Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Battery life

Y

Yass-Attack

macrumors member
Original poster
Nov 1, 2010
57
0
My macbook pro's (late 2009) battery is dying and the service battery sign came up. I was worried it wouldn't even get me through my 3h class but it did (with a little trouble and minimum brightness)...I ran coconut battery and this came up.



Should I get it changed now? I need it to last me at least 3 hours on with a bit of heavy use, like word and some internet (class gets boring so i need Facebook).
 
If you suspect your battery readings are inaccurate, calibration should help. If they are accurate, the next question is do you have AppleCare? Your battery should retain up to 80% of its capacity for up to 1000 cycles. Yours is well below that. If you're still covered by AppleCare, take it to the Apple store for a replacement.

This should answer most, if not all, of your battery questions:
 
GGJstudios said:
If you suspect your battery readings are inaccurate, calibration should help. If they are accurate, the next question is do you have AppleCare? Your battery should retain up to 80% of its capacity for up to 1000 cycles. Yours is well below that. If you're still covered by AppleCare, take it to the Apple store for a replacement.

This should answer most, if not all, of your battery questions:
Click to expand...

I am pretty sure it is accurate, my computer also just dropped 4% in 3 mins since I had a game open. I am not covered by applecare so I guess i'll be forking up $139+. Thanks for answering my Q so quickly.
 
Yass-Attack said:
I am pretty sure it is accurate, my computer also just dropped 4% in 3 mins since I had a game open. I am not covered by applecare so I guess i'll be forking up $139+. Thanks for answering my Q so quickly.
Click to expand...
Have you been calibrating your battery regularly, like once a month? If not, your battery level and capacity readings can be way off. Anyhow, I'd calibrate it anyway, just to be sure.
 
gorskiegangsta said:
Have you been calibrating your battery regularly, like once a month? If not, your battery level and capacity readings can be way off. Anyhow, I'd calibrate it anyway, just to be sure.
Click to expand...
The OP's model does not require regular calibration.
 
GGJstudios said:
Read the first paragraph in the CALIBRATION section of the Battery FAQ I posted.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Ironically, I was reading the Apple forums where a few threads mentioned that it's recommended to calibrate regularly but I completely forgot to check Apple's official guide. So I guess the only users that have to regularly calibrate are the ones who use their MBP plugged in most of the time; is that correct?
 
gorskiegangsta said:
Thanks. Ironically, I was reading the Apple forums where a few threads mentioned that it's recommended to calibrate regularly but I completely forgot to check Apple's official guide. So I guess the only users that have to regularly calibrate are the ones who use their MBP plugged in most of the time; is that correct?
Click to expand...
Apparently, you didn't read the Battery FAQ, so I'll quote it here:
GGJstudios said:
The built-in batteries in the newer Mac unibody notebooks come pre-calibrated and do not require regular calibration like the removable batteries.
Click to expand...
If you click that link, you'll find:
Portables with built-in batteries
Current Apple portable computer batteries are pre-calibrated and do not require the calibration procedure outlined in this article. These computers use batteries that should be replaced only by an Apple Authorized Service Provider.

MacBook
  • MacBook (13-inch, Late 2009) and later
MacBook Air
  • MacBook Air, all versions
MacBook Pro
  • MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2009) and later
  • MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009) and later
  • MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009) and later
Click to expand...
Owners of these portables can still calibrate if they suspect their readings are inaccurate, but regular calibration is not necessary with these models.
 
Yass-Attack said:
I am pretty sure it is accurate, my computer also just dropped 4% in 3 mins since I had a game open. I am not covered by applecare so I guess i'll be forking up $139+. Thanks for answering my Q so quickly.
Click to expand...

Playing games aren't really... the most battery efficient things you can do on laptops. Still, when the battery health falls below 80 percent, I think it's time to get it swapped out.

