Another Battery Life/Cycles Thread

[-aggie-]

And they say iPhone forums are bad.

Some on here don't seem to understand what a cycle is. Discharging to 0% and charging to 100% is one cycle. Discharging to 95% and charging to 100% 20 times is one cycle. Discharging to 50% and charging to 100% two times is one cycle.

Calibration only helps to "calibrate" the battery meter. No more, no less.

 

[GGJstudios]

You said yourself that you almost drain your battery entirely every few days; this basically ensures that you add cycles to your battery when you do not NEED TO.

2. Draining the battery once every few days JUST because you think that this will somehow increase the battery's longevity.

Reading comprehension would certainly help you. Where did I ever say I was "Draining the battery once every few days JUST because I think that this will somehow increase the battery's longevity"? How do you jump to the conclusion that I "add cycles to my battery when you I not NEED TO." How do you know when I'm near an outlet and when I'm not? How do you determine that I'm needlessly cycling a battery, when you have no idea how or where I use my computer?

My exact statement was "I run with mine plugged in for 2-3 days at a time, then I run it on battery until it's almost drained." You draw a lot of erroneous assumptions from reading such a simple statement.

And Apple recommends a calibration every "month" not two.

Correction, from Calibrating a portable computer battery

Calibrate your battery during the first week you own it, and then recalibrate it every two months. If you use your computer infrequently, it’s best to recalibrate it at least once a month.

You can always purchase a new battery when it cannot hold a charge.

That's a pretty expensive recommendation for owners of new MacBook Pros, since the battery isn't user-replaceable.

 

[miker2209]

If i was to fully charge my battery and let it be for 2 hours then unplug it and deplete it then leave it for atleast 3 hours for calibration.
If during the time my battery depletes and i was to put it to sleep. then turn it back on. will that still count as a calibration or would it not?

 

[Max(IT)]

If i was to fully charge my battery and let it be for 2 hours then unplug it and deplete it then leave it for atleast 3 hours for calibration.
If during the time my battery depletes and i was to put it to sleep. then turn it back on. will that still count as a calibration or would it not?

It's fine, because battery keep depleting (very slow) during "sleep time".

But it's better to leave the notebook unplugged for 5 hours before recharge it, as stated in Apple's documentation

 

[applebook]

I'll learn to read when (I guess I should say "if") you learn what you're actually talking about instead of copy/pasting from Apple.



Calibration has nothing to do with battery life. It has everything to do with what battery life is reported. Learn what you're actually talking about instead of copy/pasting from Apple.



Really? Is it "far better"? How far is it? Can you offer the discussion anything other than broad generalizations, copy/pasted statements you don't know the meaning of, or plain old-fashioned misinformation? Learn what you're actually talking about instead of copy/pasting from Apple.



You seem to be under the impression that I let my minimal concerns over battery health dictate how and when I go off mains. I can assure you this is incorrect; unlike many I'm much more concerned with getting my work done as I need to than possibly shelling out a whole $150 five years from now to get a new one.

To those who overworry about their battery: read ayeying's post.
To those who repeatedly spread misinformation and attempt to fearmonger: get over yourselves.

Are you serious? You can a reply that was never directed at you and then go off?

Too bad for such a draconian forum, this place lacks an ignore function. I will choose manually to ignore you and the other fear monger on this thread. He's probably too busy calibrating his batter anyway.

 

[GGJstudios]

... too busy calibrating his batter anyway.

Batter doesn't need calibrating. Only batteries do.

 

[applebook]

Correction, from Calibrating a portable computer battery





That's a pretty expensive recommendation for owners of new MacBook Pros, since the battery isn't user-replaceable.

Correction, "Apple recommends charging and discharging its battery at least once per month."

http://www.apple.com/batteries/notebooks.html

It looks as if you think Apple is somehow almighty and isn't subject to contradiction.

And, yes, all MBP batteries are replaceable. Anyone with, um, a screwdriver can do it.

Stop making up garbage. There is a difference between assumption and simply inability to read proper English. I will ASSUME that English is not your main language and excuse you.

 

[GGJstudios]

Correction, "Apple recommends charging and discharging its battery at least once per month."

Charging and discharging is NOT the same as calibrating. The two are distinctly different.

If on the other hand, you use a desktop computer at work, and save a notebook for infrequent travel, Apple recommends charging and discharging its battery at least once per month.

