I am going to tackle three related questions:
1. Which battery came first, the model A1078 or the A1148?
2. Which battery model numbers belong to which battery part numbers?
3. Does the official calibrating process apply to replacement batteries?
For my A1138 PowerBook G4, I am using third-party replacement batteries, bought in 2018. The instructions that came with these warn against discharging to 0%. Other replacement batteries by other thid-party brands contain the same warning. This begs the question: Do the original calibration instructions apply to these?
The original instructions last modified 2006, specifically for the 15-inch Double-Layer SD model (aka A1138), are echoed by this 2013 Apple Support article (only in German) and this newertech article.
The instructions mention three interesting details:
- an updated battery
- an internal microprocessor
- discharing to zero is okay
Obviously, the warning not to discharge to zero, found on replacement batteries, contradicts Apple's calibration instructions.
The questions that follow are:
Which battery is the "updated" one - the A1078 or the A1148?
Do third-party replacement batteries contain that microprocessor as well?
The battery specs have three numbers: a part number, a model number and a third number. The model number is stated on the battery. The part number is stated on the packaging. That's the problem. Figuring out which model numbers belong to which part numbers can only done by looking for photographic evidence at ebay auctions for example.
Part numbers
Data sources: everymac.com/ and the archived product pages.
Model numbers
Based on photographic evidence
Of these numbers, A1045 can be ignored, because it was recalled. The A1012 belongs to the Titanium model, which leaves us with A1148 and A1078. There is also a E68043 mentioned in various places, but I have not found actual photographic evidence for it.
Which battery came first, the model A1078 or the A1148?
There are two peculiar details in the table:
There is a packaging with "2003" for the A1148, even though the A1138 PowerBook was released in 2005. That's odd.
One of the batteries actually has "2009" on it. Wow.
None of the dates for A1148 are lower than 2005 while both of the A1078 ones have "2004" on them. To me, this indicates that the A1148 was probably the latest one and the "updated" one mentioned in the calibration instructions.
Which battery model numbers belong to which battery part numbers?
For the Titanium model, A1012 belongs to M8244G/B, which I conclude based on this post.
The A1148 belongs to M9756G/A, based on photos of the backside of the packaging, as seen in this ebay offer. (Note that the battery shown in this offer is a A1078, while the packacing belongs to a A1148).
It stands to reason that the A1078 belongs to M9325G/A, but I did not find photographic evidence.
Does the official calibrating process apply to replacement batteries?
I don't think so. How would you notice that the calibration procedure is not successful? After step 4, the computer is supposed to go to sleep, then activate safe sleep before shutting down automatically. The instructions are not clear about whether you have to press the power button in step 6 or whether the computer can be expected to returns itself to its pre-sleep state.
With my replacement battery, the computer shuts down after about one hour of being idle (steps 3 and 4). After the 5 hours in step 5, I connect the power adapter, wait for 10 minutes, then turn on the computer. I then find that the charge is at 86% (??), date & time and WiFi are off, which means PRAM settings were not preserved. That's why I conclude that replacement batteries don't play well with the safe sleep function. I also conclude that the calibration procedure does not apply to any replacement batteries.
Please use this thread to add any evidence so that we might get closer to answering these questions.
1. Which battery came first, the model A1078 or the A1148?
2. Which battery model numbers belong to which battery part numbers?
3. Does the official calibrating process apply to replacement batteries?
For my A1138 PowerBook G4, I am using third-party replacement batteries, bought in 2018. The instructions that came with these warn against discharging to 0%. Other replacement batteries by other thid-party brands contain the same warning. This begs the question: Do the original calibration instructions apply to these?
The original instructions last modified 2006, specifically for the 15-inch Double-Layer SD model (aka A1138), are echoed by this 2013 Apple Support article (only in German) and this newertech article.
The instructions mention three interesting details:
- an updated battery
- an internal microprocessor
- discharing to zero is okay
Obviously, the warning not to discharge to zero, found on replacement batteries, contradicts Apple's calibration instructions.
The questions that follow are:
Which battery is the "updated" one - the A1078 or the A1148?
Do third-party replacement batteries contain that microprocessor as well?
The battery specs have three numbers: a part number, a model number and a third number. The model number is stated on the battery. The part number is stated on the packaging. That's the problem. Figuring out which model numbers belong to which part numbers can only done by looking for photographic evidence at ebay auctions for example.
Part numbers
| Introduced | November 6, 2002 | September 16, 2003 | April 19, 2004 | January 31, 2005 | October 19, 2005 |
| 15-inch PowerBook | A1025 M8858 PowerBook3,5 A1025 M8859 PowerBook3,5 | A1046 M8980 PowerBook5,2 A1046 M8981 PowerBook5,2 | A1095 M9422 PowerBook5,4 A1095 M9421 PowerBook5,4 | A1106 M9677 PowerBook5,6 A1106 M9676 PowerBook5,6 | A1138 M9969 PowerBook5,8 |
| Battery part number | M8244G/B | M9325G/A | M9325G/A | M9325G/A | M9756G/A |
| Proof | Apr 09, 2003 | Mar 17, 2004 | May 27, 2004 | Feb 03, 2005 | Oct 30, 2005 |
Data sources: everymac.com/ and the archived product pages.
Model numbers
Based on photographic evidence
| A1148 | A1078 | A1045 | A1012 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10.8 V © 2005 825-6615-A ebay | 10.8 V © 2004 825-6366-A ebay | 10.8 V © 2003 825-5903-A ebay | 14.4 V © 2002 825-5897-A macrumors |
| 10.8 V © 2005 825-6628-A ebay same as my original battery | 10.8 V © 2004 825-6430-A ebay | ||
| 10.8 V 50Wh © 2009 825-7342-A ebay | |||
| A1148 1Z826-6666-A © 2003 ebay |
Of these numbers, A1045 can be ignored, because it was recalled. The A1012 belongs to the Titanium model, which leaves us with A1148 and A1078. There is also a E68043 mentioned in various places, but I have not found actual photographic evidence for it.
Which battery came first, the model A1078 or the A1148?
There are two peculiar details in the table:
There is a packaging with "2003" for the A1148, even though the A1138 PowerBook was released in 2005. That's odd.
One of the batteries actually has "2009" on it. Wow.
None of the dates for A1148 are lower than 2005 while both of the A1078 ones have "2004" on them. To me, this indicates that the A1148 was probably the latest one and the "updated" one mentioned in the calibration instructions.
Which battery model numbers belong to which battery part numbers?
For the Titanium model, A1012 belongs to M8244G/B, which I conclude based on this post.
The A1148 belongs to M9756G/A, based on photos of the backside of the packaging, as seen in this ebay offer. (Note that the battery shown in this offer is a A1078, while the packacing belongs to a A1148).
It stands to reason that the A1078 belongs to M9325G/A, but I did not find photographic evidence.
Does the official calibrating process apply to replacement batteries?
I don't think so. How would you notice that the calibration procedure is not successful? After step 4, the computer is supposed to go to sleep, then activate safe sleep before shutting down automatically. The instructions are not clear about whether you have to press the power button in step 6 or whether the computer can be expected to returns itself to its pre-sleep state.
With my replacement battery, the computer shuts down after about one hour of being idle (steps 3 and 4). After the 5 hours in step 5, I connect the power adapter, wait for 10 minutes, then turn on the computer. I then find that the charge is at 86% (??), date & time and WiFi are off, which means PRAM settings were not preserved. That's why I conclude that replacement batteries don't play well with the safe sleep function. I also conclude that the calibration procedure does not apply to any replacement batteries.
Please use this thread to add any evidence so that we might get closer to answering these questions.
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