Maximizing battery lifetimes

[DoNoHarm]

Hello Everyone,

So there seems to be several people on these boards complaining about batteries loosing their charge keeping capabilities after 100-200 cycles or so. I've tried to find some apple documents that describe how to maximize battery lifetimes. This one:

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

seems to describe tips to maximize battery life WITHIN one charge, but I was wondering if anyone knows how to maximize battery lifetimes into 300-400 or even 500 charges. Also, to those who lost their batteries charge storing ability after 200 charges: is there anything you did that you think contributed to the shorter than normal lifetime of your batteries?

 

[Ov3rlord Falc0r]

I heard somewhere that if you let your battery completely die then fully recharge it every time that it'll help keep your battery "healthy" longer. I've used this for years and I can't really tell if it helps or not but I have had above average battery life spans.

Hope that helps.

 

[winninganthem]

I heard somewhere that if you let your battery completely die then fully recharge it every time that it'll help keep your battery "healthy" longer. I've used this for years and I can't really tell if it helps or not but I have had above average battery life spans.

Hope that helps.

I think that actually kills Lithium-ion batteries. For a Ni-Cad you would want to do a complete discharge, but you treat Li-ion ones differently.

When I first got my MBP, I made the mistake of always doing a full discharge, so I ended up reducing it to 85% health in 130 cycles. >_<

Here's an excerpt from http://www.batteryuniversity.com/partone-14A.htm

"For Lithium Ion (Li-ion) batteries:
Should I use up all battery energy before charging?
No, it is better to recharge more often; avoid frequent full discharges.
Yes, on batteries with a fuel gauge, allow a full discharge once a month to enable reset"

 

[Ov3rlord Falc0r]

Ah, see well that would explain it. The batteries I've been using are all old. Lol, I haven't exactly upgraded yet.

I guess it wouldn't matter to me anyways. My laptop (or soon to be new Macbook Pro) are plugged in 95% of the time anyways.