Comments on: Apple iMac G5 Power Supplies Capacitors http://jimwarholic.com/2009/04/apple-imac-g5-power-supplies-capacitors.php The Internet Place for a Wide Variety of Topics Tue, 22 May 2012 06:55:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Jim Warholic http://jimwarholic.com/2009/04/apple-imac-g5-power-supplies-capacitors.php/comment-page-2#comment-1548 Jim Warholic Sat, 19 May 2012 03:57:47 +0000 http://jimwarholic.com/blog/?p=4#comment-1548 Yes, it most likely has bad capacitors inside the PSU. Yes, it most likely has bad capacitors inside the PSU.

]]> By: john Fischer http://jimwarholic.com/2009/04/apple-imac-g5-power-supplies-capacitors.php/comment-page-2#comment-1546 john Fischer Sat, 19 May 2012 00:11:51 +0000 http://jimwarholic.com/blog/?p=4#comment-1546 A quick question... I bought a 17" non iSight, non ALS G5 iMac, and it seems quite dead. I took the back off, plugged it in and noticed that the first diagnostic LED is on but flickering. If I unplug it, the flickering stops, and after a moment, the LED turns off. My guess is that there's at least one bad cap here, and some AC is getting through. Thoughts??? A quick question…

I bought a 17″ non iSight, non ALS G5 iMac, and it seems quite dead.

I took the back off, plugged it in and noticed that the first diagnostic LED is on but flickering. If I unplug it, the flickering stops, and after a moment, the LED turns off.

My guess is that there’s at least one bad cap here, and some AC is getting through.

Thoughts???

]]> By: Jim Warholic http://jimwarholic.com/2009/04/apple-imac-g5-power-supplies-capacitors.php/comment-page-2#comment-1501 Jim Warholic Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:14:24 +0000 http://jimwarholic.com/blog/?p=4#comment-1501 What could be happening, is that the power supply is kicking off due to excessive heat, which would cause an abrupt shut down. I would load the free temperature monitor programs available for the iMacs. There are a couple that I know that work good. Simply do a Google Search for iMac temperature monitor and you will get right to it. Also, the capacitors on the main logic board could be causing the PSU to go into a failure mode. I have seen this happen on more than one occasion, even if the capacitors are not bulging. Note, capacitors do dry out and stop filtering the voltages, especially when heated up. What could be happening, is that the power supply is kicking off due to excessive heat, which would cause an abrupt shut down. I would load the free temperature monitor programs available for the iMacs. There are a couple that I know that work good. Simply do a Google Search for iMac temperature monitor and you will get right to it.

Also, the capacitors on the main logic board could be causing the PSU to go into a failure mode. I have seen this happen on more than one occasion, even if the capacitors are not bulging. Note, capacitors do dry out and stop filtering the voltages, especially when heated up.

]]> By: Gerry Beaudoin http://jimwarholic.com/2009/04/apple-imac-g5-power-supplies-capacitors.php/comment-page-1#comment-1500 Gerry Beaudoin Wed, 29 Feb 2012 23:42:41 +0000 http://jimwarholic.com/blog/?p=4#comment-1500 Great site! I recently had my power supply replaced by a Mac service company. (G5 iMac from about 2004 - no iSight). Everything seems to function well - except that infrequently, I hear a "pop" sound accompanied by a complete black-out and crash; it always re-starts, but sometimes needs a couple of minutes. This is similar to problems occurring before power supply replacement except it is very infrequent and recovery is very quick after the crash. Your thoughts? Great site! I recently had my power supply replaced by a Mac service company. (G5 iMac from about 2004 – no iSight). Everything seems to function well – except that infrequently, I hear a “pop” sound accompanied by a complete black-out and crash; it always re-starts, but sometimes needs a couple of minutes. This is similar to problems occurring before power supply replacement except it is very infrequent and recovery is very quick after the crash.
Your thoughts?

]]> By: Jim Jackson http://jimwarholic.com/2009/04/apple-imac-g5-power-supplies-capacitors.php/comment-page-1#comment-1491 Jim Jackson Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:31:01 +0000 http://jimwarholic.com/blog/?p=4#comment-1491 Hey Jim, Thanks for the help. I'll check for temp issues tonight. I did blow out vents, fans and such before re-assembling. I asked about the SMU because I had a fuzzy memory of reading a note somewhere. I re-found the note here: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2173">http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2173</a> the Note under step 9. If this is true, my SMU is reset upon unplug and replug of the power cord and a manual reset wouldn't be necessary. Jim Jackson Hey Jim,

Thanks for the help. I’ll check for temp issues tonight. I did blow out vents, fans and such before re-assembling.

