t have a 3A unit yet.

Posted by: imactheknife on 2022-12-19 10:47:28

Hardest part about original is getting into it. I ordered my caps from console 5, told him what i needed. He had to bring in a 83uf 300v or something like that. The rest were in stock.

Posted by: 3lectr1cPPC on 2022-12-19 11:16:25

Took my dead OEM 2A supply to a workshop with a vice and that got it open pretty darn fast.

Posted by: avadondragon on 2023-01-14 06:41:47

The the "pencils in a vice" method works INCREDIBLY well for opening these power supplies if I do say so myself. I've cracked open quite a few of these now and it always works a charm.

Posted by: ClintonGoodfellow on 2023-01-21 09:43:07

That’s a great tip for opening the cases, I’ll be sure to give that a go! Having a hard time finding a 7.5v 3a psu. Any ones I find just seem cheap.

Zolt 45W Universal Power AC Adapter 5V 6V 7.5V 9V 12V 13.5V 15V 1A 2A 3A Power S | eBay

Zolt 45W Universal Power AC Adapter 5V 6V 7.5V 9V 12V 13.5V 15V 1A 2A 3A Power Supply, AC to DC Universal Adjustable Adaptor for Led Strip Light TV Box Tablet Speaker and more Electronics 67

www.ebay.co.uk

This was one I found, if you look at the pic it says it can do 7.5v@3a, but who knows to be sure?