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Mac Forum / General / Hardware / December 2006



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PRAM battery in a Powerbook G4 500 mhz

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Stu - 24 Dec 2006 20:18 GMT
I am looking for a PRAM battery for my Powerbook G4 500 mhz.  I saw on
at We Love Macs http://www.welovemacs.com/9224361.html

Its $90 but looks like it is just $15 worth of hearing aid batteries
soldered together.  Is there a do it yourself or cheaper alternative?

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~Stu

John Johnson - 24 Dec 2006 21:27 GMT
> I am looking for a PRAM battery for my Powerbook G4 500 mhz.  I saw on
> at We Love Macs http://www.welovemacs.com/9224361.html
>
> Its $90 but looks like it is just $15 worth of hearing aid batteries
> soldered together.  Is there a do it yourself or cheaper alternative?

http://www.ifixit.com/cart/catalog/category_21_G4_Titanium_Mercury_page_3
.html

It's listed as 'out of stock' but the price is $39.95. Check out the
other usual suspects for Mac parts: pbparts.com, cdw.com, smalldog.com,
etc. You'll find something for less than $90, I think.

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Later,
John

johajohn@indianahoosiers.edu

'indiana' is a 'nolnn' and 'hoosier' is a 'solkk'. Indiana doesn't solkk.

Stu - 25 Dec 2006 00:29 GMT
>> I am looking for a PRAM battery for my Powerbook G4 500 mhz.  I saw on
>> at We Love Macs http://www.welovemacs.com/9224361.html
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> other usual suspects for Mac parts: pbparts.com, cdw.com, smalldog.com,
> etc. You'll find something for less than $90, I think.

I saw the ifixit price.  They don't intend to have any soon.  Ebay has
nothing.  pbparts wanted $69 plus shipping.  Small Dog, CDW, MacZone
don't have the vintage parts.  Strange that some of these guys stock
the G3 powerbook PRAM batteries for less than $20.

Are they special gold-filled batteries or can I get them at Longs Drugs?

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~Stu

John Johnson - 25 Dec 2006 16:53 GMT
> >> I am looking for a PRAM battery for my Powerbook G4 500 mhz.  I saw on
> >> at We Love Macs http://www.welovemacs.com/9224361.html
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
> Are they special gold-filled batteries or can I get them at Longs Drugs?

AFAIK, they are more-or-less standard coin cells....but! You'd have to
solder to them, and soldering to Ni-chemistry coin cell batteries is
quite difficult. Welding tabs on is, IIRC, preferred, but most folks
don't have the equipment to weld stuff like that. Of course, if they're
rechargeable Li-chemistry coin-cells, you should stay far away from them
with a soldering iron. That's just begging to get yourself hurt.

Unless you're a good hand with a soldering iron and you've got a good
iron as well, you are likely going to come out ahead paying for them. If
you're tempted to build up something yourself, make sure you know what
you're working with, and practice on the old/dead batteries first.

Signature

Later,
John

johajohn@indianahoosiers.edu

'indiana' is a 'nolnn' and 'hoosier' is a 'solkk'. Indiana doesn't solkk.

Stu - 26 Dec 2006 18:53 GMT
>> ?
>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> If you're tempted to build up something yourself, make sure you know
> what you're working with, and practice on the old/dead batteries first.

I just read an article in Wired about how volatile these batteries
are.  It didn't occur to me I was going to attempt to disturb the
chemistry.  Stupid me.

Thank you for the warning.
Signature

~Stu

aRKay - 25 Dec 2006 15:34 GMT
> I am looking for a PRAM battery for my Powerbook G4 500 mhz.  I saw on
> at We Love Macs http://www.welovemacs.com/9224361.html
>
> Its $90 but looks like it is just $15 worth of hearing aid batteries
> soldered together.  Is there a do it yourself or cheaper alternative?

Just go to Fry's and get one for $6
Stu - 26 Dec 2006 19:16 GMT
>> I am looking for a PRAM battery for my Powerbook G4 500 mhz.  I saw on
>> at We Love Macs http://www.welovemacs.com/9224361.html
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> Just go to Fry's and get one for $6

I check their website and then called the local Burbank store  (818)
526-8100,  They do not stock them.  Do you know something I don't?

The part number is 616-0114-A   Please provide me with a phone and/or
link for this $6 solution.  Thank you very much for the money saving
tip.
Signature

~Stu

 
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