Powerbook/iBook Battery Recall

MacRumors · May 20, 2005, 09:46 AM

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Apple has announced a product recall of batteries used in various models of it's portable line sold between October 2004 and May 2005. According to the recall, an internal electrical short can occur in the battery cells causing it to overheat, posing a fire threat. The models affected are:

12-inch iBook G4 A1061 HQ441 – HQ507
12-inch PowerBook G4 A1079 3X446 – 3X510
15-inch PowerBook G4 A1078 3X446 – 3X509

Powerbook batteries have previously been subject to recall in August of 2004.

JonMaker · May 20, 2005, 09:49 AM

Yet another good reason to wait for the next rev., IMHO.

uv23 · May 20, 2005, 09:50 AM

I was hoping it would be a recall of older batteries. My 1GHz 12" PB now gets 45 min on the battery if I'm lucky. POS.

mainstreetmark · May 20, 2005, 09:51 AM

Man, my eyes didn't get much passed "Powerbook" as the first word of the first rumor before I began to get a bit excited.

Sadness ensued, as battery recalls are not exciting.

Sophipod · May 20, 2005, 09:52 AM

Cool, New I guess i get a new battery

MacNeXT · May 20, 2005, 09:55 AM

I have one of these. Does it also Apply to Europe? Can't find it on www.apple.nl.

mymemory · May 20, 2005, 09:57 AM

Yeah, my 1Ghz is not giving too much time neither but I am having lost of troubles with the Blue Tooth lately. The computer does not recognize my keyboard and mouse and I have to turn it of, take of the batery, unplug the machine and hold the strt button for 5 seconds to reset the internal memory and then is all fine.

I am really waiting for a 12" with lighted keyboard though.

Gimzotoy · May 20, 2005, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uv23

I was hoping it would be a recall of older batteries. My 1GHz 12" PB now gets 45 min on the battery if I'm lucky. POS.

I know of not a single person with a 12" RevB PowerBook that has not had their battery crap out on them. We got screwed on that one... Mine died 3 days after the 1 year warranty was up, obviously Apple chose not to do anything (the AppleCare you purchase does not cover batteries). It literally went from 3 or so hours of life to about 30-40 minutes in something like 2 days. A cell or two must have broken. I had to buy another battery off eBay just to be able to use the machine. Looks like they haven't made any progress in the poor quality battery department... they really need to start pushing whoever supplies these things.

longofest · May 20, 2005, 10:07 AM

Well, at least Apple is taking care of the problem. I know Dell has had to issue similar types of recalls that has affected the school that I work at, so don't think that Apple is the only company that has to issue these kind of recalls from time to time. All companies do. And hey, if you get your lap set on fire, you can get yourself a lawsuit! Just no finger claims please

derspringer · May 20, 2005, 10:08 AM

My 12" PB's battery has serial number 3X4530XXXXXX, which seems to be in the recalled range, but Apple's website says it's not valid. Anyone else have that problem?

Grunt · May 20, 2005, 10:12 AM

I hope they get this fixed for the incoming iBook update... would hate to have to delay a purchase because of this

Mitthrawnuruodo · May 20, 2005, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonMaker

Yet another good reason to wait for the next rev., IMHO.

Why? I have the rev A iBook G4 and that's not included in the recall. It's just a bad batch of batteries, not a design flaw...

~Shard~ · May 20, 2005, 10:21 AM

Let's hope ths is another improvement (battery quality control) Apple makes when it eventually updates the iBook/PowerBook lines. (Of course, these things do happen...)

I'm still hoping for an announcement by WWDC...

swissmann · May 20, 2005, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sophipod

Cool, New I guess i get a new battery

Exactly new free batteries are always nice.

longofest · May 20, 2005, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by derspringer

My 12" PB's battery has serial number 3X4530XXXXXX, which seems to be in the recalled range, but Apple's website says it's not valid. Anyone else have that problem?

Look for the MODEL number, not the serial number. The Model number will be indicative of if your battery is in the recall.

virividox · May 20, 2005, 10:28 AM

yikes!!! no flaming laptops hopefully

narco · May 20, 2005, 10:30 AM

Well, next time my sister complains that her powerbook is so hot it's burning her leg, I will pay a little more attention to the matter.

Fishes,
narco.