Calibrate your battery during the first week you own it, and then recalibrate it every two months. If you use your computer infrequently, it’s best to recalibrate it at least once a month.

The bottom line is:
1: If you use a notebook on battery frequently, calibrate it once every two months.
2: If you rarely use a notebook, because your primary computer is a desktop, recalibrate it once a month.

And, yes, all MBP batteries are replaceable. Anyone with, um, a screwdriver can do it.

Can you get ANYTHING right?

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3371
​

The battery in these MacBook and MacBook Pro models should only be replaced by an Apple Authorized Service Provider. Please do not attempt to replace the battery in your Apple portable computer yourself if it is on this list:

MacBook Pro

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2009)
MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009)
MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2.53GHz, Mid 2009)
MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2009)
MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009)
MacBook

MacBook (13-inch, Late 2009)

... this place lacks an ignore function.

Yet another bit of misinformation!
On the user Control Panel:

​

 

[ayeying]

Correction, from Calibrating a portable computer battery

My mistake. For some reason Apple lists it as "1 month" on the batteries' page and 2 months for the 10.6 Help page.

 

[applebook]

Charging and discharging is NOT the same as calibrating. The two are distinctly different.


The bottom line is:
1: If you use a notebook on battery frequently, calibrate it once every two months.
2: If you rarely use a notebook, because your primary computer is a desktop, recalibrate it once a month.


Can you get ANYTHING right?

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3371
​

Yet another bit of misinformation!
On the user Control Panel:

View attachment 209558​

First of all, thanks for the ignore function heads up. Secondly, Ayeing was not incorrect. Apple does indeed recommend calibrating the battery differently on two different pages. On one page, Apple states to calibrate it once a month, while here http://www.apple.com/batteries/notebooks.html Apple says to discharge and recharge it at least one per month.

No, discharging and recharging is not the same thing, but the problem is that this term is used interchangeably with calibration.

You actually listen to Apple about battery replacement? OK, now I know why you're so dogmatic about battery calibration. LOL.

I repeat, replacing the battery in the current unibody MacBook Pro is as easy as unscrewing the bottom plate and THREE simple screws, then unplugging the battery cord. Anyone can do this. Just because Apple insists that you don't, it doesn't mean that you can't. The battery is definitely replaceable.

 

[GGJstudios]

... but the problem is that this term is used interchangeably with calibration.

Only by uninformed users, not by Apple.

I repeat, replacing the battery in the current unibody MacBook Pro is as easy as unscrewing the bottom plate and THREE simple screws, then unplugging the battery cord. Anyone can do this. Just because Apple insists that you don't, it doesn't mean that you can't. The battery is definitely replaceable.

As I said, "That's a pretty expensive recommendation for owners of new MacBook Pros, since the battery isn't user-replaceable."
I didn't say it was impossible. I said it's an expensive recommendation, since Apple considers them not to be user-replaceable. Therefore, doing so can void the warranty, whether it's possible or not.

 

[ayeying]

I repeat, replacing the battery in the current unibody MacBook Pro is as easy as unscrewing the bottom plate and THREE simple screws, then unplugging the battery cord. Anyone can do this. Just because Apple insists that you don't, it doesn't mean that you can't. The battery is definitely replaceable.

The integrated battery on the MacBook Pros are held by the plate with at about 10 screws (8 for the 13" models probably and the white MacBook), not 3.

Furthermore, inside, the screws that holds the battery down are not phillip head, they are a awkward star shaped as seen here:

http://s1.guide-images.ifixit.com/igi/1hMkAHASRG5KcL3V.huge

iFixit says it is a "Tri-Wing" shaped screw as per said here on Step 5.

http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/MacBook-Unibody-Model-A1342/1239/1

While it's not impossible, most home users won't have these type of non-standard tools.

 

[Max(IT)]

I repeat, replacing the battery in the current unibody MacBook Pro is as easy as unscrewing the bottom plate and THREE simple screws, then unplugging the battery cord. Anyone can do this. Just because Apple insists that you don't, it doesn't mean that you can't. The battery is definitely replaceable.

Yes, you can, but if Apple said that you can't, you are going to void the precious Applecare.

 

[Macshroomer]

The computer has a battery in it, USE the freaking thing! You don't have to deep cycle it like a learjet battery but you should use it.

By the way, I am on hour 2+ of a flight using the net, chat, itunes running just my SSD on low screen and I am 70%, meter shows 4:14 left.