Is it time for a new battery?

[WCunha]

I have a 15" MacBook Pro that I bought new in 1/06. The battery status will show that I have about an hour left on the charge and then it just shuts off. It doesn't sleep it like pulling the plug on a desktop.

Istat Pro says the battery health is 60%.

Does it sound like I need a new battery or could it be something else?

Thanks, Wade

 

[ben.mcmahan]

in apple menu-
->about this mac
->more info
->power

should be information that looks like this

Full Charge Capacity (mAh): 3749
Remaining Capacity (mAh): 3621
Amperage (mA): 271
Voltage (mV): 12588
Cycle Count: 172

full charge (on a new ibook is 4400, iirc), so i have a decent charge left...
cycle count, when it hits 300, batteries start to go down hill (according to apple)...

both numbers should give you sense, but my laptop batteries seem to last 1.5 years or so, under heavy (ab)use, so if you're pushing 2.5 years, not bad, not bad at all.

 

[WCunha]

This is what mine looks like...


Full Charge Capacity (mAh): 3350
Remaining Capacity (mAh): 2977
Amperage (mA): 830
Voltage (mV): 12524
Cycle Count: 293

 

[ben.mcmahan]

300 is pretty much the cutoff for cycle count (according to apple- a well maintained battery will hold up to 80% of its charge after 300 cycles. sounds like you are getting quite a bit less though...
someone else can probably tell you more, but resetting the power management unit might help? it also might just be time for a new battery 2.5 years is pretty good.

and then there is this:http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/download-this/apple-issues-macbook-macbook-pro-battery-update-256051.php

 

[WCunha]

Thanks for all the info it is appreciated.

Is 2.5 years good for any laptop battery?

 

[snaky69]

Thanks for all the info it is appreciated.

Is 2.5 years good for any laptop battery?

Yes. Lithium-Ion batteries degrade after one year regardless of use, and degrade a little bit with each charge cycle, so 2.5 years is decent.

I'd perform a calibration if you can, this may help with the random shutting off.

 

[merl1n]

Yes. Lithium-Ion batteries degrade after one year regardless of use, and degrade a little bit with each charge cycle, so 2.5 years is decent.

I'd perform a calibration if you can, this may help with the random shutting off.

I agree. Just re-calibrate your battery per this article:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1490

After the "rest" period, I would also suggest an SMC reset before you boot up.

MacBook, MacBook Pro
If the computer is on, turn it off.
Disconnect the AC Adapter and remove the computer's battery.
Press and hold down the power button for 5 seconds and then release the button.
Reconnect the battery and AC Adapter.
Press the Power button to restart the computer.

 

[Tennyo]

I have a slightly similar problem. I got my MacBook Pro sometime in the early spring of 2007, so my battery should still be fine, right? However when the battery starts getting low my laptop has stopped warning me that it is running on reserve power and needs to be plugged in.

Also, if I let the battery die, my laptop would simply go into sleep mode, but now it just shuts off without warning, almost as soon as the battery gauge turns red, and sometimes while it's still black.

Here are what my power settings say:

Battery Information:

Battery Installed: Yes
First low level warning: No
Full Charge Capacity (mAh): 4242
Remaining Capacity (mAh): 4074
Amperage (mA): 198
Voltage (mV): 12619
Cycle Count: 322

I currently have it plugged in, if that means anything.

I've always tried really hard to not let the battery die, but it has happened. I just don't think I can afford to be without my laptop for however long it would take for this to be fixed. :/

Also, I went studying abroad in Berlin this past fall. The battery problems didn't start until after I got back and just steadily got worse until the point I'm at now where the thing just shuts off. Do you think the voltage difference could have had damaged my battery?