NevadaJack · May 20, 2005, 10:38 AM

Easy solution..buy the 17" PB. I have one for sale on the Marketplace forum and it includes not only the installed battery, but a spare as well. They must be using a different manufacturer or different hook up with the 17" PB because it has not been subject to this problem.

munkle · May 20, 2005, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gimzotoy

I know of not a single person with a 12" RevB PowerBook that has not had their battery crap out on them. We got screwed on that one... Mine died 3 days after the 1 year warranty was up, obviously Apple chose not to do anything (the AppleCare you purchase does not cover batteries). It literally went from 3 or so hours of life to about 30-40 minutes in something like 2 days. A cell or two must have broken. I had to buy another battery off eBay just to be able to use the machine. Looks like they haven't made any progress in the poor quality battery department... they really need to start pushing whoever supplies these things.

Count me in with the crap battery crew. My Rev B gets about 1-1.5 hours of battery time, if I'm not doing anything intensive.

hob · May 20, 2005, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by munkle

Count me in with the crap battery crew. My Rev B gets about 1-1.5 hours of battery time, if I'm not doing anything intensive.

In the last 3 months I've noticed the battery's just crapped out on my Rev B (I think it's Rev B - 1GHz G4 Powerbook 12"...) anyhoo - yes. Only 1:20 or so when just using it normally... And I will have to buy a new one eventually - I'm not covered on this recall... Unless...

shambolic · May 20, 2005, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by longofest

Look for the MODEL number, not the serial number. The Model number will be indicative of if your battery is in the recall.

It's a combination of both - my 15" Powerbook (latest model) does have the model of battery that's being recalled (A1078), but my serial is 3K501, whereas the recalled range is 3X446-509.

Which apparently means I'm safe from having my desk/pants/whatever burst into flame while using my PB. *fingers crossed*

johnnowak · May 20, 2005, 10:54 AM

Mmmhm. Same here. 1:20 when idling, as low as 0:40 under heavy stress. Bleh!

nFinity · May 20, 2005, 10:54 AM

My model number is A1079 but my serial starts with 3K50 - so this doesn't apply to me?

munkle · May 20, 2005, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hob

In the last 3 months I've noticed the battery's just crapped out on my Rev B (I think it's Rev B - 1GHz G4 Powerbook 12"...) anyhoo - yes. Only 1:20 or so when just using it normally... And I will have to buy a new one eventually - I'm not covered on this recall... Unless...

Yeah, that's the Rev B, sounds like we got a bum deal. I was hoping the recall would cover us lot as well...bugger!

SiliconAddict · May 20, 2005, 10:57 AM

Recalls are good. Less you have the following happen.....

http://home.comcast.net/~jonnormand/...k/PHTO0009.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~jonnormand/...k/PHTO0011.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~jonnormand/...k/PHTO0015.jpg

Sorry if I made people cry or faint. Poor PowerBook. Where do PowerBooks go when they die?

May 20, 2005, 09:46 AM	#1
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	Powerbook/iBook Battery Recall http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif Apple has announced a product recall of batteries used in various models of it's portable line sold between October 2004 and May 2005. According to the recall, an internal electrical short can occur in the battery cells causing it to overheat, posing a fire threat. The models affected are: 12-inch iBook G4 A1061 HQ441 – HQ507 12-inch PowerBook G4 A1079 3X446 – 3X510 15-inch PowerBook G4 A1078 3X446 – 3X509 Powerbook batteries have previously been subject to recall in August of 2004.

May 20, 2005, 09:49 AM	#2
JonMaker macrumors regular Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: here.	Yet another good reason to wait for the next rev., IMHO. __________________ Footlong iBook... Oh Yeah!

May 20, 2005, 09:50 AM	#3
uv23 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Calgary, AB	I was hoping it would be a recall of older batteries. My 1GHz 12" PB now gets 45 min on the battery if I'm lucky. POS. __________________ I believe the next Powerbook revision will include a ramped up G3 with AltiVec, but I'm not betting any testicles on it. --greenstork

May 20, 2005, 09:51 AM	#4
mainstreetmark macrumors 68000 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Saint Augustine, FL	Man, my eyes didn't get much passed "Powerbook" as the first word of the first rumor before I began to get a bit excited. Sadness ensued, as battery recalls are not exciting. __________________ iTunesRegistry.com <-- v3.0 Now Playing

May 20, 2005, 09:52 AM	#5
Sophipod macrumors newbie Join Date: Jul 2004	Thats Me Cool, New I guess i get a new battery

May 20, 2005, 09:55 AM	#6
MacNeXT macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jun 2004	I have one of these. Does it also Apply to Europe? Can't find it on www.apple.nl. __________________ Oh, and by the way, Micro$oft suxorz!!!

