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PISMO G3 squealing noise (loud)

K

kirk wilson

macrumors member
Original poster
May 18, 2008
42
0
Hello!

Has anyone else had problems with an old G3 Pismo making an
annoying squealing noise when plugged into a charger? There's a lot of
noises mentioned in mac/apple forums but none of them relate to this one.
Here's what it is not:
It's not coming from the screen or the fan or the speakers
(it's under the keyboard)
It's not low or slightly annoying (it is a loud squeal)
It happens only when the power adaptor is plugged into the laptop.
(it used to cease after I unplugged the power adaptor and plugged it back in
three times; now that solution doesn't stop the noise anymore)
It charges ok, and runs ok, scream or no-scream.
It's quiet right now, but if I move the adaptor to another plug it will start again.


I was going to live with this, but today after an hour of operating quietly
it just started again, and I hate to leave the house with this going.
(it will scream whether the laptop is on or off)

I have a really old battery and cannot replace it (I am currently staying in Mexico for the summer). Battery life is 45 min. I haven't tried pulling the battery out. That would be too easy.

This all started when I bought a replacement power adaptor (generic),
after the original one melted down,
but I could stop the screaming by unplugging/plugging it in again once or twice. Then I bought an expensive iGo adaptor, and it does the same thing.

I Did the PRAM and PMU reset.

I can hear it over music or the tv. It grew lower in pitch today after
squealing for a half hour. I'd normally not let it go on that long, but i was
in the other room.

Is my PISMO dying?


kw

(400 mhz pismo G3 500 sdram, osx-10.39, no os-9 or Classic, new 80g HD)
 
Sounds like a capacitor is slightly damaged or going out. Though it could be another part of the powersupply system. Though I am not familiar with all of the components in those old powerbooks. It could be the DC-in board assuming the Pismo uses one and it is not just part of the logicboard.

Perhaps it is the DC & Sound Card part.

When I had a powersupply going south due to a failing capacitor that made a squeal or buzzing sound. The best I could compare it to when thinking back is say the squelch of a CB radio when getting interference, or AM radio under high voltage powerlines, or just high voltage power lines just higher pitched. This noise would also channel through my analog speaker connection.

Really I am just speculating as buzzes and squeals are subjective terms.
 
thanks

i'll check the sound card (i remember reading that it also controls the
power supply or something)

But it's quiet for now, so i'm not going to touch it..

kw
 
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