Is there a list somewhere that shows which power adapters are appropriate for each model of PowerBook?
PowerBook power adapter compatibility?
- Thread starter Ron's Computer Videos
- Start date
-
Hey Guest, MARCHintosh 2026 is upon us. Check out community projects, join GlobalTalk, and have fun!
Sounds like maybe a candidate for a Resource page. I just responded to someone on reddit who was about to try to hook an RCA composition video cable to his 24V power supply to try to power on his iBook... 
I know that the PB180C and 165C use a 7.5A variant of the DC Power adapter, so a regular PB145/160/170 adapter will charge it slowly, but won't provide enough power to run it.
Well, the 165c/180c adapter is 3A, vs 2A for the other 1xx adapters.
Here's a (probably incomplete) list:
| PSU Model | Associated PB Models | Voltage | Amperage | Other PN's |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M5136 | Portable (M5120 / M5126) | 7.5V | 1.5A | CR-76U, SMP-10BB |
| M5140 | 100/140/145/145B/170 | 7.5V | 2.0A | APS-20U |
| M5651 | 160/165/180 | 7.5V | 2.0A | APS-20U |
| M5652 | 165c/180c | 7.5V | 3.0A | APS-46U |
| ADP-17AB Rev. A | 150 | 7.5V | 2.0A | aka 'Low-Power AC Adapter' |
These are all Type A plug model names. Other plug type model names have modifiers, e.g. M5136Z or M5140Z or ADP-17AB Rev. 3 for Type C variants, or M5651B for the Type G variant. But other than the plug difference, they all appear to be the same (i.e. they're all rated for 100-240V AC).
These are all similar in their form factor (except of course the M5136 which is white, not dark grey like the rest), barrel size, and voltage rating, so they tend to be used interchangeably. But of course there are notable current differences.
In all, there are only really three different adapters here: 11.25W (7.5V/1.5A), 15W (7.5V/2A), and 22.5W (7.5V/3A). The 15W ones are interchangeable... though Apple does make a distinction between the 'Low-Power' model and the others despite the specifications being the same. I've heard anecdotes that the 'Low-Power' model doesn't have quite the same punch as the others, but I don't have one of these so I can't say more - perhaps someone has some insight?
The advice is that one should not use anything but the 11.25W adapter with Portables (or a 7.5V/1.5A current-limited equivalent). It would appear that Apple itself suggests the 22.5W model is suitable for use with the B/W Powerbooks, except the 100 and 150 (and of course the Portables). Perhaps a matrix is in order lol!
| Portables | 100 | 140 | 170 | 145 | 160 | 180 | 165c | 180c | 145B | 165 | 150 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M5136 |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |
| M5140 |  | | | | | | | | | | |  |
| M5651 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| M5652 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| ADP-17AB | | | | | | | | | | | | |
= For Sure Yep = Probably Okay = Too Weak = Nope (it'll fit, but don't do it)(Models listed chronologically)
A final note: Apple confuses things a little by using the same internal part number for different models, and vice-versa. Comparing Service Source repair manuals and the Service Guide volumes, it seems that these part numbers changed over time, and the Service Source provides to most recent reference:
Service Guide PN's:
699-0505 refers to M5126
699-0517 refers to M5140 / M5651 (Volume III notes that this has been replaced by 922-0376, meaning after 1994 M5652 was considered to be the appropriate adapter for all PB models except the Portable, 100, and 150)
Service Source PN's:
922-0043 refers to M5140 / M5651
922-0376 refers to M5652
922-1117 refers to ADP-17AB
Table 1 of this document might be considered the 'final' word from Apple: https://www.applerepairmanuals.com/...atability_Charts/PowerBook_Adapter_Matrix.pdf
Just in case anyone is looking at the variety of technical resources out there and scratching their head....
Last edited:
(edited my last post to add the application matrix and a note on internal pn's)
What do you think about this model as a "catch-all" for 100 series PowerBooks (that aren't the 100)?
www.digikey.ca
WSU075-2400-13 Triad Magnetics | Power Supplies - External/Internal (Off-Board) | DigiKey
Order today, ships today. WSU075-2400-13 – 7.5V 18 W AC/DC External Wall Mount (Class II) Adapter Fixed Blade Input from Triad Magnetics. Pricing and Availability on millions of electronic components from Digi-Key Electronics.
Thanks for correcting me, i knew there was a difference between the colour ones and the rest!
For all B/W models, yes. You'd need 3A to power a colour model; also, a 3A unit will safely power ALL 1xx models except the 100 and 150 (we're not including the 190 in this), so a good all-rounder.What do you think about this model as a "catch-all" for 100 series PowerBooks (that aren't the 100)?
WSU075-2400-13 Triad Magnetics | Power Supplies - External/Internal (Off-Board) | DigiKey
Order today, ships today. WSU075-2400-13 – 7.5V 18 W AC/DC External Wall Mount (Class II) Adapter Fixed Blade Input from Triad Magnetics. Pricing and Availability on millions of electronic components from Digi-Key Electronics.
Last edited:
Apologies if it seemed overly pedantic... I figured the tables would be handy for future reference as this question does come up a lot and it's understandably confusing!