I asked about the SMU because I had a fuzzy memory of reading a note somewhere. I re-found the note here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2173 the Note under step 9. If this is true, my SMU is reset upon unplug and replug of the power cord and a manual reset wouldn’t be necessary.

Jim Jackson

]]> By: Jim Warholic http://jimwarholic.com/2009/04/apple-imac-g5-power-supplies-capacitors.php/comment-page-1#comment-1490 Jim Warholic Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:11:23 +0000 http://jimwarholic.com/blog/?p=4#comment-1490 Hello Jim, There are a couple of things I would look at. One item is to make sure the computer is not overheating. I would try blowing a fan on the backside with the cover removed. If you can get it to stay on, I would install the <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.bresink.com/osx/TemperatureMonitor.html">free temperature monitor</a> program to see what is going on with the temperature. Of course, make sure all your fans are working in the iMac itself. Sometimes there is a lower squirrel cage fan hidden at the very bottom on some of the iMac models. I have seen this fan not functioning and the iMac will overheat. Also make sure all the cooling fins are blown out. Sometimes these get clogged up and reduce the air flow. As far as resetting the SMU and PRAM, I don't believe the SMU is reset automatically with the ambient light sensor model. I would follow the Apple instructions for <a rel="nofollow" href="http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1767">how to reset the SMU</a>. <a href="http://jimwarholic.com/contact">Jim</a> Hello Jim,

There are a couple of things I would look at.

One item is to make sure the computer is not overheating. I would try blowing a fan on the backside with the cover removed. If you can get it to stay on, I would install the free temperature monitor program to see what is going on with the temperature. Of course, make sure all your fans are working in the iMac itself. Sometimes there is a lower squirrel cage fan hidden at the very bottom on some of the iMac models. I have seen this fan not functioning and the iMac will overheat. Also make sure all the cooling fins are blown out. Sometimes these get clogged up and reduce the air flow.

As far as resetting the SMU and PRAM, I don’t believe the SMU is reset automatically with the ambient light sensor model. I would follow the Apple instructions for how to reset the SMU.

Jim

]]> By: Jim Jackson http://jimwarholic.com/2009/04/apple-imac-g5-power-supplies-capacitors.php/comment-page-1#comment-1489 Jim Jackson Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:58:01 +0000 http://jimwarholic.com/blog/?p=4#comment-1489 Jim, I received the cap kit, thanks!, for the power supply problem, installed the caps and powered up the iMac. It came up fine and then shut off after a couple minutes. I started it back up and reset the PRAM. It started up fine and ran for about 15 minutes and shut off. I started up again, reset the PRAM and it ran overnight and was still running when I left for work. Would it fix it for good if I reset the SMU? There was an ambient light sensor on the PS, does that mean it will reset the SMU automatically? So close to success, Jim Jackson Jim,

I received the cap kit, thanks!, for the power supply problem, installed the caps and powered up the iMac. It came up fine and then shut off after a couple minutes. I started it back up and reset the PRAM. It started up fine and ran for about 15 minutes and shut off. I started up again, reset the PRAM and it ran overnight and was still running when I left for work. Would it fix it for good if I reset the SMU? There was an ambient light sensor on the PS, does that mean it will reset the SMU automatically?

So close to success,

Jim Jackson

]]> By: Jim Warholic http://jimwarholic.com/2009/04/apple-imac-g5-power-supplies-capacitors.php/comment-page-1#comment-1417 Jim Warholic Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:13:09 +0000 http://jimwarholic.com/blog/?p=4#comment-1417 Hi Dave, If you care to send me a picture, I'll take a look. Since I updated my website with the new theme, I had forgotten to have my direct email link on the right sidebar area. So, I have added near the top side area. As far as your problem is concerned, is the PSU connector the same as the other ones? If it is, you should be able to measure the voltages using the <a href="http://jimwarholic.com/2010/03/measuring-imac-g5-power-supply-voltages-at-connector-plug-pinouts.php">Apple iMac pinout information</a> link found here. It might be that one of the voltages are missing or low on the PSU. Regards, <a href="http://jimwarholic.com/contact">Jim</a> Hi Dave,

If you care to send me a picture, I’ll take a look. Since I updated my website with the new theme, I had forgotten to have my direct email link on the right sidebar area. So, I have added near the top side area.

As far as your problem is concerned, is the PSU connector the same as the other ones? If it is, you should be able to measure the voltages using the Apple iMac pinout information link found here.

It might be that one of the voltages are missing or low on the PSU.

