[Study] Battery Life and best Charge technique

[mrrish]

MacBook Model (type,year,unibody): MacBook Pro, 2008, Unibody

Charge Cycle: 78

Age of your Mac: 3 months

Battery capacity (current-original): 4500 mAh - 4700 mAh

Health in %: 98%

Did you calibrate your battery on your first use?: Yes

Do you calibrate your battery frequently? (daily/weekly/monthly): Monthly

Do you use your MacBook as a (desktop/travel only/mixed?): Desktop

Do you keep them on charge in any of the above usage? (yes/no): Yes

Do you only charge your MacBook when the battery is: (most common practice)
-When it is possible

Do you use your MacBook heavily?: Heavy work usage (8-10 hrs daily)

Do you think if you're applying any special technique that help you retain your battery life? Always plugged in, allow battery to drain to 10% frequently.

 

[Hayduke60]

MacBook Model (type,year,unibody):late 2008 15"uMBP

Charge Cycle:11

Age of your Mac:7 months

Battery capacity (current-original):now 4804-original 4600

Health in %:100

Did you calibrate your battery on your first use?: Maybe..I think so..yes

Do you calibrate your battery frequently? (daily/weekly/monthly): monthly

Do you use your MacBook as a (desktop/travel only/mixed?): mostly desktop

Do you keep them on charge in any of the above usage? (yes/no)yes

Do you only charge your MacBook when the battery is: (most common practice)
-less than 70%
-less than 50%
-less than 10%
-When it is possible
-All the time (plugged at all time) it's plugged most of the time

Do you use your MacBook heavily?: (average hours daily)4 to 10 hours a day

Do you think if you're applying any special technique that help you retain your battery life? no, just once a month I drain it down till the reserve warning comes on then I plug it back in. I use it while it's charging.
______________

 

[macbook yes]

MacBook Model (type,year,unibody): Unibody

Charge Cycle: 31

Age of your Mac: 2 months

Battery capacity (current-original): 4560/4300

Health in %: 106%

Did you calibrate your battery on your first use?: no

Do you calibrate your battery frequently? (daily/weekly/monthly): every couple months

Do you use your MacBook as a (desktop/travel only/mixed?): mixed (in class during the day, on my desk at night)

Do you keep them on charge in any of the above usage? (yes/no) yes, at night

Do you only charge your MacBook when the battery is: (most common practice)
-less than 70%
-less than 50%
-less than 10%
-When it is possible
-All the time (plugged at all time)

Do you use your MacBook heavily?: (average hours daily) 6+ hours? I use it to take notes in class (4 hours) and do homework

Do you think if you're applying any special technique that help you retain your battery life? Nope, its a computer. It is meant to be used.

 

[watergun]

MacBook Model (type,year,unibody): MacBook Pro 13" 2009

Charge Cycle: 4

Age of your Mac: 2 Months

Battery capacity (current-original): 5514 -5450 mAh

Health in %: 100%

Did you calibrate your battery on your first use?: No

Do you calibrate your battery frequently? (daily/weekly/monthly): Monthly

Do you use your MacBook as a (desktop/travel only/mixed?): mixed

Do you keep them on charge in any of the above usage? (yes/no) Yes

Do you only charge your MacBook when the battery is: (most common practice)
-less than 70%
-less than 50%
-less than 10%
-When it is possible
-All the time (plugged at all time)

Do you use your MacBook heavily?: (average hours daily) 6-8 hours

Do you think if you're applying any special technique that help you retain your battery life? No

 

[Minimoose 360]

MacBook Model (type,year,unibody): Early 2009 17" uMacBook Pro

Charge Cycle: 29

Age of your Mac: 7 Months

Battery capacity (current-original): 13067mAh-13000mAh (?)

Health in %: 100%

Did you calibrate your battery on your first use?: Yes, I calibrated it using Apple's standards.

Do you calibrate your battery frequently? (daily/weekly/monthly): I have not calibrated it since I first got the MBP in February.

Do you use your MacBook as a (desktop/travel only/mixed?): When I was at Uni I brought it to class and to friend's rooms, now I'm at home and it has stayed on my desk for 4 months, so I guess it's mixed.

