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Frequently Asked Questions (and Answers!):
Q1. How can I find out what's the right AC Adapter for my PowerBook or iBook?
Answer: The MacWizards ACFinder™ can help you select the right AC Adapter for your PowerBook or iBook. Just choose your model computer by picture, description, or model name and we'll show you the Apple specs for the right AC Adapter as well as our redommmended replacement unit.
Click here to view the MacWizards ACFinder.
Q2. My PowerBook/iBook/MacBook doesn't recognize an AC Adapter is plugged into it. What's going on?
Answer: The PMU (or power management unit) in your Apple portable is an integrated circuit in your computer. It's hardware but it stores settings about your computer. As the name implies, it is responsible for power management of the computer. It controls backlighting, hard disk spin down, sleep and wake, some charging aspects, trackpad control, and some input/output as it relates to the computer sleeping. Over time, the settings in the Power Manager may become unusable, which can result in operational anomalies with the computer. Examples include not turning on, not waking from sleep, not charging the battery, or not seeing the AC Adapter, among others. If your computer isn't recognizing it's AC Adapter, try and reset the Power Manager.
Click here to view the Apple tech note on how to reset your PMU.
If reseting the PMU according to Apple's directions does not solve your problem, try to disconnect the AC Adapter from the computer and from the wall. Remove the battery from your computer, and leave the three parts (computer, AC Adapter, and battery) disconnected and powered down overnight.
Q3. What model G3 PowerBook do I have?
Answer: If you have a black PowerBook, it's a PowerBook G3. If your PowerBook has FireWire and USB ports it's the year 2000 model, codenamed Pismo. If you have a USB port, but no FireWire port you have the year 1999 model, codenamed Lombard. If you have neither a USB nor a FireWire port, you have the year 1998 model, codenamed Wallstreet.
Apple has published a technical notice on their customer support site to help you identify your model G3 PowerBook.
Click here to view Apple technote #24604 on how to identify your model G3 PowerBook.
Q4. What model G4 PowerBook do I have?
Answer: Apple has published a technical notice on their customer support site to help you identify your model G4 PowerBook.
Click here to view Apple technote #88248 on how to identify your model G4 PowerBook.
Q5. What model iBook do I have?
Answer: Apple has published a technical notice on their customer support site to help you identify your model PowerBook.
Click here to view Apple technote #88039 on how to identify your model iBook.
Q6. I'm charging my battery, but it never goes up to 100%. Why?
Answer: Your battery has an internal processor which reports the percent of a full charge the battery currently has. The energy that corresponds to 100% is a stored value. All batteries slowly loose their ability to hold a charge (and this process can speed up dramatically if you let the battery stay at very low charge for a long time). The reason your computer is not charging the battery to 100% is because the older batter can no longer hold the energy level that corresponds to the energy it remembers to be 100%. Apple recommends you periodically calibrate your battery, this resets the energy value that the battery considers 100% charge. Apple published technote on their customer support site describing this problem with instructions on how to calibrate your battery.
Click here to view Apple technote #86284 on how to calibrate your battery.
Q7. My laptop AC Adapter gets hot, is this normal?
Answer: Yes. AC Adapters convert energy and this process inherently creates heat. AC Adapters for devices that require a lot of energy (like an laptop computer) will produce a lot of heat. A poorly designed AC Adapter will trap that heat inside itself. It may feel cooler to the touch but it will burn out quickly. A well designed one will release the heat into the atmosphere around it allowing the adapter to function more efficiently and last longer.
Q8. Does MacWizards sell an AC Adapter for MacBook computers?
Answer: At this time, MacWizards does not produce an AC Adapter compatible with any of the MacBook computers (including the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air).
Q9. My new AC Adapter makes a crackling sound when plugged in. Is this normal?
Answer: It's not uncommon but it should go away after a few weeks of use. Impurities in the manufacturing process or condensation during shipping can occur, leaving small deposits on coils inside the AC Adapter. With regular use these impurities disapear. Until they do, you may hear a slight crackling sound from the AC Adapter.
Q10. What's the right battery for my PowerBook/iBook/MacBook?
Answer: Apple has published a technical notice on their customer support site to help you identify the right battery for your Mac notebook.
Click here to view Apple technote #86797 on how to identify the right battery for your Mac notebook computer.
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