Mac book pro users...

Bradders09

Bradders09

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Brad
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Hi all,

Have recently bought a Mac book pro 13'' and have calibrated the battery.

Just a quick question, when actually using the computer does your time remaining on the battery vary when you are doing different things? Is this a sign that the battery is working correctly?

Cheers

Brad
 
Disk usage seem to be the biggest drain ( not surprisingly ) on the battery. I've seen mine go from 3 hours to 59 minutes in just a short while.

Apple recommend running the battery almost flat at least once a month to improve battery life
 
Gary Wood said:
A little tip when battery fully charged remove the power or remove the battery ( depending on Model) this will help with long term battery life
Click to expand...

It'd also been proven that doing so underclocks the CPU until you put the battery back. :bonk:
 
My macbook pro battery has lasted nearly 3 years but it suddenly decided to go from 2 hours to 30mins max.
 
Chappers said:
Apple recommend running the battery almost flat at least once a month to improve battery life
Click to expand...

Er, not quite so often.

Apple Support Article HT1490: Apple Portables: Calibrating your computer's battery for best performance

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1490

Apple said:
The battery has an internal microprocessor that provides an estimate of the amount of energy in the battery as it charges and discharges. The battery needs to be recalibrated from time to time to keep the onscreen battery time and percent display accurate and to keep the battery operating at maximum efficiency. You should perform this procedure when you first use your computer and then every few months after that.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Rob

Not wishing to disagree with you but here's the text direct from the Apple web site

Exercise Your Machine

Lithium-ion polymer batteries need to be used for maximum performance. If you don’t use your device often, be sure to complete a charge cycle at least once a month. Click the links below to add regular reminders to your iCal calendar.

This isn't the same as calibrating, it just suggest that you run the battery low and then charge it up. Not a problem I have as I'm usually running low anyway

John
 
The run time varies a lot depending on what you are doing.

If you are just web browsing and not using the disc much then you should get a longer time, anything which hammers the disk or cpu will bring the estimated battery life right down.
 
Thanks for the replies guys. Just getting to know it. I know the battery life is a definite hot potato and tactics to keep it at its best etc.

Love the computer though!

I have a feeling my battery will need replacing just before my Apple care runs out in three years time! :D:lol:
 
Bradders09 said:
Thanks for the replies guys. Just getting to know it. I know the battery life is a definite hot potato and tactics to keep it at its best etc.

Love the computer though!

I have a feeling my battery will need replacing just before my Apple care runs out in three years time! :D:lol:
Click to expand...

The battery is under a different warranty, I believe that 300 charges are the max before its considered to old.
 
Arrrggh

Don't remove the battery

Don't disconnect the power lead

The biggest killers of L-Ion batteries are letting them run totally flat & getting too hot.

The charge circuit in Apple computers stops charging the battery when the battery is full and just trickle charges it every so often.

If you do not charge an L-Ion battery it will discharge a few percent per day itself.

If you let it run till the computer switches off then don't charge it it continues to discharge and can get to critical in a matter of a week or so which will KILL it.

You do not need to cycle the power on an L-Ion battery

Most newer Apples do not even give you the chance to remove the battery.

Check the complete tip in my top tips - This is from Apple

Mrs_C got 1111 cycles from her last battery following this info and I got 700+ from mine before it was replaced under warranty due to a fault.
 
Chappers said:
Rob

Not wishing to disagree with you but here's the text direct from the Apple web site

Exercise Your Machine

Lithium-ion polymer batteries need to be used for maximum performance. If you don’t use your device often, be sure to complete a charge cycle at least once a month. Click the links below to add regular reminders to your iCal calendar.

This isn't the same as calibrating, it just suggest that you run the battery low and then charge it up. Not a problem I have as I'm usually running low anyway

John
Click to expand...

Emphasis added. What Apple are talking about here is if you're essentially leaving it unused for long periods, which is more likely to be the case for iPods referred to in the same article [http://www.apple.com/batteries/].

It's worth noting that a 'charge cycle' is the equivalent of one 100% drain and re-charge. So, to let the battery go down to 50%, then charge it up to full again twice, or down to 90% and back up to full ten times, would count as a single charge cycle.

The number of users who will leave their laptops unused for periods measured in months will be very small. You may also notice that when your Mac is on the mains, the charge drops down to 98% or so and then goes back up to 100% every once in a while, which is designed to achieve exactly the exercise that Apple were describing in the note you quoted.
 
Keep an eye on the physical size of your battery

My Macbook Pro one started to unexpectedly shut down even with 20-30% of capicity left...
.... took it out and it had burst one corner - took it out and after a week it had grown to almost twice the width....
You might be lucky and get a free replacement - or get a replacement at 2/3rd price
 
snappingsam said:
Keep an eye on the physical size of your battery

My Macbook Pro one started to unexpectedly shut down even with 20-30% of capicity left...
.... took it out and it had burst one corner - took it out and after a week it had grown to almost twice the width....
You might be lucky and get a free replacement - or get a replacement at 2/3rd price
Click to expand...

