Is it ok to leave mbp plugged almost all of the time?

[vincenz]

Apple and most MBP owners would differ with you. If you haven't properly calibrated, your 100% health indication is likely inaccurate. Also, your cycles indicate an average of 2.7 cycles a month, which is about a cycle every 10 days, not once a month.. It will absolutely shorten battery life if you leave it plugged in all the time. The best use is to run on battery every 2-3 days, not just once a month.

I calibrate it once a month when I unplug. I don't run it down and then replug it right away-- I'm not a robot. I unplug and use it normally for a while, going through a few cycles, then replug. There have been times when I don't unplug for 2-3 months. Other than that, it stays plugged in 100% of the time. iStat and coconut tells me a very different story from what you're trying to convince yourself of.

And the last time I checked, I still get 4.5-5 hrs of normal usage, just as when I first got the computer. Haven't had problems and hope it doesn't in the future. So long as it stays this way, it's proof that you don't need to follow your bible-manual to a T.

 

[Charlie Sheen]

It really amazes me that people would rather get on here and take the time to post a new thread (on a topic that's been posted to death), and wait for answers, rather than just search Apple support pages. Or, god forbid, READING YOUR MANUAL!

I'd rather answer a tousand stupid questions and helping people than hearing that someone dammaged his item due to the lack of people willing to share their experiences.

 

[GGJstudios]

ISo long as it stays this way, it's proof that you don't need to follow your bible-manual to a T.

It's not my manual; it's Apple's instructions, right from their website. You can use or misuse your Mac any way you want to, but I'll keep posting accurate information for those who want to know the proper way to care for their battery... according to Apple, which is a far more reliable and trustworthy source than any individual poster in a forum.

 

[vincenz]

You can use or misuse your Mac any way you want to, but I'll keep posting accurate information for those who want to know the proper way to care for their battery... according to Apple, which is a far more reliable and trustworthy source than any individual poster in a forum.

At this point "accurate" is not the correct word. "Recommended" would be more apt.

And you are very misled if you think that a manual is more reliable than the collective word of experienced people. Leads to very dangerous societies, as history can remind us of. But hey, if you enjoy that sort of thing, who's to stop you.

 

[GGJstudios]

At this point "accurate" is not the correct word. "Recommended" would be more apt.

And you are very misled if you think that a manual is more reliable than the collective word of experienced people. Leads to very dangerous societies, as history can remind us of. But hey, if you enjoy that sort of thing, who's to stop you.

What I post IS accurate information directly from Apple. If you choose to ignore the recommendations of the manufacturer, that's up to you. Many people prefer to follow the manufacturer's recommendations on how to care for a product, so if it doesn't perform as expected, the manufacturer, not the user, can be held responsible. Apple will replace a battery if you follow their recommendations and the battery doesn't live up to their published life expectancy. You won't.

 

[vincenz]

What I post IS accurate information directly from Apple. If you choose to ignore the recommendations of the manufacturer, that's up to you. Many people prefer to follow the manufacturer's recommendations on how to care for a product, so if it doesn't perform as expected, the manufacturer, not the user, can be held responsible. Apple will replace a battery if you follow their recommendations and the battery doesn't live up to their published life expectancy. You won't.

Yeh, except if people relied on manuals entirely and if they were the sole correct source of information, forums like this wouldn't exist/wouldn't need to exist. That people are here and asking is enough proof.

Which brings me back to my point of your endless/brainless copy-pasting of manuals.

And my battery is living up to and exceeding my expectations, thanks very much. Oh and by the way, your manual says batteries are not covered by AppleCare. In case you forgot.

 

[GGJstudios]

Yeh, except if people relied on manuals entirely and if they were the sole correct source of information, forums like this wouldn't exist/wouldn't need to exist. That people are here and asking is enough proof.

That's not proof of anything. There are people here asking all kinds of questions that they could have found in their user manual or by reading Apple's site. That doesn't mean that the answers posted here are more accurate or factual than the answers provided by Apple. The fact remains, no poster in this forum is a more reliable source of information about Macs than Apple is.

Which brings me back to my point of your endless/brainless copy-pasting of manuals

If it bothers you so much to see my posts, you are welcome to add me to your ignore list, so you don't have to go through the pain and suffering of reading them. I don't post them for your benefit, but for those who ask the questions.

Oh and by the way, your manual says batteries are not covered by AppleCare. In case you forgot.

Again, it's not my manual. (That seems to be difficult for you to grasp). And batteries ARE covered by warranty and AppleCare for defects in manufacturing.

