iBook Battery

Shaun.P · Mar 6, 2006

I think I may have a problem with my iBook battery! When I first got it, it was at 100%, it dropped to 99%, then 95% and now it is at 93% (it went from 95% to 93% today when I left my iBook battery to completely drain and go into sleep mode).

Is this normal? Will the capacitance increase? I have included a screen shot from Coconut battery.

amholl · Mar 6, 2006

I didnt think they dropped that fast, but simme dropoff in capacity is normal, i believe.

macEfan · Mar 6, 2006

could be a bad battery. take it into apple and show them. your mac is still under warrenty, so no issues there.

Shamus · Mar 6, 2006

all batteries go down after a while, but not that fast. consult apple about a replacement or repair

devilot · Mar 6, 2006

FearFactor47, I'm assuming that you have already tried calibrating your battery? If so, and it still isn't performing well, maybe consider bringing it in to Apple.

Shaun.P · Mar 7, 2006

The thing is - I live in Scotland and there are no Apple shops. I have not had the computer for 4 months either, I got it on January 3rd 2006, which is just over 2 months ago.

What should I do? Phone Apple up?

I calibrated the battery when I got it, and also yesterday (i.e. letting the computer go into sleep mode then charge it back up? Can you have the computer on when you charge it back up?)

I am just off the phone to Apple (on for 25 minutes). They are sending me a brand new battery, which I am really pleased about!

devilot · Mar 7, 2006

FearFactor47 said:
They are sending me a brand new battery...

That's awesome. Glad things worked out for you. (And yes, that's how you calibrate the battery, and yes, it's all right to use the computer while it is charging.)

Shaun.P · Mar 7, 2006

Thanks! They were wanting me to remove the RAM I installed etc, I was like ''em, no!' lol.

CoMpX · Mar 7, 2006

I bought my iBook in July and it had about 90% when I bought it. It's at 85% now. I never thought anything of it, but my capacity was already 10% down when it was new. Is it too late to get it replaced by Apple? It's almost a year old now.

Shaun.P · Mar 7, 2006

I honestly don't know. I think the reason I got one was because it was really new (only 2 months). You could perhaps make a case with them if it's still under a year (you don't get new batteries after 1 year - even with Applecare).

It is worth a shot.

CoMpX · Mar 7, 2006

FearFactor47 said:
I honestly don't know. I think the reason I got one was because it was really new (only 2 months). You could perhaps make a case with them if it's still under a year (you don't get new batteries after 1 year - even with Applecare).

It is worth a shot.

Thanks, I will call them today when I get home from school.

GITANAJAVA · Mar 7, 2006

How to Check for Free Replacement Battery

Per my own experience with a bad battery:

Go to Apple's home page, scroll to bottom line, click on "Important Safety Recall" (of battery), READ the info, then just follow the instructions to see if your battery qualifies. Somehow, I'd missed the news about the recall and as it turned out, my 9-month old battery was splat in the lemon range. (You'll need serial numbers, etc., for your battery so pull it out and jot down the essentials before you begin to complete the forms.)

https://depot.info.apple.com/batteryexchange/index.html?lang=en

My new battery arrived, all shiny and new, within 2 business days. Hurrah!

https://depot.info.apple.com/batteryexchange/index.html?lang=en

Shaun.P · Mar 7, 2006

Does it come without a box? Or is it the fully boxed version that you would buy from the Apple store?

CoMpX · Mar 7, 2006

Apple sent me a new battery! Yay!

Shaun.P · Mar 8, 2006

New batteries all around! Yay! Lol.

Chundles · Mar 8, 2006

GITANAJAVA said:
Per my own experience with a bad battery:

Go to Apple's home page, scroll to bottom line, click on "Important Safety Recall" (of battery), READ the info, then just follow the instructions to see if your battery qualifies. Somehow, I'd missed the news about the recall and as it turned out, my 9-month old battery was splat in the lemon range. (You'll need serial numbers, etc., for your battery so pull it out and jot down the essentials before you begin to complete the forms.)

https://depot.info.apple.com/batteryexchange/index.html?lang=en

My new battery arrived, all shiny and new, within 2 business days. Hurrah!

https://depot.info.apple.com/batteryexchange/index.html?lang=en

I got stuck on the "send request" page, clicked it three times and it finally went through. Apple sent me three batteries and no return shipping charge or any other information. I rang them and told them all about it, said someone had received 7 batteries in one delivery and that it was quite common. So far still no shipping and it's been about 2 months - I have two good batteries and one recalled battery just sitting in their boxes on my desk in the bedroom.

I figure if they don't want them back I'm not going to put myself out to send them back - they're pretty heavy and I'm not springing for the shipping. They have my details, come and get 'em.

devilot · Mar 8, 2006

Chundles said:
So far still no shipping and it's been about 2 months - I have two good batteries and one recalled battery just sitting in their boxes on my desk in the bedroom.

I figure if they don't want them back I'm not going to put myself out to send them back - they're pretty heavy and I'm not springing for the shipping.

I'll spring for shipping! You can send one my way.

GITANAJAVA · Mar 8, 2006

Chundles said:
I got stuck on the "send request" page, clicked it three times and it finally went through. Apple sent me three batteries and no return shipping charge or any other information. I rang them and told them all about it, said someone had received 7 batteries in one delivery and that it was quite common. So far still no shipping and it's been about 2 months - I have two good batteries and one recalled battery just sitting in their boxes on my desk in the bedroom.

I figure if they don't want them back I'm not going to put myself out to send them back - they're pretty heavy and I'm not springing for the shipping. They have my details, come and get 'em.

Mo' batteries, mo' better! Maybe different shipping origins have different standards for returns -- mine arrived with a label, packing material, and of course the box, all with a sheet of instructions for returning the bad battery. *IF* you wanted to return the extra batteries and you'd received the same "return kit" I did, it would be a simple, no-cost way to return the extras. ;-)

Chundles · Mar 8, 2006

GITANAJAVA said:
Mo' batteries, mo' better! Maybe different shipping origins have different standards for returns -- mine arrived with a label, packing material, and of course the box, all with a sheet of instructions for returning the bad battery. *IF* you wanted to return the extra batteries and you'd received the same "return kit" I did, it would be a simple, no-cost way to return the extras. ;-)

That's what they said they'd send to me but all I got was three packing boxes. No labels, no instructions. Stuff em, they can have them back if they want them but so far, no correspondence.

Shamus · Mar 8, 2006

FearFactor47 said:
Does it come without a box? Or is it the fully boxed version that you would buy from the Apple store?

i got a battery replaced and it was in a simple cardboard box. No flash apple packaging or anything.....it doesnt really matter though...its only a battery after all.

Shaun.P · Mar 10, 2006

I receive the battery yesterday. I calibrated it and its capacity has went from 4400mAh to 4259mAh (96%). Do you think this is ok (losing 141 mAh?).

GITANAJAVA · Mar 10, 2006

Shamus said:
i got a battery replaced and it was in a simple cardboard box. No flash apple packaging or anything.....it doesnt really matter though...its only a battery after all.

So it goes sometimes. The old battery could become a conversation-starting paperweight, I suppose. We could start a new thread, "Uses for dead Mac batteries."

iBook Battery

macrumors 68000

macrumors 6502

macrumors 65816

macrumors 6502a

Moderator emeritus

macrumors 68000

Moderator emeritus

macrumors 68000

macrumors 65816

macrumors 68000

macrumors 65816

macrumors regular

macrumors 68000

macrumors 65816

macrumors 68000

macrumors G5

Moderator emeritus

macrumors regular

macrumors G5

macrumors 6502a

macrumors 68000

macrumors regular

Our Staff