This is what happened to me. They replaced the battery at 18 months but I did have the Apple Care.

ANY battery problems whatsoever at under 300 cycles and get it back to Apple!!

I have tried numerous battery suppliers and nearly gave up as most are rubbish. There is one chinese supplier which has been really good for macbook and macbook pro batteries at about £32 for macbooks and £40 for pros. He takes about 3-4 weeks but they look, feel and act just like the real things but the real ones cost £100 !
 
cowasaki said:
This is what happened to me. They replaced the battery at 18 months but I did have the Apple Care.

ANY battery problems whatsoever at under 300 cycles and get it back to Apple!!

I have tried numerous battery suppliers and nearly gave up as most are rubbish. There is one chinese supplier which has been really good for macbook and macbook pro batteries at about £32 for macbooks and £40 for pros. He takes about 3-4 weeks but they look, feel and act just like the real things but the real ones cost £100 !
Click to expand...

got a link? could use a spare...
 
Does Apple Care cover batteries then?

I bought a new MBP in September last year, everything is fine so far, but I took out the 3 year warranty.
 
MrCraigBerry said:
Does Apple Care cover batteries then?

I bought a new MBP in September last year, everything is fine so far, but I took out the 3 year warranty.
Click to expand...

Yes Apple Care extends the battery warranty from 1 year or 300 cycles to 3 years or 300 cycles BUT you will probably break 300 cycles in one year anyway!
 
So if it goes past 300 cycles I would have to buy a new battery myself?
 
itsdavedotnet said:
got a link? could use a spare...
Click to expand...

The problem with spare batteries is that you need to be really anal about your charge routine. They cannot be left uncharged for any time and basically you need to charge your battery, remove it, replace it with the other at least once a week really or you risk breaking them. I have never managed to keep two batteries ok for any length of time.

I will dig out the link to the ebay shop I use....
 
MrCraigBerry said:
So if it goes past 300 cycles I would have to buy a new battery myself?
Click to expand...

Yes, the battery is a consumable and is warrantied for 300 cycles or one year which ever happens first BUT if it breaks within 3-4 months they will replace it anyway but even I haven't managed to get 300 cycles in 4 months so that bit is pretty pointless!

Apple are supremely ameneable with their warranties and will bend over backwards to help. They replaced my daughters battery at 14 months with 297 cycles!
 
Anyone getting Apple Care follow my tip re buying it!

An Apple Care code is worldwide so you can buy it from the USA or EIRE or wherever via Ebay and then they just email you the code to activate it. It works and my Mac Pro Apple Care cost £59 whilst my MBP Apple Care cost £100.....
 
Arr, you have found it. The reality is that if you use your laptop normally you should not have many problems. The biggest killer is letting it run flat and then just closing the lid and leaving it sat there for a couple of days.... Do this a few times and you will let the battery actually run completely flat. That is what kills them.

When the computer realises that you are at 5% it shuts down. The battery will continue to discharge maybe 1/3 of a percentage point a day from then so after a couple of weeks it can be completely dead. But as the battery gets slightly older it can get to loosing 1% a day so the battery can die much more quickly.

Also heat can kill them so using them on a bed or lap reduces their life expectancy - get a laptop cooler.
 
Just did it mate, thanks.

Is 289 in just under a year not bad?

I do use it all the time!
 
MrCraigBerry said:
Just did it mate, thanks.

Is 289 in just under a year not bad?

I do use it all the time!
Click to expand...

That is pretty much average ie 300 cycles per year. My wife's macbook battery lasted until 1111 cycles and was 3.5 years old when it died. She followed the advice re not letting it go flat and just using it on and off the power
 
I think using wi-fi also drains the battery a fair bit, especially if downloading large files? My MBP has two graphics cards which are automatically switched based on what software I'm running. So if I have PS or LR open the better card will drain the battery quicker.

I'm happy to be proved wrong though :)
 
Nookie said:
I think using wi-fi also drains the battery a fair bit, especially if downloading large files? My MBP has two graphics cards which are automatically switched based on what software I'm running. So if I have PS or LR open the better card will drain the battery quicker.

I'm happy to be proved wrong though :)
Click to expand...

The faster card is supposed to drain it quicker. Anything electrical will drain it quicker eg sound, brighter screen, wifi, HD & optical drive! You should get reasonable performance from it though.
 
Been using the Mac book on the power for a couple of days now and the battery has dropped to 97% without the charge kicking in...

Im assuming this is part of the correct operation of the batteries internal processor??

Brad
 
Bradders09 said:
Been using the Mac book on the power for a couple of days now and the battery has dropped to 97% without the charge kicking in...

Im assuming this is part of the correct operation of the batteries internal processor??

Brad
Click to expand...

The laptop will not let it get much lower but over charging, going COMPLETELY flat and getting too hot are the battery killers.
 
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