I have a Pismo (500 mhz). Recently, my battery started dying and wouldn't recharge. I chalked this up to a dead battery and bought a new one. The exact same thing happened!

Recently, I just replaced the PMU -- NO LUCK! The batteries are not recognized in either bay, and do not charge. The indicator lights don't even blink!

Any similar problems or suggestions anyone?

George
gbrozak@aol.com

ps - anyone tried using a black brick/Lombard power adapter with the Pismo?

Did you replace the board that looks like a "t" (aka charger board?) The problem is either that or your battery.

-Bradley
Powerbookmedic.com

I have the same problem.

My Pismo won't recharge any batteries.

What I did was:
I went to the closest Apple Store (1.5 hours away) and they tested it out with their batteries and power adaptor. The same problem happened: no charge.

They sent it away for a PMU replacement, and when they received it after the replacement, they tried their power adaptor, and it recharged my dead battery. I then tried recharging it using my power adaptor, and it wouldn't charge.

I just ordered a new power adaptor, and will hopefully see if the problem was with my current power adaptor, and perhaps a combination with a PMU problem. I just hope that since I'm still using my current power adaptor, that it won't damage the PMU again, if it did in the first place.

I would recommend trying another yo-yo power adaptor, since you already replaced your PMU. Good luck.

Sounds odd to me. If your computer works fine on your power adapter then it should charge your batteries. The PMU (Power / Charger) board is responsible for the charging of the batteries, so if your batteries aren't charging it is either A.) Your battery is completely dead B.) Your charger board.

-Bradley
Powerbookmedic.com

Yeah, it is an odd problem, but the Apple Technician at the Genuis Bar knew all of the above, and he still didn't rule out the possibility of a power adaptor failure, especially since my dead battery did recharge on theirs on not on mine, after receiving it back from Apple.

I've never seen an adapter cause the problem when the unit runs fine on the adapter, but if the new adapter fixes the problem, post it here.

-Bradley
Powerbookmedic.com

I should receive my new power adaptor tomorrow. I wished FedEx delivers on Sat, because I would have received it yesturday.

Whether it solves my problem or not, I will post the results. I hope my problem is solved though. I don't want to send my Pismo away again.

IT'S ALIVE!!!

Yes, it's true, my PowerBook can finally recharge it's batteries after replacing the power adapter as well.

I wonder if it was actually a combo of both the PMU and the power adapter. In some cases, it could be the battery.

It was weird, because at first, even with the Apple Store's power adapter, it wouldn't charge. Then, the PMU was replaced and they used their power adapter, and it charged. I used my power adapter, and it didn't charge like before. I bought a new one, and it's as good as new!