May 20, 2005, 09:57 AM	#7
mymemory Banned Join Date: May 2001 Location: Miami	Yeah, my 1Ghz is not giving too much time neither but I am having lost of troubles with the Blue Tooth lately. The computer does not recognize my keyboard and mouse and I have to turn it of, take of the batery, unplug the machine and hold the strt button for 5 seconds to reset the internal memory and then is all fine. I am really waiting for a 12" with lighted keyboard though.

May 20, 2005, 10:07 AM	#9
longofest Demi-God (Editor) Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Falls Church, VA	Well, at least Apple is taking care of the problem. I know Dell has had to issue similar types of recalls that has affected the school that I work at, so don't think that Apple is the only company that has to issue these kind of recalls from time to time. All companies do. And hey, if you get your lap set on fire, you can get yourself a lawsuit! Just no finger claims please

May 20, 2005, 10:08 AM	#10
derspringer macrumors newbie Join Date: May 2005	My serial number not accepted :\| My 12" PB's battery has serial number 3X4530XXXXXX, which seems to be in the recalled range, but Apple's website says it's not valid. Anyone else have that problem?

May 20, 2005, 10:12 AM	#11
Grunt macrumors newbie Join Date: May 2005	I hope they get this fixed for the incoming iBook update... would hate to have to delay a purchase because of this

May 20, 2005, 10:21 AM	#13
~Shard~ macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: 1123.6536.5321	Let's hope ths is another improvement (battery quality control) Apple makes when it eventually updates the iBook/PowerBook lines. (Of course, these things do happen...) I'm still hoping for an announcement by WWDC... __________________ My riches consist not in the extent of my possessions, but in the fewness of my wants. - J. Brotherton

May 20, 2005, 10:28 AM	#16
virividox macrumors 68040 Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Manila - Nottingham - Philadelphia - Santa Barbara - Boston (ugh hate not knowing where to call home)	yikes!!! no flaming laptops hopefully __________________ 17" MBP , 2 gig ram, 200 gig fw800 + 120 gig fw400 + 250 gig usb2 ext, 5g 80gig Ipod, Tiger d200 & d70

May 20, 2005, 10:30 AM	#17
narco macrumors 65816 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: California.	Well, next time my sister complains that her powerbook is so hot it's burning her leg, I will pay a little more attention to the matter. Fishes, narco.

May 20, 2005, 10:38 AM	#18
NevadaJack macrumors 6502 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Las Vegas, NV	Easy solution..buy the 17" PB. I have one for sale on the Marketplace forum and it includes not only the installed battery, but a spare as well. They must be using a different manufacturer or different hook up with the 17" PB because it has not been subject to this problem. __________________ iMac 27" Quad i7, 2.8GHz, 8GB RAM.(Ver 2.0 due Dec?) MacBook 13" 2.16GHz, 1.5GB RAM iPhone 3GS, 16GB http://nevadajack.smugmug.com

May 20, 2005, 10:54 AM	#22
johnnowak macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: New York, New York	Mmmhm. Same here. 1:20 when idling, as low as 0:40 under heavy stress. Bleh!

May 20, 2005, 10:54 AM	#23
nFinity macrumors newbie Join Date: Mar 2005	My model number is A1079 but my serial starts with 3K50 - so this doesn't apply to me?

May 20, 2005, 10:57 AM	#25
SiliconAddict macrumors 601 Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Burnsville, Minnesota, USA	Recalls are good. Less you have the following happen..... http://home.comcast.net/~jonnormand/...k/PHTO0009.jpg http://home.comcast.net/~jonnormand/...k/PHTO0011.jpg http://home.comcast.net/~jonnormand/...k/PHTO0015.jpg Sorry if I made people cry or faint. Poor PowerBook. Where do PowerBooks go when they die? __________________ -iPod Video 160GB -MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo 2.33Ghz/3GB RAM/250GB -Newton 4700 (a.k.a iPaq 4700) -Dell 2405FPW 24" Widescreen

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