I had some bad luck this week. The power switch connector broke off my daughter's Ibook logic board during a HD upgrade attempt. Unfortunately, it pulled enough of the etch that I can't determine where the connections use to go.

I would like to salvage the board. So, if anyone has access to a schematic for the G3 Ibook, 14" 900Mz logic board, I would appreciate some info about the circuit. Specifically, to what components does the switch connect. I already identified one side is grounded and the other side is pulled up to 3V through a 1K resistor, but that etch also went somewhere else. I suppose the gate of a FET transistor. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I hope your holidays are going better than mine.

Spencer

Unfortunately Apple does not give any schematics out--even to their service outlets. All you can get is a service manual, and that's just basically a flow chart to substitute parts.

Hey, I fixed it. Some epoxy and a few jumpers to replace the broken etches did it. The somewhere else was just a test point, so I could ignore it. That was what had me stumped until I looked at another good board.

If this happens to anyone else, contact me and I will explain how to bail yourself out.

It just happened to me! What exactly did you do to fix it?

i'd love to hear, too. mine seems to have cracked off without actually having opened the case, but when i took apart the machine that wouldn't turn on, sure enough, the connector was snapped off and manually connecting the terminals works.[/quote]

I "simply" soldered some wires to the remaining etch on the board and to the connector terminals. Then glued the connector back onto the board. If you can turn the computer on by shorting across the etches, then there is enough copper to solder wires on.

However, things are quite small. You will need a temperature controlled soldering iron, a steady hand, lots of experience, and a stereo microscope helps greatly.

Don't try this if you are not highly experienced soldering minute stuff. Find someone who is.

The last poster attempted on his own and was not successful at first. Send me a private e-mail and I will give additional info.

Fixed another one. Maybe this is my new calling. Seriously folks, don't get a new logic board. They can be fixed.

Yay!

I found this topic because I broke off the power connector attached to the logic board on my wife's 1.2 GHz iBook G4 during a hard drive upgrade.

I compounded the error by trying to solder it back on. Bad bad idea -- all it did was melt what was left, and wound up breaking one of the thin metal clips that normally keeps the connector in place.

I also tried taping the connector in place. Didn't work -- so I basically thought iBricked the iBook. There was no way I was going to shell out money for a new logic board.

Fortunately, the MacGuyver in me used a paper clip, two pieces of electrical tape and the security lock opening to "engineer" an emergency power switch that works perfectly! I can't believe it! No soldering, no part altering, no drilling! I cut the clip so that you can't even see it unless you look for it in the hole.

I hope to type up instructions and post shortly. I don't know how good this fix really is (or how long it'll actually last), but it seems like it'll last a long while. But if you want exact details, shoot me an email or post a reply.

I just broke this connector off on a iBook G4. Any tips on how to fix would be greatly appreciated.

Chuck...

Was it a 12" iBook?

My fix was done on a 12" iBook. I don't know if it would work for 14".

But yes, in the meantime I'm working on instructions. Stay tuned.

Damn. I have experienced a similar problem -in an attempt to repair a faulty firewire connection - the power connector (a white plastic-y female receptacle) into which my tiny power cord plugs in - broke off the logic board.

Though I have some skills at assembling/disaasembling things (otherwise I wouldn't have started this procedure), I have absolutely zero skills/ability at soldering....

So am wondering--does anyone who's done this repair....feel confident....to try it on mine?

Let me know. And BTW, I don't mind if the experiment doesn't work - since right now, this silly (unfortunate) accident - has turned my beloved 12" iBook....into a iBrick. So I'm desperate.

Let me know please - either on this board or at my email which is miguelatf at earthlink dot net.

Deseperate in Oregon---

-Miguel

It is a 12". Thanks.

Posted instructions on my blog.

Go to http://www.reactto.com and look for the top posting. Ignore the political/social ramblings below.

Sorry if the instructions are convoluted; I plan to add pix/drawings in the future. In the meantime, let me know if you have any questions, need clarification. My email is listed at the top of the instructions.

Good luck!

I ended up sending the computer to these guys:

http://www.dttservice.com/

It was $195 to fix it.

This is what i 've done.
it's work,Just bring the board to TV repair shop.
i met the guy who have god like soldering skill but
i decide to solder the small wire instead of solder
the connector back to the board.i think it's more
stronger.

i live in Samui island,Thailand.