How to interpret battery status info?

[fessen]

I have a replacement battery that's just over a year old.

Here's what the OS X (10.6.8) battery info shows:

Charge Information:
Charge remaining (mAh): 13007
Fully charged: No
Charging: No
Full charge capacity (mAh): 13022
Health Information:
Cycle count: 1
Condition: Normal
Battery Installed: Yes
Amperage (mA): 0
Voltage (mV): 8273

(The battery isn't working reliably anymore. Sometimes the power indicator shows it at 100% charge; other times there's just an X in the charging icon, apparently indicating that no battery is recognized. Either way, if I try to use the computer without it being plugged into an electrical outlet, it usually won't run, or will only run for a few minutes.
The status info above is from right now with the battery charge status icon showing 100%.)

 

[Bruno09]

Hi,

what model of Mac is it ?

Did you already do an SMC reset ?

 

[DeltaMac]

Most of the numbers that you list, appear bogus to me.
Such as: only 1 charge cycle, after about a year, not correct, unless you NEVER have used it on battery.
Full charge capacity, on a good, new battery, would more likely be in the range of 5,000 to 7,000. 13,022 looks way too high.
Voltage, 8273 mV (8.27 volts), not correct (too low!). Normal is more than 12 volts (over 12,000 mV)

Third party replacement batteries, often those from China, tend to be unreliable at best, and you're lucky to get more than a few months use. Their only redeeming quality is that they are cheap, so it's a Good Thing™ to buy two or three at a time, so you have a spare when one fails. (Notice how I used the word "when", and not "if" )

 

[snaky69]

I have a replacement battery that's just over a year old.

Here's what the OS X (10.6.8) battery info shows:

Charge Information:
Charge remaining (mAh): 13007
Fully charged: No
Charging: No
Full charge capacity (mAh): 13022
Health Information:
Cycle count: 1
Condition: Normal
Battery Installed: Yes
Amperage (mA): 0
Voltage (mV): 8273

(The battery isn't working reliably anymore. Sometimes the power indicator shows it at 100% charge; other times there's just an X in the charging icon, apparently indicating that no battery is recognized. Either way, if I try to use the computer without it being plugged into an electrical outlet, it usually won't run, or will only run for a few minutes.
The status info above is from right now with the battery charge status icon showing 100%.)

Let me guess, it's not a genuine Apple battery is it?

 

[fessen]

It's a 17-inch unibody MBP, early 2009.

 

[fessen]

Hi,

what model of Mac is it ?

Did you already do an SMC reset ?

Now I have removed and reinserted the battery.
The new readings:

Charge Information:
Charge remaining (mAh): 13021
Fully charged: Yes
Charging: No
Full charge capacity (mAh): 13022
Health Information:
Cycle count: 1
Condition: Normal
Battery Installed: Yes
Amperage (mA): 0
Voltage (mV): 8265

 

[DeltaMac]

Those numbers just are not correct. There's no way to tell if they indicate a good or bad battery. The numbers are just wrong.
And - unfortunately, that's what may happen with many no-name batteries.

Anyway, you already said that your battery is not reliable.
You don't really need numbers to decide, when you don't seem to trust the battery now. You can get replacement batteries through Apple, or there's a few retailers that I would choose, such as OWC
Some folks here don't care for OWC, but I have always had good luck with items that they sell, with responsive tech service when I need it. They stand behind what they sell, and they know Macs.
(Avoid batteries from eBay like the plague - I have read about scary incidents with cheap-o batteries from eBay, etc. )

 

[fessen]

Hi,

what model of Mac is it ?

Did you already do an SMC reset ?

Removing and reinserting the battery seems to have helped battery function.
I've been able to run off battery power since then, although the status monitor in About This Mac still isn't very useful. The charging icon is working though.