Powerbook 190cs full refurbishment & re-cap

Blogs & guides and tales of woo by forum members.
Steve
Posts: 2570
Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2017 11:49 am

Powerbook 190cs full refurbishment & re-cap

Post by Steve »

Hey guys,

Guess what, I also restore Apple machines lol :) You know why I was excited about this machine? Because MagicMac on an 040 Mac is an absolutely stellar experience! I can't wait to run some super fast Atari apps on this :)

Here is my post about refurbishing this lovely little machine. I've never worked on a PB before so it was a learning experience. I didn't photograph the MANY brittle plastic tabs/screw mounts I fixed with ABS glue - but yes, I had to fix many. Without the glue the machine would not screw back together, I'm glad I managed to save everything. I re-capped the machine with the best organic polymer smd caps from Panasonic. The machine had the worst battery leakage I have ever seen, luckily only a small section of the power/input pcb had any corrosion which I managed to fix.

The original passive screen was actually in good condition but the internal display cable was faulty causing these line artifacts. So I decided to order a new screen from a 5300c which is an active matrix LCD & a new display connector; note that the display connectors are different and you have to have the proper cable for the particular screen. There were also different brands used. FYI this particular type of screen is still available today in large quantities as it was a highly used industrial display. I will update this post with some model numbers to help people out later.
original_screen.jpg
original_screen.jpg (524.2 KiB) Viewed 4342 times
This machine has the full 40mb RAM! This is so great since they are hard to find these days
original_specs.jpg
original_specs.jpg (534.95 KiB) Viewed 4342 times
The battery looks to be in a sorry state... makes me wonder what the inside of the machine is like (the outside is pristine)
battery.jpg
battery.jpg (296.58 KiB) Viewed 4342 times
The insides have seen better days!
battery_leak1.jpg
battery_leak1.jpg (398.28 KiB) Viewed 4342 times
The copper base sheet is in such a state of corrosion it cannot be saved (I did try) so it had to be discarded
battery_leak2.jpg
battery_leak2.jpg (417.3 KiB) Viewed 4342 times
Luckily the PCB is untouched apart from a tiny segment of the power section
original_pcb_1.jpg
original_pcb_1.jpg (496.19 KiB) Viewed 4342 times
original_pcb_2.jpg
original_pcb_2.jpg (465.09 KiB) Viewed 4342 times
With a solution of 50/50 white vinegar & lemon juice I neutralise the acid
pcb_cleaning.jpg
pcb_cleaning.jpg (382.01 KiB) Viewed 4342 times
I bathe the screws in the same solution
clean_screws.jpg
clean_screws.jpg (314.91 KiB) Viewed 4342 times
The touch pad screw plastics had broken, but managed to repair them with some good ABS glue.
fixed_trackpad.jpg
fixed_trackpad.jpg (229.3 KiB) Viewed 4342 times
The PCB & body after being cleaned, much nicer!
before_recap.jpg
before_recap.jpg (497.99 KiB) Viewed 4342 times
The capacitors replaced with high quality organic polymer panasonics.
after_recap.jpg
after_recap.jpg (489.74 KiB) Viewed 4342 times
The 5300c display - I actually found an apple parts supplier in the UK that still had a 'new old stock' one sitting in their warehouse!
5300c_screen.jpg
5300c_screen.jpg (337.53 KiB) Viewed 4342 times
Yes it fits nicely - note, it requires the specific display cable for this model
screen_fits.jpg
screen_fits.jpg (330.95 KiB) Viewed 4342 times
Glorious 640x480 256 colour active matrix
screen_works.jpg
screen_works.jpg (422.99 KiB) Viewed 4342 times
She is happy :)
bootiful.jpg
bootiful.jpg (452.49 KiB) Viewed 4342 times
Hope you enjoyed this restoration! I have a couple of little things left to do: * replace the prom battery / * fit IDE > CF and re-install OS
User avatar
stephen_usher
Posts: 5580
Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2017 7:19 pm
Location: Oxford, UK.
Contact:

Re: Powerbook 190cs full refurbishment & re-cap

Post by stephen_usher »

An excellent restore! What's the brand/type of "ABS glue" you use?
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
Steve
Posts: 2570
Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2017 11:49 am

Re: Powerbook 190cs full refurbishment & re-cap

Post by Steve »

It was this one:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/372652376101

For acrylic and abs.

It's really nice. Doesn't stick to your fingers like super glue either, also doesnt leave any of that weird oxide layer super glue leaves.
User avatar
stephen_usher
Posts: 5580
Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2017 7:19 pm
Location: Oxford, UK.
Contact:

Re: Powerbook 190cs full refurbishment & re-cap

Post by stephen_usher »

Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
User avatar
Umberto1st
Posts: 105
Joined: Wed Sep 27, 2017 6:27 pm

Re: Powerbook 190cs full refurbishment & re-cap

Post by Umberto1st »

Nice work
3)1040 stf/m, 2)Mega 4 ST, 1)STE, 1)Mega STE, 1)STacy, 2)Falcon 030
Steve
Posts: 2570
Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2017 11:49 am

Re: Powerbook 190cs full refurbishment & re-cap

Post by Steve »

Recently I was shown a horror story of capacitors inside the screen inverter board & display unit going bad and ruining someones old powerbook. I then realised that although my screen was new old stock, the caps were still 30 years old and have a shelf life. I opened it back up and replaced the caps. FYI I didn't have the correct size SMD caps in stock, so I shoe-horned in some radials. Not pretty, but this stuff is on the inside of the screen so it's not like you see it :)
PXL_20201004_140617750.jpg
PXL_20201004_140617750.jpg (317.12 KiB) Viewed 4037 times
PXL_20201004_143002186.jpg
PXL_20201004_143002186.jpg (96.21 KiB) Viewed 4037 times
PXL_20201004_152052273.jpg
PXL_20201004_152052273.jpg (111.5 KiB) Viewed 4037 times
User avatar
rubber_jonnie
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 10472
Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:40 pm
Location: Essex
Contact:

Re: Powerbook 190cs full refurbishment & re-cap

Post by rubber_jonnie »

Good idea replacing the caps on the LCD board, those little aluminium surface mount caps are really nasty when they go, just one tiny one caused me hours of repairs on my Amstrad Alt-386.

Might I ask where you got your screen from? I am trying to get a battery for my Powerbook G4 17" and struggling like mad, so looking for any potential suppliers.

Nice resto BTW, looks like new!
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
Steve
Posts: 2570
Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2017 11:49 am

Re: Powerbook 190cs full refurbishment & re-cap

Post by Steve »

@rubber_jonnie
From VIS:
https://www.applemacparts.co.uk/

Really nice old-school stockists. They know their apples from their pears ;)
Happy to recommend them as they did a good deal for me when I asked.
User avatar
rubber_jonnie
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 10472
Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:40 pm
Location: Essex
Contact:

Re: Powerbook 190cs full refurbishment & re-cap

Post by rubber_jonnie »

Steve wrote: Mon Oct 05, 2020 5:23 pm @rubber_jonnie
From VIS:
https://www.applemacparts.co.uk/

Really nice old-school stockists. They know their apples from their pears ;)
Happy to recommend them as they did a good deal for me when I asked.
Cool,thanks :)
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
Post Reply

Return to “MEMBER BLOGS”