Regards,

Jim

]]> By: David Piper http://jimwarholic.com/2009/04/apple-imac-g5-power-supplies-capacitors.php/comment-page-1#comment-1416 David Piper Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:10:22 +0000 http://jimwarholic.com/blog/?p=4#comment-1416 Hi Jim, I have a 20 inch G5 Isight Imac 3rd Generation which will not start up. When the power cable is plugged in, the 1st LED lights up but when I press the power on button it goes out and 2nd LED does not light up either. I have had a look at the PSU and the caps are not bulging or leaking. Do you have any idea what it could be? You don't have a picture of my type of PSU Thanks in advance Dave Hi Jim,

I have a 20 inch G5 Isight Imac 3rd Generation which will not start up. When the power cable is plugged in, the 1st LED lights up but when I press the power on button it goes out and 2nd LED does not light up either. I have had a look at the PSU and the caps are not bulging or leaking. Do you have any idea what it could be? You don’t have a picture of my type of PSU

Thanks in advance

Dave

]]> By: Jim Warholic http://jimwarholic.com/2009/04/apple-imac-g5-power-supplies-capacitors.php/comment-page-1#comment-1357 Jim Warholic Mon, 14 Nov 2011 15:06:27 +0000 http://jimwarholic.com/blog/?p=4#comment-1357 Eric, I would take a close look at the capacitors on the power supply. If any of the capacitors are bulging, then it is probably an indication that the power supply is at least causing part of your problem. Note that the <a href="http://jimwarholic.com/category/isight">iSight</a> models sometimes have other issues to contend with also. <a href="http://jimwarholic.com/contact">Jim</a> Eric,

I would take a close look at the capacitors on the power supply. If any of the capacitors are bulging, then it is probably an indication that the power supply is at least causing part of your problem. Note that the iSight models sometimes have other issues to contend with also.

Jim

]]> By: eric http://jimwarholic.com/2009/04/apple-imac-g5-power-supplies-capacitors.php/comment-page-1#comment-1356 eric Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:40:18 +0000 http://jimwarholic.com/blog/?p=4#comment-1356 Hi, I have 2 iMac 17 iSight G5 and core2duo 2 Ghz : it's the same power : PSU S the two iMac don't start nothing nothing : do you think it's only the capacitors ? capacitor issue on the iMac start but stop after few second or not ? Thank for feedback before sell them. eric Hi,

I have 2 iMac 17 iSight G5 and core2duo 2 Ghz : it’s the same power : PSU S
the two iMac don’t start nothing nothing :
do you think it’s only the capacitors ?
capacitor issue on the iMac start but stop after few second or not ?
Thank for feedback before sell them.

eric

]]> By: Jim Warholic http://jimwarholic.com/2009/04/apple-imac-g5-power-supplies-capacitors.php/comment-page-1#comment-1269 Jim Warholic Tue, 18 Oct 2011 23:17:15 +0000 http://jimwarholic.com/blog/?p=4#comment-1269 No, I haven't seen the pinout diagram on the Apple iSight PSU models. Maybe someone will post it here or send me an email with the schematic diagram (even a hand drawn one would work too). Thanks in advance. No, I haven’t seen the pinout diagram on the Apple iSight PSU models. Maybe someone will post it here or send me an email with the schematic diagram (even a hand drawn one would work too). Thanks in advance.

]]> By: paul http://jimwarholic.com/2009/04/apple-imac-g5-power-supplies-capacitors.php/comment-page-1#comment-1268 paul Tue, 18 Oct 2011 23:12:57 +0000 http://jimwarholic.com/blog/?p=4#comment-1268 Hi Jim, Do you have a pinout for the iSight power supplies or know where to locate one? Hi Jim, Do you have a pinout for the iSight power supplies or know where to locate one?

]]> By: Jim Warholic http://jimwarholic.com/2009/04/apple-imac-g5-power-supplies-capacitors.php/comment-page-1#comment-1257 Jim Warholic Fri, 14 Oct 2011 01:54:35 +0000 http://jimwarholic.com/blog/?p=4#comment-1257 No, never have seen it nor heard of it before. I would be curious as to what is located at number three location. The number three location should have a 3300uF 10 volt cap, and the number two location should have the 1200uF 16 volt capacitor for the "C" model PSUs. No, never have seen it nor heard of it before. I would be curious as to what is located at number three location. The number three location should have a 3300uF 10 volt cap, and the number two location should have the 1200uF 16 volt capacitor for the “C” model PSUs.

]]> By: Rob http://jimwarholic.com/2009/04/apple-imac-g5-power-supplies-capacitors.php/comment-page-1#comment-1256 Rob Fri, 14 Oct 2011 01:23:32 +0000 http://jimwarholic.com/blog/?p=4#comment-1256 My power supply is a C model, it all matches perfectly, except that when I started replacing the caps, number two is a 3300, not a 1200 as supplied in your kit. Have you seen this before, and what do I do? The board looks original, and the gray goop holding the caps in was undisturbed. Thanks. My power supply is a C model, it all matches perfectly, except that when I started replacing the caps, number two is a 3300, not a 1200 as supplied in your kit. Have you seen this before, and what do I do? The board looks original, and the gray goop holding the caps in was undisturbed.
Thanks.