Do you keep them on charge in any of the above usage? Yes

Do you only charge your MacBook when the battery is: (most common practice)
-less than 70%
-less than 50%
-less than 10%
-When it is possible
-All the time (plugged at all time)

Do you use your MacBook heavily?: About 3 hours a day on average. I can get 7hrs 45mins to 8hrs 15mins with minimal settings.

Do you think if you're applying any special technique that help you retain your battery life? Not sure, seems to be doing good with what I'm doing.

 

[Grumps87]

I do hope to have more participant in this community study.

 

[tekio]

edit: wrong thread

 

[cluthz]

MacBook Model (type,year,unibody): MBP, 2007, matte 2.2ghz

Charge Cycle:607

Age of your Mac:27 months

Battery capacity (current-original): 3400mah 5600mah

Health in %: 60%

Did you calibrate your battery on your first use?: no

Do you calibrate your battery frequently? (daily/weekly/monthly): monthly

Do you use your MacBook as a (desktop/travel only/mixed?): mixed

Do you keep them on charge in any of the above usage? (yes/no) yes

Do you only charge your MacBook when the battery is: (most common practice)
-When it is possible


Do you use your MacBook heavily?: 8-10hrs

Do you think if you're applying any special technique that help you retain your battery life? no

 

[ayeying]

Is this specific to MacBook Pros only? Or can anyone join in. If not, ignore me then

MacBook Model (type,year,unibody): MacBook Air, Early 2009

Charge Cycle: 160

Age of your Mac: 2 Months

Battery capacity (current-original): 5450/5540

Health in %: 98%

Did you calibrate your battery on your first use?: No

Do you calibrate your battery frequently? (daily/weekly/monthly): No

Do you use your MacBook as a (desktop/travel only/mixed?): Mixed

Do you keep them on charge in any of the above usage? (yes/no) No

Do you only charge your MacBook when the battery is: (most common practice) Less than 10%

Do you use your MacBook heavily?: (average hours daily) ~10 Hours

Do you think if you're applying any special technique that help you retain your battery life? No

 

[MKSinSA]

My Data

MacBook Model (type,year,unibody): MBP, 2009, unibody AL

Charge Cycle: 3682

Age of your Mac: 7 months (personally 1)

Battery capacity (current-original): 4614/4600

Health in %: 100 (up from 98 after unplugging)

Did you calibrate your battery on your first use?: yes

Do you calibrate your battery frequently? (daily/weekly/monthly): monthly? (owned < month)

Do you use your MacBook as a (desktop/travel only/mixed?): mixed

Do you keep them on charge in any of the above usage? (yes/no) yes

Do you only charge your MacBook when the battery is: (most common practice)

-All the time (plugged majority of time)

Do you use your MacBook heavily?: (average hours daily) 8-12

Do you think if you're applying any special technique that help you retain your battery life?[/QUOTE] At maximum, monthly calibration likely more often

 

[dxb 13inch pro]

Just one question... how do you find the percentage of your battery's health?

 

[Bones3]

MacBook Model (type,year,unibody): 15" MBP, 2008, Unibody

Charge Cycle: 122

Age of your Mac: 8 months

Battery capacity (current-original): 4416/4600

Health in %: 96%

Did you calibrate your battery on your first use?: Yes

Do you calibrate your battery frequently? (daily/weekly/monthly): Monthly

Do you use your MacBook as a (desktop/travel only/mixed?): Mixed

Do you keep them on charge in any of the above usage? (yes/no) Yes

Do you only charge your MacBook when the battery is: (most common practice)

-When it is possible

Do you use your MacBook heavily?: (average hours daily) 6 - 10

Do you think if you're applying any special technique that help you retain your battery life? No

 

[AppleTecFan]

how are you going to find out

 

[Grumps87]

Just one question... how do you find the percentage of your battery's health?

Use softwares such as the Coconut Battery as recommended in the first post to retrieve those details.

how are you going to find out

We'll be compiling the information that will be shared by users of various MacBook and try to come out with a proper conclusion.