 

[vincenz]

That's not proof of anything. There are people here asking all kinds of questions that they could have found in their user manual or by reading Apple's site. That doesn't mean that the answers posted here are more accurate or factual than the answers provided by Apple. The fact remains, no poster in this forum is a more reliable source of information about Macs than Apple is.

So you would prefer that the forums closed down and be replaced by the Apple manuals that people could search. Sure would save a lot of work, wouldn't it?

Just because there's one recommended way of using a battery doesn't make it the only right one. Go tell a unicyclist the only way of moving is forward.

 

[GGJstudios]

So you would prefer that the forums closed down and be replaced by the Apple manuals that people could search.

Not at all. This forum serves many purposes and people wouldn't search the manuals any more than they search the forum. But you seem to be disturbed by the fact that when people ask a question, I post an official answer that comes directly from Apple, rather than make up an answer based on the anecdotal experience of one or a few people.

Just because there's one recommended way of using a battery doesn't make it the only right one.

It's the only one that Apple recommends, whether you agree with it or not. Like I said, if you choose to make up your own method, that's up to you.

Go tell a unicyclist the only way of moving is forward.

As strange as it may seem, a unicycle isn't an Apple notebook battery.

 

[vincenz]

It's the only one that Apple recommends, whether you agree with it or not. Like I said, if you choose to make up your own method, that's up to you.

As strange as it may seem, a unicycle isn't an Apple notebook battery.

I didn't "make it up." My "method" has worked just as well, if not better, than what you've been pasting around. Numbers don't lie.

Leaving a MBP plugged in constantly doesn't degrade the battery, contrary to what you think. Now unless you want to rewrite what I've seen over the past 2.5 years, you're free to.

 

[GGJstudios]

I didn't "make it up." My "method" has worked just as well, if not better, than what you've been pasting around. Numbers don't lie.

You're right. Numbers don't lie. And your numbers show that you've averaged a cycle about every 10 days, which is more in keeping with Apple's statement than yours. You haven't kept yours plugged in all the time. You've cycled it, just like Apple recommends.

Leaving a MBP plugged in constantly doesn't degrade the battery, contrary to what you think.

Argue with Apple. Their opinion has far more credibility than yours does:

For proper maintenance of a lithium-based battery, it’s important to keep the electrons in it moving occasionally. Apple does not recommend leaving your portable plugged in all the time.

 

[vincenz]

You're right. Numbers don't lie. And your numbers show that you've averaged a cycle about every 10 days, which is more in keeping with Apple's statement than yours. You haven't kept yours plugged in all the time. You've cycled it, just like Apple recommends.

Oh man, I had no idea that you could actually SEE how I've actually used my laptop over the years just by looking at the numbers. Wow.

Your made-up usage: I unplug my computer exactly every 10 days, cycle it once, then replug.

My actual usage: I unplug at most once per month, sometimes 2-3 months at a time, use it unplugged and cycle through multiple times before replugging for extended periods of time again.

O hail, crystal ball, O fortune-teller of MR.

 

[waynep]

I usually recommend people to not leave their notebooks plugged in all the time. I have a Macbook 5,1, and the original battery is on 495 battery load cycles and is still at 98% capacity after 26 months. This information is according to the coconut battery application. I leave it plugged in over night to charge, use it all day until the power warning, then plug it back in for the night. I also rarely ever plug it in before the power warning.

To determine cycle count . . . http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1519

 

[GGJstudios]

Your made-up usage: I unplug my computer exactly every 10 days, cycle it once, then replug.

I never said or implied that. Here's another copy-and-paste that may help you understand my post:

av·er·age noun \ˈa-v(ə-)rij\
Definition of AVERAGE
1 a : a single value (as a mean, mode, or median) that summarizes or represents the general significance of a set of unequal values

My actual usage: I unplug at most once per month, sometimes 2-3 months at a time, use it unplugged and cycle through multiple times before replugging for extended periods of time again.

...your numbers show that you've averaged a cycle about every 10 days, which is more in keeping with Apple's statement than yours. You haven't kept yours plugged in all the time. You've cycled it, just like Apple recommends.

Side question . . how do you know how many cycles?

 > About This Mac > More Info (or launch System Profiler) > Hardware > Power > Cycle count or use iStat Pro, iStat Menus or coconutBattery

 

[vincenz]

I never said or implied that. Here's another copy-and-paste that may help you understand my post:

Apparently, you don't read (probably too busy thinking of what next to copy-paste) because I've repeated again and again that I've left it plugged in for extended periods of time. I never said I didn't unplug it.

 

[GGJstudios]

I read quite well:

... I've left it plugged in for extended periods of time. I never said I didn't unplug it.

"Extended periods of time" is not the same as "constantly" or "all the time."

Leaving a MBP plugged in constantly doesn't degrade the battery...

