Backlit keyboard on Powerbook G4

[foulmouthedleon]

Hello all, just got a Powerbook G4 17" off ebay and it works and runs fine, though the seller told me that the backlit keyboard worked. It does...sort of. I can see a very faint light, but it's clearly not fully functional.

I've no problem buying a new keyboard and putting it in, but wanted to make sure that the lights are actually in the keyboard or are they another component all together? I've replaced a top case before, so this shouldn't be too big of a deal but wanted to know the facts before I went and spent another $70 on a new keyboard.

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

_Matt

 

[jodelli]

On that model when the backlight comes on the characters on the keys turn from dark to white. Also the back light depends on the ambient light sensors; maybe that could be the problem.

Check this:
http://www.macnn.com/articles/06/06/20/apple.ambient.light.sensor/

 

[foulmouthedleon]

I took the laptop into my closet where it was pitch black and the illumination does work, in the middle mainly. The entire row of number keys stay black all together. So the backlit does work, it just doesn't seem to be very strong.

I had a MacBook Pro a while back and I remember that the light was much, much stronger than this one. Then again, a MacBook Pro is newer than this -maybe they improved the functionality?

At any rate, would simply buying a new backlit keyboard for this model do the trick?

 

[jodelli]

I had a MacBook Pro a while back and I remember that the light was much, much stronger than this one. Then again, a MacBook Pro is newer than this -maybe they improved the functionality?

At any rate, would simply buying a new backlit keyboard for this model do the trick?

I don't really know the answer to that. All I know is the keyboard ribbon has thin orange wire next to it that supplies the power to the back light.

http://www.powerbookmedic.com/Manuals/17-inch-powerbook-manual.pdf

This one's for the 17", but any of these backlit G4s have the same connection.

 

[Counterfit]

The first revision or two didn't have a very strong backlight. My 15" MBP is brighter than my Al 15" PB ever was.