Calibrate it if you want; I'd suggest getting it replaced though.
 
gorskiegangsta said:
Thanks. Ironically, I was reading the Apple forums where a few threads mentioned that it's recommended to calibrate regularly but I completely forgot to check Apple's official guide. So I guess the only users that have to regularly calibrate are the ones who use their MBP plugged in most of the time; is that correct?
Click to expand...

I would deffs be in that group of people


Young Spade said:
Playing games aren't really... the most battery efficient things you can do on laptops. Still, when the battery health falls below 80 percent, I think it's time to get it swapped out.

Calibrate it if you want; I'd suggest getting it replaced though.
Click to expand...

Yah I totally agree with you, but that aside....the battery seems to die fast even when i'm just browsing sites like Facebook or even simply using Word and nothing else. And I think I will get it replaced, and asap too. How long is the battery covered for? Cause i don't want to deal with this again in a year or two when i'm still under 1000 cycles.
 
GGJstudios said:
The first part of the Battery FAQ in the 2nd post describes warranty info.
Click to expand...

I think there's something missing from the FAQ. On apple's main battery page for notebooks it states that if the computer is usually connected to external power(rarely unplugged), that it should be discharged an re-charged at least once a month(not calibration, just a full discharge).
Did not see it in the FAQ(though i admit i did not look all over it, just in specific places where it might seem relevant).
 
urimils said:
I think there's something missing from the FAQ. On apple's main battery page for notebooks it states that if the computer is usually connected to external power(rarely unplugged), that it should be discharged an re-charged at least once a month(not calibration, just a full discharge).
Did not see it in the FAQ(though i admit i did not look all over it, just in specific places where it might seem relevant).
Click to expand...
Check out the AC POWER section near the bottom of the FAQ.
 
Do not perform a full discharge on lithium polymer batteries on a regular basis -- especially newer batteries.
If you want to perform a maintenance discharge, run it down to 40% and you are good.
 
GGJstudios said:
If you suspect your battery readings are inaccurate, calibration should help. If they are accurate, the next question is do you have AppleCare? Your battery should retain up to 80% of its capacity for up to 1000 cycles. Yours is well below that. If you're still covered by AppleCare, take it to the Apple store for a replacement.

This should answer most, if not all, of your battery questions:
Click to expand...

I was at the Apple store the other day and was speaking with a Genius about the battery in my 2009 MacBook Pro. He told me that Apple only covers the battery under warantee if it is defective. My battery was reaching the 80% mark and that it was not covered under the warantee. But then he said he would replace the battery in my MacBook Pro free of charge as a courtesy. I do have AppleCare. Even with that being said Apple is good about taking care of their customers and wanting them to be happy. The Genius also told me that he had some leeway on the battery replacement.
 
whiteonline said:
Do not perform a full discharge on lithium polymer batteries on a regular basis -- especially newer batteries.
If you want to perform a maintenance discharge, run it down to 40% and you are good.
Click to expand...
That's incorrect. It's no problem to fully discharge Apple batteries.... Apple even recommends it. Stopping at 40% isn't the same thing and isn't necessary.
 
GGJstudios said:
That's incorrect. It's no problem to fully discharge Apple batteries.... Apple even recommends it. Stopping at 40% isn't the same thing and isn't necessary.
Click to expand...

Fully discharging a LiPo is not good for the wearing of the cells (Apple branded or not). If you go too far (too deep of a discharge during that 5 hour sleep period) cells in the pack may not accept a charge again. Stuff happens...
Just saying, it should be done as a last resort.
 
whiteonline said:
Fully discharging a LiPo is not good for the wearing of the cells (Apple branded or not). If you go too far (too deep of a discharge during that 5 hour sleep period) cells in the pack may not accept a charge again. Stuff happens...
Just saying, it should be done as a last resort.
Click to expand...

Fully discharging the battery should cause no problems. You may damage the battery only if you leave it in a discharged state for far too long (i.e. much longer than 5 hrs).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back