Apple does not recommend leaving your portable plugged in all the time.

While you may have been inconsistent in your battery usage, the fact remains that you have not left your MBP plugged in constantly or all the time. You have cycled it, on average, about 2.7 times per month.

 

[vincenz]

I read quite well:

"Extended periods of time" is not the same as "constantly" or "all the time."


While you may have been inconsistent in your battery usage, the fact remains that you have not left your MBP plugged in constantly or all the time. You have cycled it, on average, about 2.7 times per month.

You know what I was trying to say. Starting an argument over semantics won't change anything. Doesn't change the fact that I leave my laptop plugged in constantly all the time and have not had problems.

For you, "extended periods of time" infers that you will eventually unplug it. Fine, but "extended periods of time" could mean anywhere from 2-3 hours, 2-3 weeks, 2-3 months, or even 2-3 years.

That's not to say that there's no one out there who's never unplugged their MBP for years and not had problems with their battery. Don't let the only thing you know color your views. Improbable doesn't equal impossible.

 

[GGJstudios]

You know what I was trying to say. Starting an argument over semantics won't change anything. Doesn't change the fact that I leave my laptop plugged in constantly all the time and have not had problems.

For you, "extended periods of time" infers that you will eventually unplug it. Fine, but "extended periods of time" could mean anywhere from 2-3 hours, 2-3 weeks, 2-3 months, or even 2-3 years.

That's not to say that there's no one out there who's never unplugged their MBP for years and not had problems with their battery. Don't let the only thing you know color your views. Improbable doesn't equal impossible.

You've proven by your own cycle count (numbers don't lie, remember?) that Apple's recommendation to cycle the battery periodically works. If someone leaves their computer plugged in all the time, without unplugging and running on battery, for 2-3 years... or even 1 year, their battery life will suffer, as has been illustrated again and again by threads in this forum. Posters who ask how to care for their batteries aren't looking for "improbable" or "probable" or "possible"... they want to know what works. Apple's recommendation works, as your own experience has proven.

Since you now appear to be arguing for the sake of arguing, even though the facts are quite clear, I'll leave you to play the semantics game by yourself and give you that exhilarating thrill of "the last word."

 

[vincenz]

It will absolutely shorten your battery's life to leave it plugged in all the time. If that weren't the case, Apple wouldn't warn against it.

You've proven by your own cycle count (numbers don't lie, remember?) that Apple's recommendation to cycle the battery periodically works. If someone leaves their computer plugged in all the time, without unplugging and running on battery, for 2-3 years... or even 1 year, their battery life will suffer, as has been illustrated again and again by threads in this forum. Posters who ask how to care for their batteries aren't looking for "improbable" or "probable" or "possible"... they want to know what works. Apple's recommendation works, as your own experience has proven.

I haven't seen any degradation in battery leaving it plugged in all the time. You have my numbers and the way I've used my computer. The way you put it, if you don't cycle it every few weeks, the thing will probably explode.

You're reading the cycles the way you want, so I'll let you keep doing that. You're repeatedly confusing the concept of "continuously" with "continually." Both indicate duration, but one indicates a duration without interruption (which is what you see), whereas the other indicates duration with intervals of interruption.

Math majors shouldn't bother with these things. They should go back to copy-pasting.

 

[The49er]

To determine cycle count . . . http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1519

Just incremented to 496 according to system profiler

 

[Benjamins]

You can leave it plugged in all the time. Let it run dry once a while.

When you see the led light on your power cable's green, that means it is not charging your battery.

 

[Rhyalus]

Just out of curiosity, what the heck is the matter with you people?

Every friggin' thread on Macrumors turns into a hate fest.

Is it Mac people or what?

R

 

[SilverOnemi]

Except Apple notebooks don't have lithium ion batteries. They have lithium polymer batteries. No, it's not good to leave any Apple notebook plugged in all the time. This should answer most, if not all, of your battery questions:

Apple Notebook Battery FAQ​

It will absolutely shorten your battery's life to leave it plugged in all the time. If that weren't the case, Apple wouldn't warn against it.

That's the proper use of it.... run on battery every few days, to keep electrons moving.

thank you for correcting me!

Best Regards
SilverOne

 

[iVeBeenDrinkin']

I'd rather answer a tousand stupid questions and helping people than hearing that someone dammaged his item due to the lack of people willing to share their experiences.

Sorry, Charlie. BTW, I heard they're calling the show, "two men" now.

 

[Newton63]

Battery

I see conflicting stories here but I can tell you this-my battery did not fare well leaving it plugged in all the time. Also iStat does not agree with System Profiler on number of cycles. Any thoughts?