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OWC Hi-Cap Battery Question for G4 PowerBook Owners
#1
I recently purchased an OWC (Newer brand) hi-cap batt for my PowerBook 15" G4 1.67 (10.4.10). Followed all instrux, even reset PMU, etc. but this batt only holds a charge for 2 hours. This is after only a month or two of dedicated use. I'm puzzled b/c my Pismo and iBook 900 Newer hi-cap batts will go for nearly 4 hours on a charge -- and this is 3 and 4 years AFTER purchase.

Same uses on each: light web surfing (a great deal of it right here), some iTunes, some Word. Nothing heavy duty. No movies, no streaming iTunes or video, no PhotoShop or iPhoto, etc. I always plug in and charge completely on my 65w Apple adapter once batt indicator turns red at about 30 mins or so of remaining charge. Tried adjusting energy settings as well, no joy. I can get a tad more if I dim my screen, but isn't the advantage of a hi-cap batt that you can do what you do w/o compromise -- longer?

I know that 4 hours is an amazing runtime, but that two hours is not acceptable on a hi-cap batt less than six months old. I'd be happy if I got 3 hours out of it. I am a HUGE fan of these Newer batts and always promote them here and elsewhere...so don't take this as a rant or anything, just trying to analyze the issue. I did discuss it with a tech person at OWC; unfortunately he could not offer any suggestions that I hadn't already tried but was courteous and all that you'd expect.

What kind of run time are you getting from your hi-cap batt on a G4 PowerBook and how far into dedicated use of it are you? I'm trying to figure out if the PB G4 computer itself just sucks up the juice too quickly or if there is something else amiss. This is the second hi-cap batt; the first one gave me the same results and I had it replaced. Anyone with ideas/suggestions, let's hear 'em. And thanks a lot.

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#2
the capacity for your battery is 3721 mAh.

My G4 15" 1.5 GHz (1280x854) has a battery with 4400 mAh capacity (well, that was when new, now it's less).

I suggest using coconutbattery http://www.coconut-flavour.com/coconutbattery/ to keep track of you battery.

You did calibrate the battery, didn't you?

EDIT: to make it clear, I have an Apple battery, not a OWC.
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#3
Have you put the battery through the condition cycling the documentation shows for first uses? That reported capacity is well below that battery should be providing which is usually because the smart logic between computer and battery not into sync.

Either way - if no joy - that should be replaced. All our current G4 aluminum models are 5000mAH and typically provide 5000-5200 reported. But this may not be a bad battery, just a calibration cycle issue.
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#4
Thanks for the advice, guys...Larry, yeah, I did follow all conditioning/calibration instrux per the directions that came with the batt. I will try it again, though I've already done it twice.

Are you thinking that the calibration didn't take...and that is is possible for this batt to show up as 5000-5200 after another try?
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#5
Won't hurt to try again - but should already be all good to go. I'd say time for replacement.
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#6
Okay, thanks, Larry.
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