]]> By: Jim Warholic http://jimwarholic.com/2009/04/apple-imac-g5-power-supplies-capacitors.php/comment-page-1#comment-1186 Jim Warholic Tue, 16 Aug 2011 15:56:43 +0000 http://jimwarholic.com/blog/?p=4#comment-1186 @ Kevin Yes, if the clicking is coming from the power supply, I suspect it is some sort of electrical arcing, maybe inside the small transformer, or the circuit is being electrically "clamped" off repeatedly due to a defective component. It would be wise to test the PSU on the bench, out of the computer, to verify what it does under no load. Suggest measuring the voltages this way if you can. @ Kevin

Yes, if the clicking is coming from the power supply, I suspect it is some sort of electrical arcing, maybe inside the small transformer, or the circuit is being electrically “clamped” off repeatedly due to a defective component. It would be wise to test the PSU on the bench, out of the computer, to verify what it does under no load. Suggest measuring the voltages this way if you can.

]]> By: Kevin http://jimwarholic.com/2009/04/apple-imac-g5-power-supplies-capacitors.php/comment-page-1#comment-1184 Kevin Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:21:14 +0000 http://jimwarholic.com/blog/?p=4#comment-1184 Jim, I have this same G5 iMac and no power when plugged in. I hear what seems to be small electrical noises as soon as I plug the unit in, sounds like small electrical arching. Is that a noise a bad power supply would make? Jim, I have this same G5 iMac and no power when plugged in. I hear what seems to be small electrical noises as soon as I plug the unit in, sounds like small electrical arching. Is that a noise a bad power supply would make?

]]> By: Jim Warholic http://jimwarholic.com/2009/04/apple-imac-g5-power-supplies-capacitors.php/comment-page-1#comment-1150 Jim Warholic Thu, 21 Jul 2011 01:34:34 +0000 http://jimwarholic.com/blog/?p=4#comment-1150 I suspect the PSU capacitors are faulty. As far as which kit you require, take a look at the various Apple iMac PSU listed here and match your up to the pictures. If you do not see your exact model, I suggest comparing the list of caps to yours. I suspect the PSU capacitors are faulty. As far as which kit you require, take a look at the various Apple iMac PSU listed here and match your up to the pictures. If you do not see your exact model, I suggest comparing the list of caps to yours.

]]> By: jeff http://jimwarholic.com/2009/04/apple-imac-g5-power-supplies-capacitors.php/comment-page-1#comment-1149 jeff Wed, 20 Jul 2011 16:11:38 +0000 http://jimwarholic.com/blog/?p=4#comment-1149 I was told at the apple store that I have two capacitors that are blown and a third one is leaking and about to go. I brought it in to the store because when I pressed the button to start, nothing happend - no noise, no light not anything. I thought it was the power supply which I replaced two years ago. After taking the back off and looking at it, the apple store told me it was the capacitors, but amazingly after this, my mac powered back on and seems fine now (at least for the short term). It's a IMac G5 17" bought in feb 2005. The part for the power supply was 661-3351. How much would the capacitors cost if I (or someone else who knows how to replace them) cost. Replacing the logic board entirely would not be worth the cost. I never saw the capacitors that were not good and am wondering if there are specific types that I need? I was told at the apple store that I have two capacitors that are blown and a third one is leaking and about to go. I brought it in to the store because when I pressed the button to start, nothing happend – no noise, no light not anything. I thought it was the power supply which I replaced two years ago. After taking the back off and looking at it, the apple store told me it was the capacitors, but amazingly after this, my mac powered back on and seems fine now (at least for the short term). It’s a IMac G5 17″ bought in feb 2005. The part for the power supply was 661-3351. How much would the capacitors cost if I (or someone else who knows how to replace them) cost. Replacing the logic board entirely would not be worth the cost. I never saw the capacitors that were not good and am wondering if there are specific types that I need?

]]> By: Jim Warholic http://jimwarholic.com/2009/04/apple-imac-g5-power-supplies-capacitors.php/comment-page-1#comment-1135 Jim Warholic Sun, 10 Jul 2011 23:58:41 +0000 http://jimwarholic.com/blog/?p=4#comment-1135 Yes, the pinout is different on the iMac iSight models. If anyone has the pinout information on those, it would be much appreciated. Regards, <a href="http://wow.jimwarholic.com/contact.php">Jim</a> Yes, the pinout is different on the iMac iSight models. If anyone has the pinout information on those, it would be much appreciated.

Regards,

Jim

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