2012 13” non-Retina MBP Fast Battery Drain

[Auggie]

My 2012 MacBook Pro 13” just started to drain its battery FAST right after disconnecting power adapter; approximately 1% per minute. I’ve never experienced something like this in any of the previous MacBooks I’ve had over the years as the typical symptom of dead battery has been not holding a charge at all

Is this a sign of a dying battery? Or is it an issue with the recent 10.13.x beta I updated to a week ago?

 

[mj_]

A dying battery can make itself noticeable via a plethora of symptoms, one of which is certainly a quick drain.
Have you tried running coconutBattery to check your battery's health? How old is your battery? What's the cycle count and the ratio between full charge capacity and design capacity?

 

[Audit13]

What is the battery status in system report?

You could also install the coconut battery app to view the battery's health.

 

[ZapNZs]

This can be a sign of the battery life reaching a point where it needs to be serviced. If you have already verified that this is not software-induced drain (seems unlikely given how rapid this is) and have reset the SMC, then having the battery tested is probably the next step.

 

[Fishrrman]

As mentioned above, use Coconut Battery to check the battery's health.
On a 5-year-old MacBook, used heavily, it -could- be "wearing out" on you.

You didn't say whether the MBPro you have is retina or non-retina.
IF it's a non-retina MBPro, the battery replacement is relatively easy for anyone to do with the right tools.
Go to ifixit.com to see what's involved.
They can also sell you the battery and the tools (or you can find them online).

DON'T buy "the cheapest" battery you can find. They are not the equal of more decent ones.

IMPORTANT:
If you do the replacement yourself, DON'T attempt to lift the battery connector from the motherboard using a screwdriver or anything made of metal. Use your fingers.
Others have attempted to do this using a screwdriver, and have SHORTED OUT the motherboard, ruining it!

 

[Auggie]

The battery is the original battery that it came with.

According to System Report, the battery is NORMAL.

According to CoconutBattery, it was manufactured 4/17/2013, it's status is GOOD, it is at 79.5% of it's DESIGNED capacity, it has 125 cycles and is currently discharging 15.92 W.

So these reports suggests it's not the battery.

I beg to differ, but the only way to really test is to boot into a different OS. I have Windows 10 Boot Camp so I will be seeing how the battery drain fares under that...

 

[ZapNZs]

I missed the beta OS part

Have you tried resetting the SMC and booting into safe mode? (I am guessing you have and are already aware this blocks all third party startup items in the event that it is not the OS itself but a 3rd party App with a launch agent/daemon that isn't playing well with a new feature introduced to High Sierra)

If drain in Win10 (or if you reinstall a stable OS or install a stable OS on an external SSD and the drain continues), then a testing of the battery with something more accurate than Coconut battery may be worthwhile (as it is best for a relative guess, but it can sometimes be wildly inaccurate or fail to report certain issues.) That threshold is technically at the end of the defined service life (although the speed of battery loss is notably high even at this point.) Also, because it only has 125 cycles, this suggests it has spent most of its life charged. If that is the case, this tends to correlate with a shorter service life.

Just to be sure, have you opened the case to ensure there is no physical deformations (e.g., pillowing, wrinkling, etc.)?

 

[acorntoy]

The battery is the original battery that it came with.

According to System Report, the battery is NORMAL.

According to CoconutBattery, it was manufactured 4/17/2013, it's status is GOOD, it is at 79.5% of it's DESIGNED capacity, it has 125 cycles and is currently discharging 15.92 W.

So these reports suggests it's not the battery.

I beg to differ, but the only way to really test is to boot into a different OS. I have Windows 10 Boot Camp so I will be seeing how the battery drain fares under that...

If it's at 79% thats EOL for a lithium-Ion regardless of the cycles or other factors. (As the iPhone forum has been learning recently...)

 

[Auggie]

I missed the beta OS part

Also, because it only has 125 cycles, this suggests it has spent most of its life charged. If that is the case, this tends to correlate with a shorter service life.

With my iPads and desktop Mac Pro, I seldom found the need for my laptop anymore when on the road. So yea, it's essentially tethered to the power adapter downstairs and used there when I need a "real" computer in a jiffy without heading upstairs to my Mac Pro.

Just to be sure, have you opened the case to ensure there is no physical deformations (e.g., pillowing, wrinkling, etc.)?

Haven't opened it up yet but may do so if all other tests prove inconclusive.

If it's at 79% thats EOL for a lithium-Ion regardless of the cycles or other factors. (As the iPhone forum has been learning recently...)

Yea, that percentage to me seemed awfully low, which it and its age leads me to believe the battery is on the way out...

 

[MacInTO]

With my iPads and desktop Mac Pro, I seldom found the need for my laptop anymore when on the road. So yea, it's essentially tethered to the power adapter downstairs and used there when I need a "real" computer in a jiffy without heading upstairs to my Mac Pro.

If you keep it plugged in, you do not have to worry about the battery. Just monitor it in case it starts to swell. I used a battery with 1250 cycles and the Service Battery status for over a year before I replaced it.

 

[robvas]

The battery is still 5+ years old...

 

[Auggie]

If you keep it plugged in, you do not have to worry about the battery. Just monitor it in case it starts to swell. I used a battery with 1250 cycles and the Service Battery status for over a year before I replaced it.

Well, when I truly need my laptop to be mobile, I'd by SOL if I didn't get the battery replaced beforehand, so even though it's presently tethered, there will come a situation where I will need it do it's "thing," which may be at a moment's notice.

The battery is still 5+ years old...

This.

 

[Auggie]

Any recommendations for a source of a new replacement battery?

MacBookBatteries offers one for $55, there are Fleabay "genuine" Apple batteries for $33 shipped, and then there are the iFixit batteries for $90 plus shipping and tax...

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"According to CoconutBattery, it was manufactured 4/17/2013, it's status is GOOD, it is at 79.5% of it's DESIGNED capacity"

There's your problem.
Once the battery's health drops down to about where you are now, it's just not going to hold a charge that long any more.

Time for a replacement.

Changing the battery on a non-retina MBPro is easy, just about anyone can do it.
Go to ifixit.com to see what's involved.
BE SURE TO USE THE RIGHT TOOLS (they're listed at ifixit).

You can buy the battery and tools from ifixit or elsewhere.
DON'T buy a "cheapo" one -- many won't last more than a year.

Warning:
When you take the back off, DO NOT use any kind of metal tool when disconnecting the battery connector. Some folks have done this and have SHORTED OUT the motherboards!
Use your fingers or a plastic "spudger" instead!

 

[MacInTO]

Any recommendations for a source of a new replacement battery?

MacBookBatteries offers one for $55, there are Fleabay "genuine" Apple batteries for $33 shipped, and then there are the iFixit batteries for $90 plus shipping and tax...

If you don't plan on using it that much without the power adapter, I'd say get the cheapest battery you can find - as long as you can return it if it is a dud.

If you depend on it, get it from ifixit.

I bought one from Amazon last summer for $17 and it's been working great ever since. I bought the last one from that seller. But I based it on reviews and price.