Unsolvable Charging Problem

Ive been having trouble with my ibook g4 for a while now. When the battery could only hold about 20mins, and the charger snapped i decided it was time to buy a new charger and battery. After having bought both, i plugged the charger in and fully charged the laptop, then calibrated it. Now when i charge the laptop the cord turns orange, and it charges for around an hour and then the colour disappears. I can use the laptop until the battery runs out, but then when i try to put it on charge the laptop will not charge until i let it rest for a few hours. I cannot use the ibook using ac power, i need to charge it then use it for a few hours, then let it rest for few hours. I dont know if the problem is with the charger or the battery.

Any help would be appreciated.

It also could be a defective DC In board in the iBook. Also you might try resetting the PMU (Power Management Unit) as that can cause those symptoms from what I have seen all over the net.

It's been a while but this should reset the PMU on an iBook:

If the computer is on, turn it off.

Reset the power manager by simultaneously pressing and then releasing Shift-Control-Option-Power on the keyboard. Do not press the fn (Function) key while using this combination of keystrokes.

Wait 5 seconds.

Press the Power button to restart the iBook computer.

hi. thanks for that. i followed your instructions but how do i know if it was successful

Does it charge now? If not, I guess not!

Hope it helps. If not it could be the external supply or that DC In board. I doubt it's the battery again this soon.

well it does charge, but if the problem arises again do i need to do a pmu reset again? and for some strange reason at times when i touch the end of the cord with my finger it turns green.. ???

My mint iBook G4 with the factory charger does that. It's the capacity in your skin. I can get mine to glow green also if I hold the end between my thumb and finger. Does it light while charging?

oh ok. so its not a huge issue then right? it does light when i plug it in but i cant use the laptop while its plugged in on ac

If you can not run the iBook with the adapter plugged in I have a feeling the DC In board in the iBook is shot. You say it now charges?

I would be very upset it I could not run my laptop off AC power.

yeah im am ! how would i go about replacing the dc in board.. is it costly?

iFixit: iPod, iBook, & PowerBook Parts and Accessories

Not a lot. If the battery charges then the AC Adapter must be putting out some voltage. Do you have any kind of Voltmeter either Digital or Analog that you can be sure the adapter is putting out the correct voltage before you spend $$$? Also notice there are 2 different DC In boards depending if your iBook G4 is a 12" or 14".

Here are a few threads to check out about the DC In board and it's issues.

Apple - Support - Discussions - ibook G4 DC In-Board ...

Apple - Support - Discussions - DC In Board or Logic Board problem? ...

oh seems quite complicated. but thanks for all the info. will have a read of it.. thanks so much for that

and a professional would have to install it right?