Not your usual battery problem

[airpatrick]

Hi everyone, I have a battery problem that I just can't solve. I can't find anyone else with a similar problem either, so I have turned to you experts! I appreciate your help in advance!

I have an original white macbook, and the battery charges-sort of. Right now it is plugged in, the light is green, but it is at 83% and won't charge higher. If I unplug it the 83% will last about 5 minutes and deplete. It will charge back up anywhere between 70-90% (but won't go higher). It always depletes very quickly even if it is idle.

This is my information (I am running battery update 1.3)

Battery Information:

Battery Installed: Yes
First low level warning: No
Full Charge Capacity (mAh): 2298
Remaining Capacity (mAh): 1897
Amperage (mA): 0
Voltage (mV): 12241
Cycle Count: 283

 

[NewMacbookPlz]

Doesn't sound very unusual.

Sounds like a dead battery, time for a new one.

 

[core2duo]

Your full charge capacity is pretty low, and you're right around the 300 charge cycle mark, which is where batteries usually go. I'd say what's happening is you have some dead cells in the battery, and when it comes time for them to run the machine, they can't and it shuts off.

 

[todd2000]

That battery sounds messed up. Batteries don't "go" at 300 recharge cycles they just lose capacity. According to Apple:

For Apple notebooks with removable batteries — such as previous generation MacBook and MacBook Pro computers — a properly maintained battery is designed to retain up to 80% of its original capacity at 300 full charge and discharge cycles.

The battery should last more then 5 minutes with 283 Cycles. Time to visit Apple I say.