Macbook Air charger still lit up green when unplugged?

missraffix3 · Feb 1, 2013, 09:22 PM

So I was just charging my computer and when the battery was full, I removed the charger. However, the charger was still lit up! It even remained lit up for a few seconds when I unplugged the charger from the wall. I have no idea what's going on. Has this ever happened to anyone? Or does anybody know how to fix it so it won't happen again?

simsaladimbamba · Feb 1, 2013, 09:25 PM

It has happened to me with several chargers, it seems to be a normal behaviour.

PS: Why do you remove the charging cable after the battery has been charged, unless you need the mobility?

missraffix3 · Feb 1, 2013, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simsaladimbamba

PS: Why do you remove the charging cable after the battery has been charged, unless you need the mobility?

I heard that with lithium ion batteries it's best to keep them going through the cycle of being charged then draining. It keeps them working longer.

simsaladimbamba · Feb 1, 2013, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by missraffix3

I heard that with lithium ion batteries it's best to keep them going through the cycle of being charged then draining. It keeps them working longer.

Modern Macs use batteries not bound to that ancient method anymore.

______________________________________________________
This should answer most, if not all, of your battery questions:
Apple Notebook Battery FAQ by GGJstudios
The F.A.Q. includes the following topics:
BATTERY INFORMATION

BATTERY LIFE FROM A CHARGE

AC POWER

CALIBRATION

BATTERY LIFESPAN

CHECKING STATUS AND HEALTH

CHARGING

WHAT IS A CYCLE?

BATTERIES ARE NOT COVERED

BULGING OR SWELLING BATTERY

______________________________________________________

missraffix3 · Feb 1, 2013, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simsaladimbamba

Modern Macs use batteries not bound to that ancient method anymore.

Oh, I didn't know that. Thanks!

simsaladimbamba · Feb 1, 2013, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by missraffix3

Oh, I didn't know that. Thanks!

Read the guide I linked to, it should help you understand your battery better and not wear it down unnecessarily.

bjm2660 · Feb 1, 2013, 09:35 PM

Junk it.

missraffix3 · Feb 1, 2013, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjm2660

Junk it.

My computer or charger...? Either one, no thanks. Both are pricy to replace. Plus I'm testing the charger again now and it may have just been a weird fluke.

----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by simsaladimbamba

Read the guide I linked to, it should help you understand your battery better and not wear it down unnecessarily.

Yeah, I read some of it. Like about the 1,000 full charging cycles and how to check my battery status.

----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by simsaladimbamba

Read the guide I linked to, it should help you understand your battery better and not wear it down unnecessarily.

Also, I never let it fully drain before I charge it, just so we're clear. I tend to charge it when it gets to about 25% (red bar) or when the alert pops up.

burnout8488 · Feb 2, 2013, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by missraffix3

I heard that with lithium ion batteries it's best to keep them going through the cycle of being charged then draining. It keeps them working longer.

Girlfriend used to do this, her battery is crap now. 400-500 cycles and most of them were stationary, at a desk. She was unplugging it when charged for no reason because she thought the MacBook would overcharge itself.

missraffix3 · Feb 2, 2013, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burnout8488

Girlfriend used to do this, her battery is crap now. 400-500 cycles and most of them were stationary, at a desk. She was unplugging it when charged for no reason because she thought the MacBook would overcharge itself.

That's what I thought too, but like I said, I never let it fully drain to 0% before charging it. So not many full cycles were completed.

skinny*k · Feb 2, 2013, 04:12 PM

@ missraffix3, Is your charger made by Apple, or is it a clone? The green LED means that full power is being delivered, and the non-Apple chargers do not communicate with the MacBook's charging system, so they always deliver full power. The Apple charger adjusts to what the MacBook needs, and only delivers full power when its needed. The Apple charger is better, but an 'always on' green LED on a non-Apple charger is nothing to worry about. If it is an Apple charger, I suggest taking it and your laptop to the Genius Bar to see what's wrong.

@ Everyone, If saving battery cycles means anything to you, it is better to run your MacBooks from the charger whenever you can, and when you do need to run off of the battery, go ahead and use the battery until it runs down, so that you'll always do a FULL recharge. The LiPo batteries aren't harmed by partial recharges, but every recharge cycle counts, even if its only 10%.

The MacBook will shut-down before the battery is drawn down below its safety limit.

Puevlo · Feb 2, 2013, 05:40 PM

That's how long it takes for the electrons at one end of the cable to reach the other end. So even when you unplug it some charge remains. Perfectly normal.

Robyr · Feb 2, 2013, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Puevlo

That's how long it takes for the electrons at one end of the cable to reach the other end. So even when you unplug it some charge remains. Perfectly normal.

Did you seriously think that through?

It has nothing to do with speed. There are capacitors inside of the assembly. These capacitors hold charge, hence light after unplugging it.

Ugh.

Feb 1, 2013, 09:22 PM	#1
missraffix3 macrumors newbie Join Date: Feb 2013	Macbook Air charger still lit up green when unplugged? So I was just charging my computer and when the battery was full, I removed the charger. However, the charger was still lit up! It even remained lit up for a few seconds when I unplugged the charger from the wall. I have no idea what's going on. Has this ever happened to anyone? Or does anybody know how to fix it so it won't happen again?
	0

Feb 1, 2013, 09:25 PM	#2
simsaladimbamba macrumors Core Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: in front of it	It has happened to me with several chargers, it seems to be a normal behaviour. PS: Why do you remove the charging cable after the battery has been charged, unless you need the mobility? __________________ This is not
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Feb 1, 2013, 09:35 PM	#7
bjm2660 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Virginia	Junk it.
	0

Feb 2, 2013, 04:12 PM	#11
skinny*k macrumors member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: California	@ missraffix3, Is your charger made by Apple, or is it a clone? The green LED means that full power is being delivered, and the non-Apple chargers do not communicate with the MacBook's charging system, so they always deliver full power. The Apple charger adjusts to what the MacBook needs, and only delivers full power when its needed. The Apple charger is better, but an 'always on' green LED on a non-Apple charger is nothing to worry about. If it is an Apple charger, I suggest taking it and your laptop to the Genius Bar to see what's wrong. @ Everyone, If saving battery cycles means anything to you, it is better to run your MacBooks from the charger whenever you can, and when you do need to run off of the battery, go ahead and use the battery until it runs down, so that you'll always do a FULL recharge. The LiPo batteries aren't harmed by partial recharges, but every recharge cycle counts, even if its only 10%. The MacBook will shut-down before the battery is drawn down below its safety limit.
	0

Feb 2, 2013, 05:40 PM	#12
Puevlo macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2011	That's how long it takes for the electrons at one end of the cable to reach the other end. So even when you unplug it some charge remains. Perfectly normal.
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