I need a power supply for my Dual 500 G4 Mac(Ser#
XB0490JJJNX). As Apple has listed this model as obsolete, they no longer offer the power supply.
Does anyone know where I can find a replacement and someone to install it(if deemed to hazardous
for someone having only a layman's knowledge about electronics).

A found a new one for $270, a used one on eBay starting at $70 (who know what it will go up to - or if it will work). Just search for "Mac Gigabit Ethernet power supply". Putting it in should not be hazardous or difficult.

The real question is, do you really want to spend that kind of money on an ancient Mac? For $299 you could have a used dual 867Ghz tower - a machine eligible to run Leopard if you wanted - from Mac Of All Trades.

I'm with Jack... pull your both of your Hard Drives and move them into a newer G4 tower. You'll get faster speed and the option of moving to Leopard. Unless your software runs in Classic/OS9 (which means it's really time to upgrade) you shouldn't put your money into a PowerPC machine. If I had a Power Supply for that unit (and I just might, I'll look) I would sell it for $75 and charge you $75 to install it. But that money is better spent on something newer.

Is the power supply completely dead?

Would a power supply from a Gray Side Bluish Front tower work? If so, you need to contact me.

"Gray Side Bluish Front"? I don't see that model listed anywhere<g>.

You might be able to narrow down the model here.

His power supply is dead.... we tested the unit and nothing moves, chimes or lights up. Since a "new" part cannot be ordered, he will have to go the "used" route. Power Supply is specific to the Dual 450/500 models (which happen to be a Blueish/Grayish color).

Still think best option is finding a 867 or faster unit to replace this one.

I *did* find a new one Dave - that was the $270 one (not worth spending on this machine, as we both noted).

My question is this, how *proprietary* are these power supplies? I think these were made by AC BEL. Are you sure you can't get one from an old PC lying around somewhere? What Form Factor are they?

quote:

Originally posted by Jack Beckman:
I *did* find a new one Dave - that was the $270 one (not worth spending on this machine, as we both noted).

I speaking to the ability of ordering one thru an Apple store. That part runs $140 + labor and it still would be wiser to upgrade to another Mac.

AC BEL made the power supply and it is a square form factor, but I think the plug placement and the cords are specific to Apple brand boxes.

See for yourself: http://www.welovemacs.com/posu33pog4gi.html

Looks a bit odd to me.

In any case, as Dave and I have been saying, spending money to fix this ancient machine is a waste of cash. Better to spend the same or a bit more to get a much newer machine.

OK,

It looks as though the plug placement is the same. The one major difference is the power connector for the Mother Board. On PC's it's either 20 or 24 pin (or 20 pin plus a 4 pin AUX) The Mac power supply is a 22 pin (Thanks again Apple!)

I guess what you could do is just find a standard ATX power supply (24 pin) and use the connector from the old power supply. Then replace the pins on the power connector one by one based on wire color. I've done similar type "hacking" in the past.

I guess you'll just have to decide what route is most cost effective for you.

I know someone on our freecycle list has several ATX cases they want to get rid of. Perhaps one of those would be of use. FREE. I can get in touch.

If you are near Ann Arbor, try the Kiwanis Saturday sale. The building is at First and Liberty. They have all sorts of computer stuff. Lots of old stuff. The guy I mentioned with the ATX cases has been putting computers together for people for years with stuff from
Kiwanis. 200 S 1st St, Ann Arbor - (734) 665-0450
An Ann Arbor tradition since 1927
Open Saturdays 9 am − Noon

Except Easter, Memorial Day, July 4, Thanksgiving,
Christmas, and New Year weekends.

Here's a link to the computer stuff at Kiwanis
http://myannarbor.net/kiwanis/computer.htm

It looks like this. Blue Front Gray sides


http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://mac.smirn...%26rls%3Den%26sa%3DN

If you want me to bring it on Sunday, we could try to see if the power supply will work for you, unless one of our online Genuis could answer the question before hand ...... Jack?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Calvin,

Thanks everyone for responding to my inquiry. My delayed response to your suggestions was due to my home being damaged by my neighbor's house being set afire by arsonists.

I have a Mac Pro and was planning on transferring the info on the Dual 500's drives to my new mac.
Alas, unable to do so due to that quite dead power supply. What are your recommendations to enable me to transfer the info from the Dual 500's drives to the Mac Pro(as I agree, spending
more money on the Dual isn't worthwhile).

PS: Nice meeting you Dave at the Apple Store.

Remove the disks and use an external IDT to FireWire case or adapter to connect them to the new machine. Some intrepid technical types might attempt using the second optical drive bay IDEE connector (if it has one). It sounds like you do not have an external backup drive. depending on the size of the old drives, one could be pressed into service for this.

I agree, just buy a couple of external drive cases (you can get them as cheap as $15 at Micro Center at times) and put the drives in there.

So the Blue and Gray Mac I have, the power supply wont work for this guy Mr. Beckman?

I don't know - that's not much of a picture to go on. Apple has a pair of G4 pages that lets you ID the system from the position of the rear ports (the link I posted earlier), but since his goal is simply to get the data to a new system, why futz with it? At some point he's got to transfer the data in any case.

If he puts them in external cases, then can use them as external drives (although they probably are pretty small compared to the drive in the Mac Pro).