Macbook 2017 m3 battery health readings constantly change - is it normal?

[StoneJack]

I bought a very good looking MacBook 2017 12 inch 8/256 configuration two months ago. It was already used with battery 4.8 years old, battery health normal,"Good", 68 charge cycles. Battery health parameters constantly fluctuate between 89% and 93%; I reinstalled Monterey but results still do change a lot. Right now it shows: Full Charge Capacity (mAh): 5145, but this number fluctuates, sometimes falling to below 5000. Is it normal?

 

[Mike Boreham]

I bought a very good looking MacBook 2017 12 inch 8/256 configuration two months ago. It was already used with battery 4.8 years old, battery health normal,"Good", 68 charge cycles. Battery health parameters constantly fluctuate between 89% and 93%; I reinstalled Monterey but results still do change a lot. Right now it shows: Full Charge Capacity (mAh): 5145, but this number fluctuates, sometimes falling to below 5000. Is it normal?

Assume you are looking at the Apple health number, not third party like Coconut? It is certainly normal for third party values to go up as well as down.

If it is the Apple value and the capacity value is going up and down I would suspect a cell dropping out maybe.

The third party battery app Battery Monitor by Marcel Bresink reports individual cell voltages so might be worth trying

 

[StoneJack]

Assume you are looking at the Apple health number, not third party like Coconut? It is certainly normal for third party values to go up as well as down.

If it is the Apple value and the capacity value is going up and down I would suspect a cell dropping out maybe.

The third party battery app Battery Monitor by Marcel Bresink reports individual cell voltages so might be worth trying

Thanks, I am testing it. I use Battery Health-2, Coconut and also Apple readings. I bought the utility Battery Monitor and it does show by cells the battery condition. It gives reading of 92%.

 

[Mike Boreham]

Thanks, I am testing it. I use Battery Health-2, Coconut and also Apple readings. I bought the utility Battery Monitor and it does show by cells the battery condition. It gives reading of 92%.

Are all three cells the same voltage (as my screenshot) ? My thinking was that next time you see surprise dip, look at the cell voltages....is one lower than the others? Does it recover? would indicate a dodgy cell.

 

[StoneJack]

Are all three cells the same voltage (as my screenshot) ? My thinking was that next time you see surprise dip, look at the cell voltages....is one lower than the others? Does it recover? would indicate a dodgy cell.

yes, but there was reading from two cells.

 

[Mike Boreham]

Hmm...maybe the 12" MacBook only has two cells....don't know. I loved the 12' MacBook and owned three of them, but never used Battery Monitor with them.

The photo in step 17 of iFixit teardown looks like 2 cells.

 

[alex40]

Just 8W!, so, is it possible to charge a MacBook 12" 2017 with the 20W apple charger?
What is more, with many third tiny chargers from anker and others manufacters? If it is correct, a MacBook 12" with a tiny charger is so lightweight.

I have a MacBook 12" 2017 as well

 

[StoneJack]

Just 8W!, so, is it possible to charge a MacBook 12" 2017 with the 20W apple charger?
What is more, with many third tiny chargers from anker and others manufacters? If it is correct, a MacBook 12" with a tiny charger is so lightweight.

I have a MacBook 12" 2017 as well

Yeah, I think you can charge from a powerbank as well.

 

[Mike Boreham]

Yeah, I think you can charge from a powerbank as well.

Yes definitely. I used to charge my 12" MacBooks from Anker and RavPower powerbanks regularly and still do my two M1 MBAs.

Much better than trailing leads to walls when away from home.

 

[alex40]

I have tried the Apple 20W charger and it is ok, a little bit slow but it works! That's great!