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PowerBook 1400 Capacitor Replacement Guide

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PowerBook 1400 logic board with its ten electrolytic capacitors circled (MacDat)

The PowerBook 1400 uses surface-mount aluminium electrolytic capacitors on its logic board, on the LCD and on the backlight inverter. MacDat recommends recapping a 1400c or 1400cs: they do not always need it yet, but they can leak, and it found one leaking capacitor in its own 1400c.[1] 3lectr1cPPC found the 33 µF 25 V capacitor on one of his logic boards had already leaked.[2] Apple's Service Source works at module level and gives no component values.[3]

Capacitor list

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PowerBook 1400 electrolytic capacitors[1]
Board Value Count Size (diameter × height) Notes
Logic board 100 µF 35 V 9 10 × 10 mm Little clearance; MacDat suggests a smaller diameter
Logic board 33 µF 25 V 1 not given
1400c LCD (Sharp LQ11S42) 33 µF 16 V 1 6 × 5 mm Both revisions
1400c LCD (Sharp LQ11S42) 47 µF 6 V 1 5 × 5 mm One revision only
1400cs LCD (Sharp LM80C24) 33 µF 10 V 1 5 × 5 mm
1400cs LCD (Sharp LM80C24) 10 µF 16 V 1 4 × 5 mm
1400cs LCD (Sharp LM80C24) 3.3 µF 50 V 4 4 × 5 mm
Backlight inverter 10 µF 50 V 1 about 6.2 × 5.5 mm
Backlight inverter 2.2 µF 50 V 1 4 × 5.5 mm

MacDat has no values for the Hitachi panel fitted to some 1400cs machines.[1] TheMightyMadman also replaced the electrolytics on the "control switch board" of a 1400cs/166; no published list covers that board.[4]

Procedure

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Logic board

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Apple's order of removal leads to the logic board last.[3]

  1. Remove the adapter, the battery and the media bay device.[3]
  2. Remove the speaker grill, then the keyboard and the six heatsink screws; disconnect the keyboard cable.[3]
  3. Remove the hard disk (two shield screws), pulling its cable straight off.[3]
  4. Remove the end clutch covers and centre hinge cover. Remove the display/inverter cable clamp and the long standoffs on the processor card, prise open the display and inverter connectors with a dental pick, take out the four clutch screws and lift the display assembly off.[3]
  5. Remove the top case and the PCMCIA eject board. Remove the processor card (two medium and two long standoffs, 5 mm or 3/16 in nut driver) and pry it up; on a 133 MHz machine lift off the display shield first.[3]
  6. Remove the feet and the case screws beneath them, open the I/O door and pry off the video port plug, remove the screw and four small standoffs, and slide the logic board out. Remove the two screws holding the fence.[3]
  7. Replace the ten capacitors, choosing parts that fit the space. Clean all leakage off the board.[1]
  8. Reassemble with the fence tabs above the board and the ADB EMI shield tabs below it, close the I/O door before fitting the board, and fit the case screws under the feet so the board cannot move out of line.[3]

Display and inverter

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  1. With the display assembly off, slide off the panel, pry off the two appliques and remove the four bezel screws, then release the bezel's side and top latches with a screwdriver.[3]
  2. Remove the four display screws and the display cable shield without bending it, turn the display out of the housing, and disconnect the backlight connector and the display cable.[3]
  3. Disconnect the sleep reed switch cable, then lever the inverter board off its three posts. Its double-sided conductive tape must stay sticky; Apple's instruction is to replace the board if it does not, not to substitute ordinary tape. Lay the board face down to protect the tape.[3]
  4. Replace the LCD and inverter capacitors. Some have very little clearance; 3lectr1cPPC used a small tantalum for one LCD position.[2]
  5. Refit the backlight cable to the inverter before seating the board, push the inverter cable under the right-hand bracket, and push the backlight cables into the housing so the bezel clears them. Over-tightened bezel screws crack the bezel.[3]

After the recap

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Run the machine from the battery and from the adapter, and check the backlight and contrast. Further fault-finding is on PowerBook 1400 Troubleshooting. The original 45 W adapters can also need recapping; 3lectr1cPPC notes the 1400's supply shares its design with the PowerBook 5300's.[5]

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References

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  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 MacDat, "Capacitor Reference - PowerBook 1400c" and "Capacitor Reference - PowerBook 1400cs" (retrieved 2026-10-02). Logic board 100 µF 35 V ×9 (10 mm diameter, 10 mm high; smaller-diameter replacements recommended for clearance) and 33 µF 25 V ×1; 1400c display Sharp LQ11S42 in two revisions, 47 µF 6 V (5 × 5 mm, one revision only) and 33 µF 16 V (6 × 5 mm); 1400cs display Sharp LM80C24, 33 µF 10 V (5 × 5 mm), 10 µF 16 V (4 × 5 mm) and 3.3 µF 50 V ×4 (4 × 5 mm), values for the Hitachi panel some 1400cs units used not known; inverter 10 µF 50 V (about 6.2 × 5.5 mm) and 2.2 µF 50 V (4 × 5.5 mm). Secondary source.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 68kMLA forum thread "PowerBook 1400c/166 restoration/combination thread", July 2023. 3lectr1cPPC: the 33 µF 25 V logic board capacitor had spilled its contents; inverter recapped, including the 10 µF 50 V part; one LCD capacitor with very little clearance, replaced with a small tantalum. Community repair report.
  3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 Apple Computer, PowerBook 1400 Service Source, hosted here as File:PowerBook 1400 Service Source.pdf (see PowerBook 1400 Service Source). PDF page numbers: Tools p. 101; Modules You Must Remove pp. 102-105; Keyboard & Heatsink pp. 110-113; Hard Drive pp. 114-118; Display Assembly pp. 146-149; Bezel pp. 150-155; Display pp. 156-159; Inverter Board pp. 160-164; Microprocessor Daughterboard pp. 183-187; Logic Board pp. 190-197. No component values.
  4. ↑ 68kMLA forum thread "Macintosh PowerBook 1400cs/166 Power Supply Replacement", December 2024. TheMightyMadman: replaced all the surface-mount electrolytics on the mainboard, control switch board and LCD board of a 1400cs/166. Community repair report.
  5. ↑ 68kMLA forum thread "Macintosh PowerBook 1400cs/166 Power Supply Replacement", December 2024. 3lectr1cPPC: same supply design as the PowerBook 5300's, with a different connector; his first 5300 supply needs recapping. Community experience.


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