Higher wattage chargers

[Mike Boreham]

I've been using the 5V 3A port at first, would charge really fast, but noticed that the battery would not last as usual. After switching to the 5V 1A, now the battery life seems more 'normal'. Given the year the laptop has been used.

Do you mean that if you charge up the computer to 100% using the 1A port the computer thens runs for longer than if you charge up the computer to 100% with the 3A port?

When it comes to these kind of issues I have learned the hard way to be sceptical of subjective impressions and only rely on hard data which can be difficult to obtain in a controlled way.

I would use the 5V 3A port personally. That is still only 15W compared to the 29W charger Apple supplies with the MacBook.

 

[Maxx Power]

I've been using the 5V 3A port at first, would charge really fast, but noticed that the battery would not last as usual. After switching to the 5V 1A, now the battery life seems more 'normal'. Given the year the laptop has been used.

There could be a variety of reasons...
Can your battery pack fully recharge a 50% depleted Macbook?

 

[iPodClassic1]

There could be a variety of reasons...
Can your battery pack fully recharge a 50% depleted Macbook?

Yes, and some more. I bought it because it advertised being able to fully charge one laptop or three phones. When fully charged, I can recharge my 50% laptop and still have for my phone and 4g router.

 

[Maxx Power]

Yes, and some more. I bought it because it advertised being able to fully charge one laptop or three phones. When fully charged, I can recharge my 50% laptop and still have for my phone and 4g router.

That's pretty impressive. Off of the top of my head, the temperature of the lithium-ion batteries have to do with their power availability because of the thermodynamics of the electrochemical potential inside the battery. I assume that if you fast charge, the battery slightly heats up and the OS thinks the battery is fuller than it is. I have observed quite a few of these instances where the OS mis-estimates the amount of battery charge because of two different things (1) temperature fluctuations of the battery and (2) drain rate fluctuations. For example, when I work on a VM and there is high battery drain, OS X may tell me that I have XX% battery remaining. As soon as I kill the VM, OS X now tells me that there is YY% remaining, which is usually about 5 to 10% more than XX%.

 

[iPodClassic1]

That's pretty impressive. Off of the top of my head, the temperature of the lithium-ion batteries have to do with their power availability because of the thermodynamics of the electrochemical potential inside the battery. I assume that if you fast charge, the battery slightly heats up and the OS thinks the battery is fuller than it is. I have observed quite a few of these instances where the OS mis-estimates the amount of battery charge because of two different things (1) temperature fluctuations of the battery and (2) drain rate fluctuations. For example, when I work on a VM and there is high battery drain, OS X may tell me that I have XX% battery remaining. As soon as I kill the VM, OS X now tells me that there is YY% remaining, which is usually about 5 to 10% more than XX%.

That is a quite interesting theory, and sounds about right.
You can notice that also when you go to the login screen on OSX, you see a battery number; and then login in, it's a different number (usually more), have you noticed?

 

[Maxx Power]

That is a quite interesting theory, and sounds about right.
You can notice that also when you go to the login screen on OSX, you see a battery number; and then login in, it's a different number (usually more), have you noticed?

I have not noticed the login/logout difference. But it is interesting. Does this happen on your first log-in or does this happen between breaks in work on the MB ?

 

[iPodClassic1]

I have not noticed the login/logout difference. But it is interesting. Does this happen on your first log-in or does this happen between breaks in work on the MB ?

Hi, this happens after my first login. I have not payed attention if it happens between breaks. Batt on login screen shows much lower than when logged in.