I have a 165c and 180, both with bad interconnect cables (the short, grey ribbon connecting bottom and top near the rear). They both have vertical lines/deformations on screen, and the 180 also has some non-responsive keys and doesn't chime.

Both systems have displayed what I think are typical interconnect cable problems before, but are much worse since I opened them up recently.

The question is: Is there any place I can buy replacements? I have no practical means by which I make my own new ones. And also, are these cables interchangeable between models?

@Androda may have some of these?

I *believe* the 140/145/145B/170 ones are interchangeable, and the 160/165/180 ones are interchangeable. The relevant difference being a 60 position connector / cable vs 72 respectively.

Some photos for comparison:



I've done some very casual looking into creating new assemblies, but searching for new IDC PCB connectors with the same pitch / arrangement has been fruitless. You can reuse the existing connector with a new cable, as demonstrated here: https://68kmla.org/bb/index.php?threads/how-to-repair-a-powerbook-140-180-interconnect-cable.46387/

(image credits: oldcrap.org)

@Daniel Hansen that is really helpful, thanks!!!

I don't have any hope of making new interconnects - I'm rather limited in what I am physically able to do - but I do have a couple of 'parts' PBs which might be suitable donors!

New interconnects would be a better bet if they are available somewhere, but this does give me hope for my 180 in particular.

>> Yoda said:

@Daniel Hansen that is really helpful, thanks!!! I don't have any hope of making new interconnects - I'm rather limited in what I am physically able to do - but I do have a couple of 'parts' PBs which might be suitable donors! New interconnects would be a better bet if they are available somewhere, but this does give me hope for my 180 in particular. Click to expand...

Keep us posted! I'm curious about compatibility. If we (someone) does move ahead on a new replacement assembly, it would be good to confirm my completely wild guess. ;)

>> Daniel Hansen said:

I *believe* the 140/145/145B/170 ones are interchangeable, and the 160/165/180 ones are interchangeable. The relevant difference being a 60 position connector / cable vs 72 respectively. Some photos for comparison: View attachment 18613 View attachment 18614 View attachment 18615 View attachment 18616 View attachment 18617 View attachment 18618 View attachment 18619 I've done some very casual looking into creating new assemblies, but searching for new IDC PCB connectors with the same pitch / arrangement has been fruitless. You can reuse the existing connector with a new cable, as demonstrated here: https://68kmla.org/bb/index.php?threads/how-to-repair-a-powerbook-140-180-interconnect-cable.46387/ (image credits: oldcrap.org) Click to expand...

This would make a really good resource!

Long time getting around to it, but an update regarding the 180:

This was fixed (today) by transplanting the interconnect board from a PB160, which was non-functional anyway. The 180 is finally back up and running happily - aside from the almost inevitable tunnel vision, but even that doesn't really start until an hour or so.

I did cross-check the 165c and 180c interconnect boards - they look interchangeable with each other, but are not compatible with the 160/165/180.

And in the process of doing this, I discovered where my missing BlueSCSI went - I had already installed it in the 180.... doing which was probably what damaged the interconnect!