 

[Brandon Heat]

MacBook Model (type,year,unibody):
15" MBP 2.8, June 2009

Charge Cycle:
4

Age of your Mac:
2 months

Battery capacity (current-original):
6835-4555

Health in %:
100%

Did you calibrate your battery on your first use?:
No

Do you calibrate your battery frequently? (daily/weekly/monthly):
maybe monthly

Do you use your MacBook as a (desktop/travel only/mixed?):
Mixed

Do you keep them on charge in any of the above usage? (yes/no)
no

Do you only charge your MacBook when the battery is: (most common practice)
-less than 50%

Do you use your MacBook heavily?: (average hours daily)
5-6 Hours A Day

 

[nukiduz]

MacBook Model (type,year,unibody): MacBook Pro 13" 2009

Charge Cycle: 67

Age of your Mac: 2 Months

Battery capacity (current-original): 5519 -5450 mAh

Health in %: 100%

Did you calibrate your battery on your first use?: Yes

Do you calibrate your battery frequently? (daily/weekly/monthly): No

Do you use your MacBook as a (desktop/travel only/mixed?): mixed

Do you keep them on charge in any of the above usage? (yes/no) Sometimes

Do you only charge your MacBook when the battery is: (most common practice)
-less than 70%
-less than 50%
-less than 10%
-When it is possible
-All the time (plugged at all time)

Do you use your MacBook heavily?: (average hours daily) 6-8 hours

Do you think if you're applying any special technique that help you retain your battery life? No


Too many loadcycles for just 2 months of use?

 

[AppleTecFan]

how long is it going to take

 

[sr.pants]

MacBook Model (type,year,unibody): 15" mid-2009 MBP

Charge Cycle: 3

Age of your Mac: 3 weeks

Battery capacity (current-original): 6684 - 6500

Health in %: 100%

Did you calibrate your battery on your first use?: within first week

Do you calibrate your battery frequently? (daily/weekly/monthly): plan to do so monthly

Do you use your MacBook as a (desktop/travel only/mixed?): mostly desktop

Do you keep them on charge in any of the above usage? (yes/no) yes

Do you only charge your MacBook when the battery is: (most common practice)
-less than 70%
-less than 50%
-less than 10%
-When it is possible
-All the time (plugged at all time)

Do you use your MacBook heavily?: (average hours daily) 6-8

Do you think if you're applying any special technique that help you retain your battery life? other than apple's recommended calibration, no

 

[klee1987]

I have a question, but instead of starting another irritating thread about batteries I will just ask here.

Anyway a lot of people on this forum say that apple suggests it is best to calibrate the battery once a month.

But according to the apple website. it does not say calibrate the battery once a month but instead you are advised to make 1 battery charge cycle per month.

So the conclusion is, the perception that you should calibrate your battery once a month is incorrect, but you should go thru a battery charge cycle 1/mth?

Update: Oops looks like my memory is not very good....quoting apple:
For proper maintenance of a lithium-based battery, it’s important to keep the electrons in it moving occasionally. Apple does not recommend leaving your portable plugged in all the time. An ideal use would be a commuter who uses her MacBook Pro on the train, then plugs it in at the office to charge. This keeps the battery juices flowing. If on the other hand, you use a desktop computer at work, and save a notebook for infrequent travel, Apple recommends charging and discharging its battery at least once per month. Need a reminder? Add an event to your desktop’s iCal.

So I guess it means not a full calibration but just a simple discharge to 0% and charge, no need of that leave plugged in for 2 hours / 5 hours in sleep mode stuff, right?

 

[Grumps87]

I have a question, but instead of starting another irritating thread about batteries I will just ask here.

Anyway a lot of people on this forum say that apple suggests it is best to calibrate the battery once a month.

But according to the apple website. it does not say calibrate the battery once a month but instead you are advised to make 1 battery charge cycle per month.

So the conclusion is, the perception that you should calibrate your battery once a month is incorrect, but you should go thru a battery charge cycle 1/mth?

I quoted this directly off the Apple Calibration guide. Should be a clear answer for your question.

You should perform this procedure when you first use your computer and then every few months after that. If you normally leave your Apple portable computer connected to AC power and very rarely use it on battery power you may want to perform this process once a month.

