Replace the DC plug on an Apple iBook silver "yo-yo" power adapter.

There are a couple other instructables on how to repair the DC connector and how to repair the cord near the power supply.

My problem was a little different than either of theirs. I had repaired the connector in the past -- the cord frayed and shorted right near the DC connector (the part that goes into the computer) so I spliced it and tried making a better strain relief. That lasted for a couple years but it broke again so I figured I'd try and replace the connector entirely.

Step 1 Disassemble the Old Connector

Since Apple can change their minds anytime, I recommend that everyone disassemble their existing connector to decipher how the power supply connects. Mine is a "yo-yo" or "saucer" supply #M7332 that came with the Indigo "Clamshell" iBooks.

I used hot-glue as a strain relief in my last repair so I used a heat gun to get the glue off. I don't remember how the connector came apart originally, but the gist was to cut off the plastic shell then pry apart the metal shell. These are the pieces I came up with.

Comments

[Charlie-elektro]

You can replace the plug connector on the YoYo power supply with a Radio Shack #274-0298, a 3/32" Submini phone plug.  The center wire in the +24 power cable is +24, the shielding is ground. 

If you call the 3 segments of the new plug A, B, and C starting at the tip, you connect the ground ti the B section, and the +24 to the C section. 

It was easiest for me to solder two wires to the B and C contacts on the plug, and then connect those new 2" wires to the +24V center and to the ground shielding.  A little heat shrink tubing and electrical tape finished the job.

Not pretty, but it works and only cost $2.99 for the connector plug.

[billc108]

Interesting.... I went to my local Radio Schmuck and got a 1/8" stereo phone plug (part #274-1547), and it's too fat to fit in the DC-in port on my iBook (dual USB). Does anyone have an idea what's the correct one?

[billc108]

Ok, for those of you with an IBook dual USB, it's probably a 3/32 stereo plug. (dang, I hate replying to my own questions!) Of course the local store didn't have one, so I'm making do with a 1/8 and an adapter. Still cheaper than a new yoyo.

[jolshefsky]

Just make sure to check the polarities and voltages and let us know.

[katnichols]

Exactly how do you check the polarities and voltages? I repaired the plug on my power cord and am afraid to plug it in. Thank you!

[cybe]

Is the centre conductor wire the positive and the wire-mesh screen/shield the negative please?

[jolshefsky]

Thanks. It's my first Instructable. I needed to make the repair so I figured I'd pull out the camera and give it a whirl.

[witznd]

Is there any place I can buy just he dc plug? The part that plugs into my computer? My shield is flared and plug is bent---stupid dog!

[Derin]

some used the standard barrel plug

[jolshefsky]

I didn't look too hard, but I didn't think there was a place to do so. It seems that it's a high-volume mold-once-in-plastic-and-forget-it kind of thing, so a version with solder connections and end-user assemble ability is unlikely.

[Spottedfeather]

Since it doesn't have the plastic "nub" on the connector end, how do you get that standard black "headphone connector" on it ?

[LinuxH4x0r]

Make sure you add the metal shield. I have heard of people plugging these into their audio out and burning the whole thing

[endolith]

The normal terms are "tip", "ring", and "sleeve".

[ndc]

thx !!! one more guestion :) if this arrow cable---|A|B|C> is a a plug (jack 3,5) and A B C are the names of segments of plug, then white wire is connected to A segment, but shield is connected to B or C ?

[jolshefsky]

The shield gets connected to segment B. The tip (segment C) is not connected -- presumably this is so you could touch the shell of the original connector to the tip with some metal (by accident or deliberately) and not short-out the power supply.

[ndc]

is white wire 24V (+) and silver 0V (gnd) ?

[jolshefsky]

On the power supply I have the white center-conductor is +24V and the shield is 0V.

[hack124x768]

Is it all right for the metal barrel to touch the body of the connector? And if so, Wouldn't that carry a positive charge? (Seems odd)

[jolshefsky]

If I slipped the replacement plug inside the metal barrel, the large flange on it would probably make contact with the barrel. This would short out the power supply. I thought that it was a bit peculiar and with no apparent advantage: if you stick a piece of wire into the original connector, you can short it to the metal barrel; this would be true whether the barrel was connected to the plug' "ring" or to any of the tip conductors. The smartest policy (for the original design) would have been to leave the metal barrel not connected, just like the plug tip.

[hack124x768]

So you just insulated the metal plug's body so it wouldn't make contact?

[jolshefsky]

I think I wasn't clear: I didn't install the metal barrel at all, and simply wired a 1/8" stereo jack to the end of the power supply. There's probably remnants of that thought because I did think about ways of keeping the metal barrel -- probably one layer of electrical tape would have been enough. As it would have been, though, it just wouldn't be very strong. I'll go back and add a note about that to some step right now.

[hack124x768]

I repaired on this weekend using the original apple components. The info here was helpful, although I didn't follow your method, and i kept the barrel shield.I just soldered the wires to the original plug and held it all metal and plastic pieces together with duct tape.

[LasVegas]

Great job. I've also repaired a number of the yo-yo supplies, but never considered your approach. This would also work on all the later bricks prior to the current MagSafe connectors, with an optional added bi-color LED to the tip.

[HamO]

Very well done, nice job. Excellent pix.