Is it ok to leave my MBA plugged in most of the time?

[John marts]

I use my MBA as my main computer and I have a little laptop desk/stand set up where I have it plugged in. When I'm home I like using it on the desk so if it is constantly plugged in will it hurt the battery in the long run?

 

[Reymugen]

the same for me. my macbook is always plugged in when i use it, maybe 8h per day, everyday.

but i thinks it's okey, because i read somewhere that the charger knows when the macbook is fully charged and stops. correct me if i'm wrong.

 

[motrek]

the same for me. my macbook is always plugged in when i use it, maybe 8h per day, everyday.

but i thinks it's okey, because i read somewhere that the charger knows when the macbook is fully charged and stops. correct me if i'm wrong.

My theory is that when the LED on the connector is green, the computer is not charging.

It's okay to leave a MacBook plugged in. Better, even. Why put wear on your battery when you don't have to?

 

[Weaselboy]

the same for me. my macbook is always plugged in when i use it, maybe 8h per day, everyday.

but i thinks it's okey, because i read somewhere that the charger knows when the macbook is fully charged and stops. correct me if i'm wrong.

You are correct.

Apple previously had some business on their web site about using on battery occasionally to "exercise" the battery, but that is no longer recommended.

Just use it on battery when you want, but no need to put unnecessary cycles on the battery.

Here are a couple links with the official battery info from Apple.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1446

http://www.apple.com/batteries/

 

[Newtons Apple]

My MBA is six months old now and I keep it plugged in and it still has only 2 battery cycles.

 

[ABC5S]

Using that link, it also says "Age" has some effect on battery life as well, not just cycles.

 

[0387274]

My MBA is about 2 weeks old and it already has 8 cycles. Is this way too quick wear for my battery?

 

[motrek]

My MBA is about 2 weeks old and it already has 8 cycles. Is this way too quick wear for my battery?

That's sort of like asking us if you're driving your car too much.

 

[Weaselboy]

My MBA is about 2 weeks old and it already has 8 cycles. Is this way too quick wear for my battery?

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1519

Here is some info from an Apple support article that explains how the cycles work. So for example, in your case, if you used the battery down to 50% 16 times, it would show 8 full cycles used.

About Battery Cycles

Use of your Mac notebook battery accrues in the form of charge cycles. A charge cycle means using all of the battery’s power, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a single charge. For instance, you could use your notebook for an hour or more one day, using half its charge, and then recharge it fully. If you did the same thing the next day, it would count as one charge cycle, not two, so it may take several days to complete a cycle.

Batteries have a limited amount of charge cycles before they are considered to be consumed. Once consumed, a replacement battery is recommended. You can use your battery after it reaches its maximum cycle count, but you may notice a reduction in your battery life. Knowing how many charge cycles are on your battery and how many are left can help you determine when a battery replacement is required. For optimal performance, replace your battery when you reach the maximum cycle count.