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External monitor without being plugged in?

T

traumuhhtize

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 6, 2012
91
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Does anybody know if it's possible to use an external monitor without having your MBP plugged in? I don't want to have my computer at 100% all of the time so that's why I'm asking and because I just find it nicer to have a bigger screen.
Thanks.
 
I do this most of the time. It has to be plugged in to power if you use the MBP closed lid with an external monitor. But if you plug in an external monitor as a secondary screen and leave your MBP open, it doesn't need to be plugged in.
 
I guess there isn't a way around this :( I already knew about the second tip but thanks anyways.
 
traumuhhtize said:
Does anybody know if it's possible to use an external monitor without having your MBP plugged in? I don't want to have my computer at 100% all of the time so that's why I'm asking and because I just find it nicer to have a bigger screen.
Thanks.
Click to expand...

With 100% you probably mean the battery? If so, take a look here to learn, that it is not that bad to use the MBP with the power adapter and that older battery technology frelled up many people's ideas about how batteries work.

______________________________________________________
This should answer most, if not all, of your battery questions:
Apple Notebook Battery FAQ by GGJstudios
The F.A.Q. includes the following topics:
  • BATTERY INFORMATION
  • BATTERY LIFE FROM A CHARGE
  • AC POWER
  • CALIBRATION
  • BATTERY LIFESPAN
  • CHECKING STATUS AND HEALTH
  • CHARGING
  • WHAT IS A CYCLE?
  • BATTERIES ARE NOT COVERED
  • BULGING OR SWELLING BATTERY

______________________________________________________​
 
I think the OP was talking about battery life being at 100%. It's not an issue but as the post above said people still worry about it as if its old tech
 
traumuhhtize said:
How then? That's why I created this thread.
Click to expand...

You could connect your MBP to the monitor without the computer being plugged into the wall. But then that defeats the purpose.

There is really no way around this. But it is not going to do damage to your battery by plugging it in and having it connected to an external monitor.
 
PDFierro said:
You could connect your MBP to the monitor without the computer being plugged into the wall. But then that defeats the purpose.

There is really no way around this. But it is not going to do damage to your battery by plugging it in and having it connected to an external monitor.
Click to expand...

I'm connected to a tv so I don't think there's a way around this. I guess I'll have to keep it plugged in then.
 
traumuhhtize said:
I'm connected to a tv so I don't think there's a way around this. I guess I'll have to keep it plugged in then.
Click to expand...

Keep it plugged in, you're not damaging anything.

People's mind are still stuck in the Ni-Cad age of batteries. Li-Pol batteries can be used every which way you darn feel like using it. So long as I doesn't get excessively hot or cold, or excessively drained, it'll still die a slow death at around 800-1000 cycles, whether you kept it plugged in 100% of the time or not.
 
Run the "NoSleep" app/kernel extension and your MBP won't go to sleep when unplugged from power and the lid is closed, can be configured to have NoSleep enabled or disabled when plugged in, on battery, or both.

Or am I missing something? I run NoSleep on both MBPs without issue because I don't want to lose my network connections when I close the lid and move around the office, etc. You could use this to prevent it from sleeping while plugged into the TV and the lid is closed.
 
traumuhhtize said:
How then? That's why I created this thread.
Click to expand...

The same way you would if the laptop was plugged into the wall ? Am i missing something here ?

Or do you mean you want to power the external monitor via the internal macbook battery? .. I highhly doubt thats possible.
 
Yahooligan said:
Run the "NoSleep" app/kernel extension and your MBP won't go to sleep when unplugged from power and the lid is closed, can be configured to have NoSleep enabled or disabled when plugged in, on battery, or both.

Or am I missing something? I run NoSleep on both MBPs without issue because I don't want to lose my network connections when I close the lid and move around the office, etc. You could use this to prevent it from sleeping while plugged into the TV and the lid is closed.
Click to expand...

It says on the app that it won't keep laptops awake when the lid is closed. So do you have an old version or something?

Zeov said:
The same way you would if the laptop was plugged into the wall ? Am i missing something here ?

Or do you mean you want to power the external monitor via the internal macbook battery? .. I highhly doubt thats possible.
Click to expand...

Yes that's what I mean.
 
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