 

[klee1987]

I quoted this directly off the Apple Calibration guide. Should be a clear answer for your question.

oops. I somehow missed that. Thanks for the info. while I'm at it, I will post my coconut battery stats

MacBook Model (type,year,unibody): MacBook Pro, 2009 13 inch

Charge Cycle: 5

Age of your Mac: 3 months

Battery capacity (current-original): 5586 mAh - 5450 mAh

Health in %: 100%

Did you calibrate your battery on your first use?: Yes

Do you calibrate your battery frequently? (daily/weekly/monthly): Just once in 2 months

Do you use your MacBook as a (desktop/travel only/mixed?): mixed

Do you keep them on charge in any of the above usage? (yes/no): Yes

Do you only charge your MacBook when the battery is: (most common practice)
-Whenever possible

Do you use your MacBook heavily?: 4-6 Hours, Mostly MS Word and Firefox, so no

Do you think if you're applying any special technique that help you retain your battery life? no

 

[Aznhiga13]

MacBook Model (type,year,unibody): MacBook Pro, 2008, Penryn

Charge Cycle: 207

Age of your Mac: 13 months

Battery capacity (current-original): 2844 mAh-5600 mAh

Health in %: 50%

Did you calibrate your battery on your first use?: Can't remember

Do you calibrate your battery frequently? (daily/weekly/monthly): Monthly

Do you use your MacBook as a (desktop/travel only/mixed?): Mixed

Do you keep them on charge in any of the above usage? (yes/no): Yes

Do you only charge your MacBook when the battery is: (most common practice)
Whenever I can
Do you use your MacBook heavily?: 6-9 hours

Do you think if you're applying any special technique that help you retain your battery life? Nope

 

[airplaneman]

MacBook Model:
Mid 2009 baseline 15"
Charge Cycles:
22
Age of your Mac:
8 weeks
Battery capacity (current-original):
6464 mAh VS 6500 mAh
Health in %:
99%
Did you calibrate your battery on your first use?:
No. I calibrated it on my second. Was too excited .
Do you calibrate your battery frequently? (daily/weekly/monthly):
Monthly
Do you use your MacBook as a (desktop/travel only/mixed?):
Main home computer (desktop replacement; otherwise, the family laptop)
Do you keep them on charge in any of the above usage? (yes/no)
Yes
Do you only charge your MacBook when the battery is: (most common practice)
-less than 70%
-less than 50%
-less than 10%otherwise
-When it is possible
-All the time (plugged at all time)mostly

Do you use your MacBook heavily?: (average hours daily)
Yes.

Family computer, so it's pretty much the whole evening - the whole day on weekends. So, about 4-10 hrs/day, depending on the day.

Do you think if you're applying any special technique that help you retain your battery life?
Keeping it plugged in when possible, otherwise draining it until it's on reserves then charging. Calibrate once a month.

 

[airplaneman]

MacBook Model (type,year,unibody): MBP, 2009, unibody AL

Charge Cycle: 3682

*gape* wOw!

Age of your Mac: 7 months (personally 1)

Battery capacity (current-original): 4614/4600

Health in %: 100 (up from 98 after unplugging)

DANG! (considering the charge cycles...)

 

[slipper]

MacBook Model (type,year,unibody):2.0ghz Core Duo MacBook (black)

Charge Cycle: 410+

Age of your Mac: 41 months

Battery capacity (current-original): 4000mAh - 5000mAh

Health in %: 80%

Did you calibrate your battery on your first use?: No, but doesn't it self calibrate when you fully discharge and fully charge?

Do you calibrate your battery frequently? (daily/weekly/monthly): Same answer/question as above.

Do you use your MacBook as a (desktop/travel only/mixed?): mixed

Do you keep them on charge in any of the above usage? (yes/no) yes

Do you only charge your MacBook when the battery is: (most common practice)
-less than 70%
-less than 50%
-less than 10%
-When it is possible
-All the time (plugged at all time) NO I no not only charge at a certain percentage and i do not fully drain the battery before charging.

Do you use your MacBook heavily?: (average hours daily) Maybe 3 hours a day, but it is mostly plugged in

Do you think if you're applying any special technique that help you retain your battery life? Not really but i always make sure i have a full charge whenever possible.