This is a good deal: https://www.ebay.com/itm/255334376062?hash=item3b731d627e:g:yxwAAOSwdthh448OWhat do you think about this model as a "catch-all" for 100 series PowerBooks (that aren't the 100)?
WSU075-2400-13 Triad Magnetics | Power Supplies - External/Internal (Off-Board) | DigiKey
Order today, ships today. WSU075-2400-13 – 7.5V 18 W AC/DC External Wall Mount (Class II) Adapter Fixed Blade Input from Triad Magnetics. Pricing and Availability on millions of electronic components from Digi-Key Electronics.
Might need to be recapped, but that's part of the fun.
Love the chart.
Portables 100 140 170 145 160 180 165c 180c 145B 165 150 M5136 M5140 M5651 M5652 ADP-17AB
What is the reasoning for Nope on M5652 and the PowerBook 100? I thought higher amps were okay as long as voltage is correct?
A couple of reasons, but I freely admit neither is super definitive...
First, a desire to be safe: my understanding is that while the PB100's power management and over-current protection is improved over the Portable's, the 100 is still more or less Sony's refactoring of the Portable into a new case, even including the SLA battery. As such, it's fundamentally different from the rest of the 1xx family. Knowing - from personal experience - how sensitive the Portables are to over-current and the fact that they rely on the adapter to limit current, I couldn't in good conscience recommend the use of an adapter with the 100 that can supply current above the recommended part.
Which leads me to my second reason - Apple's recommendation. I'm interpreting Apple's own documentation, which makes it clear that the M5652 is suitable for 140's on up (but not the 150), but excludes the 100 and recommends a different part instead (the 2A adapter). So while that leaves the 100 in a grey area, when combined with the first reason I'm even more convinced.
I acknowledge that I could be wrong about this, as I'm ultimately making an assumption. If someone who's an EE (which I'm not) and/or has an intimate understanding of the 100's power management system (which I don't) can assure us that using a 3A adapter with 100 is perfectly fine, I'll happily defer. But until I learn otherwise, I'll lean toward caution.
Of course, people can do what they want.
If someone wants to use a 3A or 5A or nA adapter with their PB, expecting that the system will only draw what it needs and can handle it, then give'r.
Last edited:
My inquires are, admittedly, selfish - I recently acquired a PowerBook 100, that included both an M5651 and M5652 adapter. Oddly enough I had not yet used/tried the M5652 yet....now I won't
Yeah, better safe than sorry I'd say. Before you use those adapters, make sure to check them first --- they should read no higher than ~7.8V. These original adapters are (almost) guaranteed to have failing capacitors, which can sometimes result in pushing out way over spec, and some folks have popped fuses or even damaged their machines. Thankfully, it's an easy recapping job.
This thread is 4 years old, but it seems like no one has tested any AC Adapter rated above 3A out of fear that even the higher end models like the 180c lack the appropriate circuitry to handle more than 3A of current. But if a modern Adapter works well, it makes more sense to use them than the old Apple adapters, not merely due to the recapping job, but also because trace repair might be needed too, not to mention the greater efficiency and smaller size of modern adapters versus the old Apple ones.
I just checked Amazon USA, and I see a 7.5V 3.0A AC Adapter with 5.5m (outer) / 2.5mm (inner) plug:
Something similar is sold here in Japan on Amazon Japan:
I just checked Amazon USA, and I see a 7.5V 3.0A AC Adapter with 5.5m (outer) / 2.5mm (inner) plug:
Something similar is sold here in Japan on Amazon Japan:
Last edited:
I just now edited that link in my previous post, thanks.
There are others like the following too:
I didn’t pick any of the voltage adjustable ones because most of those seem to require that you use an included barrel plug attachment, which makes the overall length of the plug longer and more unwieldy. I chose power adapter links which stick out the back of the PowerBook as little as possible.
I don't think there's such a thing as a current rating that is too high?
Voltage is controlled by the AC adapter.
Current is controlled by the load (the Mac). The Mac is not going to use more than it normally uses. The power supply needs to have a current rating that matches or exceeds whatever the Mac uses.
Current is voltage divided by resistance. If there's a short in the Mac, then you get a divide by zero error (magic smoke is released). That's why fuses exist - they got damaged before something important does.
Actually, you need to go back to the Macintosh Portable to understand. It's not Ohm's Law. The Mac Portable's power system was really a crazy design because if you used another AC Adapter with the same voltage but higher current (even only 1A higher current output), that would fry motherboard components over time!
Because the PB100 design is basically just a Mac Portable in a smaller case, some fear the same bad power design could be used and therefore are wary about using a non-stock AC Adapter (or one that has higher current). It seems that other PowerBooks might be okay, but @Daniel Hansen posted earlier than the PB150 is probably not OK and is like the PB100.
I myself don't really know what will happen if you match a 5A AC Adapter with a PowerBook 165c or 180c, for example. I think we are all afraid to try. But what we do know is that if you use an adapter with too low a current rating (2A rather than 3A for a 180c, for example), the machine won't power on.
From memory, Apple's advice in "the old days" was to NOT use the higher wattage PSUs with non-color PowerBooks (especially the active matrix models) because it could cause display damage.
I'm sure the exact technical reasoning is buried in a tech note somewhere.
I'm sure the exact technical reasoning is buried in a tech note somewhere.