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Okay to leave MacBook Plugged In?

adam044

adam044

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jan 24, 2012
1,095
10
Boston
Is it okay to leave my MacBook in sleep mode and have it plugged in for long periods of time? 90% of the time I have it on my desk. I do unplug it when I use it just to use the battery but just wondering if leaving it plugged in for 2-5 days constant is bad for it.
 
It's healthier if the battery runs atleast once a week. With apple's new batteries, it's not really too bad if you have it plugged in alot.
 
I left mine plugged in for almost a month :p but it's better if you discharge the battery often to get it flowing
 
I agree. I leave mine plugged almost all the time and about a few times a month find myself just using it until it drains completely.
 
bigbrown said:
Actually, discharging it completely will shorten the battery life.

http://lifehacker.com/5875162/how-often-should-i-charge-my-gadgets-battery-to-prolong-its-lifespan
http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/do_and_dont_battery_table
Click to expand...

Funny, that first link says:

Fully discharge it once a month. This may seem contradictory, but hear us out. While lithium-ion batteries shouldn't be discharged regularly, most modern batteries are what's known as "smart batteries", which means that they can tell you how long you have until your battery dies (e.g. "2 hours, 15 minutes remaining"). This feature can get miscalibrated after a lot of shallow discharges. So, manufacturers recommend fully discharging your battery once a month to make sure this stays accurate.
 
I've been wondering about this, as I've just got myself a 2012 13" MBP and a Thunderbolt Display, so when it's on my desk, it's charging constantly. :eek:

Maybe I should shut it down and disconnect the MagSafe connector at night?
 
Azzin said:
I've been wondering about this, as I've just got myself a 2012 13" MBP and a Thunderbolt Display, so when it's on my desk, it's charging constantly. :eek:

Maybe I should shut it down and disconnect the MagSafe connector at night?
Click to expand...

It is not charging constantly, once the battery is full, the charging stops.

______________________________________________________
This should answer most, if not all, of your battery questions:
Apple Notebook Battery FAQ by GGJstudios
The F.A.Q. includes the following topics:
  • BATTERY INFORMATION
  • BATTERY LIFE FROM A CHARGE
  • AC POWER
  • CALIBRATION
  • BATTERY LIFESPAN
  • CHECKING STATUS AND HEALTH
  • CHARGING
  • WHAT IS A CYCLE?
  • BATTERIES ARE NOT COVERED
  • BULGING OR SWELLING BATTERY

______________________________________________________​
 
Run on battery whenever you need to and plug it in whenever you can. You can plug or unplug any time you need to, regardless of the charged percentage, and you never need to completely drain your battery. Just make sure you don't run on AC power exclusively, as your battery needs to be used regularly to stay healthy. The link below should answer most, if not all, of your battery/charging questions. If you haven't already done so, I highly recommend you take the time to read it.
You don't ever have to fully discharge the battery, and I wouldn't recommend following battery advice from lifehacker, batteryuniversity or any source other than Apple. The built-in batteries in the newer Mac unibody notebooks come pre-calibrated and do not require regular calibration like the removable batteries in older Apple notebooks.
 
richnyc said:
^^^ Great links, thanks;)
Click to expand...
No, they're not. See my last post. Such sources are unreliable in understanding how best to use the battery technology employed in Apple notebooks. Instead, read the Apple Notebook Battery FAQ I posted, which is comprised of information directly from Apple.
 
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