Laptop battery care - Revision history

N Reid: /* Replacement batteries */ http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/apple_laptop/batteries/ = OWC

2013-02-25T22:25:24Z

Replacement batteries: http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/apple_laptop/batteries/ = OWC

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:25, 25 February 2013
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	Make sure you order the right battery. It's wise to open the case so that you know what your battery looks like, or its part number.		Make sure you order the right battery. It's wise to open the case so that you know what your battery looks like, or its part number.

	For replacement batteries that are reliable but less expensive than Apple's, CATUG members have recommended [http://LaptopBatteryOne.com/ LaptopBatteryOne.com] (mixed reports on customer service) and [http://macsales.com/ macsales.com].		For replacement batteries that are reliable but less expensive than Apple's, CATUG members have recommended [http://LaptopBatteryOne.com/ LaptopBatteryOne.com] (mixed reports on customer service) and [http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/apple_laptop/batteries/ macsales.com] (Other World Computing).

	If you live near an Apple Store, check whether they give you a lower price if you hand in your old battery.		If you live near an Apple Store, check whether they give you a lower price if you hand in your old battery.

N Reid: /* Credits */ updated

2013-02-21T09:22:13Z

Credits: updated

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:22, 21 February 2013
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	=Credits=		=Credits=
	Compiled by Neville Reid from a conversation on the [[Mac-Ministry List]] in ~~January~~ 2013, with advice on recalibrating from Aaron Hunyady and Marvin Robertson in 2010–11.		Compiled by Neville Reid from a conversation on the [[Mac-Ministry List]] in January–February 2013, with advice on recalibrating from Aaron Hunyady and Marvin Robertson in 2010–11.

	[[Category:How-to guides]]		[[Category:How-to guides]]

N Reid: /* Replacement batteries */ make sure it's the right one

2013-02-21T09:21:37Z

Replacement batteries: make sure it's the right one

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:21, 21 February 2013
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	=Replacement batteries=		=Replacement batteries=

	For replacement batteries that are reliable but less expensive than Apple's, CATUG members have recommended [http://LaptopBatteryOne.com/ LaptopBatteryOne.com] and [http://macsales.com/ macsales.com].		Make sure you order the right battery. It's wise to open the case so that you know what your battery looks like, or its part number.

			For replacement batteries that are reliable but less expensive than Apple's, CATUG members have recommended [http://LaptopBatteryOne.com/ LaptopBatteryOne.com] (mixed reports on customer service) and [http://macsales.com/ macsales.com].

	If you live near an Apple Store, check whether they give you a lower price if you hand in your old battery.		If you live near an Apple Store, check whether they give you a lower price if you hand in your old battery.

N Reid: /* "Service Battery" warning */ health warning

2013-01-07T10:05:18Z

"Service Battery" warning: health warning

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:05, 7 January 2013
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	When your Mac laptop displays "Service Battery" in the Battery menu, it will not hold a charge for as long as it used to.		When your Mac laptop displays "Service Battery" in the Battery menu, it will not hold a charge for as long as it used to.
	If you need to use the computer where you do not have access to an electrical outlet, then see about changing your battery soon.		If you need to use the computer where you do not have access to an electrical outlet, then see about changing your battery soon.

	However, if you do not need to use it on battery power, then you can safely carry on using it plugged into the power socket. Modern batteries are better than the old alkali ones, and there should be no risks to the other components such as leakage.

	The time on battery will get shorter and shorter, but its final death is hard to predict.		The time on battery will get shorter and shorter, but its final death is hard to predict.
	It may fall to under an hour within a few weeks,		It may fall to under an hour within a few weeks,
	or even if you spin it out for some time, it may collapse quickly over days.		or even if you spin it out for some time, it may collapse quickly over days.
	If you are trying to get the last ounce of life from your battery, keep following the above advice about sometimes using the computer on battery only to discharge it in cycles.		If you are trying to get the last ounce of life from your battery, keep following the above advice about sometimes using the computer on battery only, to discharge it in cycles.

			If you do not need to use it on battery power, then you can carry on using it plugged into the power socket. Modern batteries are better than the old alkali ones, and the risk to the other components (such as leakage) is low. Nevertheless there is a small possibility of damage e.g. to the power system. You may also have to put up with inconvenience such as re-setting the system clock after you switch on.

	=Replacement batteries=		=Replacement batteries=

N Reid: recalibrating

2013-01-06T21:08:22Z

recalibrating

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:08, 6 January 2013
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	Apple's advice is here: http://www.apple.com/batteries/notebooks.html		Apple's advice is here: http://www.apple.com/batteries/notebooks.html

	Keeping a battery under charge all the time is not a good idea. Best battery life is achieved with complete charge and discharge/use cycles. If you do not regularly use it on battery power, then set yourself a monthly reminder to discharge and recharge the battery.		Keeping a battery under charge all the time is not a good idea. Best battery life is achieved with complete charge and discharge/use cycles. If you do not regularly need to use it on battery power, not plugged in, then set yourself a monthly reminder to discharge and recharge the battery.

	Three to five years is a normal battery life for a Mac~~. The worst that you can do is to leave~~ a laptop plugged in 24/7~~. Batteries have~~ to ~~have occasional use, not plugged in, or they will~~ die prematurely.		Three to five years is a normal battery life for a Mac, but leaving a laptop plugged in 24/7 will cause the battery to die prematurely.

	=Utilities=		=Utilities=
	'''Coconut Battery''' ([http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/19085/coconutbattery MacUpdate page]) is a long-standing popular free utility which gives additional info on your battery.		'''Coconut Battery''' ([http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/19085/coconutbattery MacUpdate page]) is a long-standing popular free utility which gives additional info on your battery.

