Battery suddenly dies when it says it still has ~20 minutes, even after calibration

[devburke]

I’ve calibrated my battery and everything, but it always suddenly drops out well before it says it will, often before I even get a low battery warning. Here’s what System Profiler says:

Battery Information:

Model Information:
Manufacturer: DP
Device name: ASMB016
Pack Lot Code: 0002
PCB Lot Code: 0000
Firmware Version: 102a
Hardware Revision: 0500
Cell Revision: 0102
Charge Information:
Charge remaining (mAh): 467
Fully charged: No
Charging: Yes
Full charge capacity (mAh): 5083
Health Information:
Cycle count: 620
Condition: Normal
Battery Installed: Yes
Amperage (mA): 2322
Voltage (mV): 10971

Should I contact AppleCare? Will I get a new battery? I’m still under my plan, cuz this is a mid-2007 MacBook and I bought the three year AppleCare plan.

 

[run-kmc]

Capacity is 5083 mAh. That shows you were at 467 mAh. Less than 10%.

I'd keep a closer eye on percentage, not time left. That's just an estimate.

 

[devburke]

Capacity is 5083 mAh. That shows you were at 467 mAh. Less than 10%.

I'd keep a closer eye on percentage, not time left. That's just an estimate.

Well yeah, that's cuz I posted this right after plugging in after it suddenly died. It shouldn't even be that close to 10%. Looking at the percent would be just as misleading as the time left, since the whole thing seems to be off about how much battery power is left. I don't even get the low battery warnings any more, so I don't get safe sleep either, I have to cold boot.

 

[xraydoc]

My daugter's original white Core Duo MacBook is doing the same thing. I've tried resetting the PMU/SMU (whichever this machine has), PRAM and repeated battery calibrations.

I think I'll just have to cough up for a new battery.

 

[Thiol]

Well yeah, that's cuz I posted this right after plugging in after it suddenly died. It shouldn't even be that close to 10%. Looking at the percent would be just as misleading as the time left, since the whole thing seems to be off about how much battery power is left. I don't even get the low battery warnings any more, so I don't get safe sleep either, I have to cold boot.

Try talking to Applecare. It just sounds like an old battery, not a broken one, but maybe they'll exchange it. Who knows...