	'''iStat Pro''' (~~see~~ [http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/20364/istat-pro MacUpdate page]) is a dashboard widget which displays data on battery usage, as well as system info such as processes that are running.		'''iStat Pro''' ([http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/20364/istat-pro MacUpdate page]) is a dashboard widget which displays data on battery usage, as well as system info such as processes that are running.
	It is not fully compatible with OS X 10.8 "Mountain Lion", but see ~~the end of~~ [http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1407448 this thread] on MacRumors.com for a fix.		It is not fully compatible with OS X 10.8 "Mountain Lion", but see [http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1407448 this thread] on MacRumors.com for a fix.

			=Recalibrating=
			[http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1490 Apple recommends] recalibrating your battery occasionally. While it will not extend your battery life, it will give you a more accurate picture of the true condition of your battery.

			When you get a new laptop, it takes 5–10 cycles before your battery reaches a stable "original" capacity. So let it go through 10 cycles, then calibrate the battery, before taking a baseline, "original" reading. If you want an accurate reading two years down the road, recalibrate it first.

			To recalibrate you have to run the battery down to nothing, then leave the computer unplugged for several more hours before plugging it into the mains and restarting it.

			To see what difference it made, check the "Power" under both System Profiler and Coconut Battery before recalibrating, and then compare them to the results afterwards.

	="Service Battery" warning=		="Service Battery" warning=
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	=See also=		=See also=
	*[[iPhone battery life]]		*[[iPhone battery life]]

			=External links=
			*[http://www.apple.com/batteries/ Lithium-ion Batteries], Apple's main page on the subject

	=Credits=		=Credits=
	Compiled from a conversation on the [[Mac-Ministry List]] ~~by Neville Reid~~ in January 2013.		Compiled by Neville Reid from a conversation on the [[Mac-Ministry List]] in January 2013, with advice on recalibrating from Aaron Hunyady and Marvin Robertson in 2010–11.

	[[Category:How-to guides]]		[[Category:How-to guides]]

N Reid: iStat Pro & Coconut Battery

2013-01-06T20:25:29Z

iStat Pro & Coconut Battery

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:25, 6 January 2013
Line 5:		Line 5:

	Three to five years is a normal battery life for a Mac. The worst that you can do is to leave a laptop plugged in 24/7. Batteries have to have occasional use, not plugged in, or they will die prematurely.		Three to five years is a normal battery life for a Mac. The worst that you can do is to leave a laptop plugged in 24/7. Batteries have to have occasional use, not plugged in, or they will die prematurely.

			=Utilities=
			'''Coconut Battery''' ([http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/19085/coconutbattery MacUpdate page]) is a long-standing popular free utility which gives additional info on your battery.

			'''iStat Pro''' (see [http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/20364/istat-pro MacUpdate page]) is a dashboard widget which displays data on battery usage, as well as system info such as processes that are running.
			It is not fully compatible with OS X 10.8 "Mountain Lion", but see the end of [http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1407448 this thread] on MacRumors.com for a fix.

	="Service Battery" warning=		="Service Battery" warning=
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	=Replacement batteries=		=Replacement batteries=

	For replacement batteries that are reliable ~~and~~ less expensive than Apple's, CATUG members have recommended [http://LaptopBatteryOne.com/ LaptopBatteryOne.com] and [http://macsales.com/ macsales.com].		For replacement batteries that are reliable but less expensive than Apple's, CATUG members have recommended [http://LaptopBatteryOne.com/ LaptopBatteryOne.com] and [http://macsales.com/ macsales.com].

	If you live near an Apple Store, check whether they give you a lower price if you hand in your old battery.		If you live near an Apple Store, check whether they give you a lower price if you hand in your old battery.

	[http://iFixit.com iFixit.com] gives instructions on changing the battery yourself.		[http://iFixit.com iFixit.com] gives instructions on changing the battery yourself.

			=See also=
			*[[iPhone battery life]]

	=Credits=		=Credits=

N Reid: start article

2013-01-06T19:49:53Z

start article

New page

=Making the most of your battery=
Apple's advice is here: http://www.apple.com/batteries/notebooks.html

Keeping a battery under charge all the time is not a good idea. Best battery life is achieved with complete charge and discharge/use cycles. If you do not regularly use it on battery power, then set yourself a monthly reminder to discharge and recharge the battery.

Three to five years is a normal battery life for a Mac. The worst that you can do is to leave a laptop plugged in 24/7. Batteries have to have occasional use, not plugged in, or they will die prematurely.

="Service Battery" warning=

When your Mac laptop displays "Service Battery" in the Battery menu, it will not hold a charge for as long as it used to.
If you need to use the computer where you do not have access to an electrical outlet, then see about changing your battery soon.

However, if you do not need to use it on battery power, then you can safely carry on using it plugged into the power socket. Modern batteries are better than the old alkali ones, and there should be no risks to the other components such as leakage.

The time on battery will get shorter and shorter, but its final death is hard to predict.
It may fall to under an hour within a few weeks,
or even if you spin it out for some time, it may collapse quickly over days.
If you are trying to get the last ounce of life from your battery, keep following the above advice about sometimes using the computer on battery only to discharge it in cycles.

=Replacement batteries=

For replacement batteries that are reliable and less expensive than Apple's, CATUG members have recommended [http://LaptopBatteryOne.com/ LaptopBatteryOne.com] and [http://macsales.com/ macsales.com].

If you live near an Apple Store, check whether they give you a lower price if you hand in your old battery.

[http://iFixit.com iFixit.com] gives instructions on changing the battery yourself.

=Credits=
Compiled from a conversation on the [[Mac-Ministry List]] by Neville Reid in January 2013.

[[Category:How-to guides]]