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Macbook Pro battery toasted from external display?
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Macbook Pro battery toasted from external display?
Mar 28, 2011
I use my MBP primarily as a desktop with an external monitor. I've got about 300 charging cycles on it and my battery capacity is down to 3800 from 5088 in 3 years, or 25% reduction in function and I've got the "service battery" warning. My monitor has a usb C hookup which also powers the laptop. I don't leave it plugged in when I'm not using it.
Is this battery degredation normal for a 3 year old machine? Would some drain/charge cycles reset the battery health and capacity?
Is this battery degredation normal for a 3 year old machine? Would some drain/charge cycles reset the battery health and capacity?
mikzn
macrumors 68040
Sep 2, 2013
3,005
2,285
North Vancouver
That is not Normal 300 cycles is not much - batteries can usually last 700 to 800 cycles
On the other hand, many things can affect the battery like heat and extreme cold etc - not a good idea to ignore that “service battery” warning - I ignored that warning on my MacBook Pro and kept procrastinating about the battery replacement and finally it failed due to swollen batteries pushing against the motherboard - luckily I was able to replace the battery and it started working again
See my previous post and pictures here
FWIW - probably good to keep the power connected when using the extra monitor
On the other hand, many things can affect the battery like heat and extreme cold etc - not a good idea to ignore that “service battery” warning - I ignored that warning on my MacBook Pro and kept procrastinating about the battery replacement and finally it failed due to swollen batteries pushing against the motherboard - luckily I was able to replace the battery and it started working again
See my previous post and pictures here
FWIW - probably good to keep the power connected when using the extra monitor
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TitusVorenus
CMMChris
macrumors 6502a
Oct 28, 2019
Germany (Bavaria)
It's not mainly about cycles but also how long you leave it plugged in at 100%. Battery chemistry doesn't like that all. These days, Apple has some optimized charging which tried to identify your usage behavior and limits charging to 80% in such cases. But this doesn't work well and even 80% can be too much for extended periods of time.
In the future, disable Apple's optimized charging and try to use AlDente to manually limit your charge when needed. Best is to limit it to something in between 60 and 70% when hooked up to a charger for extended periods of time. This gives great results for batteries that are mainly living on the desk without being used much.
You can try giving your current battery some life back by cycling it between 20% and 100% a couple times and also doing a calibration. But you surely won't get it back to the original state.
In the future, disable Apple's optimized charging and try to use AlDente to manually limit your charge when needed. Best is to limit it to something in between 60 and 70% when hooked up to a charger for extended periods of time. This gives great results for batteries that are mainly living on the desk without being used much.
You can try giving your current battery some life back by cycling it between 20% and 100% a couple times and also doing a calibration. But you surely won't get it back to the original state.
Fishrrman
macrumors Penryn
Feb 20, 2009
24,630
9,896
If it was me...
I'd have the battery replaced by Apple using their $199 option, if it's available where you are.
I'd also pay attention to what CMMChris wrote.
It's not a good idea to just leave the charger plugged in all the time.
I'd have the battery replaced by Apple using their $199 option, if it's available where you are.
I'd also pay attention to what CMMChris wrote.
It's not a good idea to just leave the charger plugged in all the time.
Mar 28, 2011
I only leave it plugged in when I'm working on it, because the monitor connection also feeds power to it. No way around it with the setup I have. Downloaded AlDente, looks like I'll have to upgrade beyond Catalina to run it. I had been dreading this because the macbook mostly works the way I want it to now.It's not mainly about cycles but also how long you leave it plugged in at 100%. Battery chemistry doesn't like that all. These days, Apple has some optimized charging which tried to identify your usage behavior and limits charging to 80% in such cases. But this doesn't work well and even 80% can be too much for extended periods of time.
In the future, disable Apple's optimized charging and try to use AlDente to manually limit your charge when needed. Best is to limit it to something in between 60 and 70% when hooked up to a charger for extended periods of time. This gives great results for batteries that are mainly living on the desk without being used much.
You can try giving your current battery some life back by cycling it between 20% and 100% a couple times and also doing a calibration. But you surely won't get it back to the original state.
I'll run some calibrations and 20-80% cycles prior to upgrading the OS and report back.
mikzn
macrumors 68040
Sep 2, 2013
3,005
2,285
North Vancouver
Sometimes batteries fail no matter what
FWIW - I also have a second MBP mid 2012 15" i7 - that I use as a desktop (with a 32" external monitor) and it is left on and plugged in 24/7 for 10 years - I just replaced the battery - it was still working - but after the problem with my 2015 MBP I thought it was worth $100 bucks and a good preventive measure - so replaced it after 10 years - hopefully good for another 10 - but it is stuck on Mojave
FWIW - I also have a second MBP mid 2012 15" i7 - that I use as a desktop (with a 32" external monitor) and it is left on and plugged in 24/7 for 10 years - I just replaced the battery - it was still working - but after the problem with my 2015 MBP I thought it was worth $100 bucks and a good preventive measure - so replaced it after 10 years - hopefully good for another 10 - but it is stuck on Mojave
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TitusVorenus
zorinlynx
macrumors 604
May 31, 2007
7,335
14,162
Florida, USA
This is one of the main issues keeping me from buying a Macbook as a desktop replacement. As much as I'd love my home Mac to be a Macbook that stays at my desk 99% of the time and only goes with me on trips and such, I know the battery will suffer when it's at the desk.
An iMac + a lower-end Macbook for when I travel will have to continue to be the thing to do. Now to wait for Apple to release the larger M1 iMacs! Could be a while.
An iMac + a lower-end Macbook for when I travel will have to continue to be the thing to do. Now to wait for Apple to release the larger M1 iMacs! Could be a while.
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TitusVorenus
CMMChris
macrumors 6502a
Oct 28, 2019
Germany (Bavaria)
It does not if you prevent it from being fully charged.I know the battery will suffer when it's at the desk.
Reactions:
TitusVorenus
Mar 28, 2011
Interesting update. My 2018 MacBook Pro keyboard failed. I sent it back to apple to be fixed under warranty, and it came back with a new battery as well as a keyboard.
Reactions:
robotica
CMMChris
macrumors 6502a
Oct 28, 2019
Germany (Bavaria)
You got a whole new top case. It's one assembly. Apple doesn't offer separate keyboards.
How long you leave it plugged in is irrelevant.It's not mainly about cycles but also how long you leave it plugged in at 100%. ...
If the battery is at 100% charge, the laptop won't charge.
Whether or not there's a physical cable connecting it to the wall is irrelevant.
It's not great to store lithium-ion batteries at 100% (which is essentially what the OP is doing), but it's not awful, either.
I've had several MacBooks over the last ~14 years and left them all plugged in almost all the time and their batteries were all in excellent condition after 4-5 years.
I suspect the OP accidentally exposed his battery to high temperatures at some point. Maybe he left the laptop in a hot car or direct sunlight at some point.
Reactions:
CMMChris
CMMChris
macrumors 6502a
Oct 28, 2019
Germany (Bavaria)
This is nonsense. A charging level of 100% accelerates the chemical aging process of lithium batteries. This is a proven fact that even manufacturers agree on, so there really is nothing to argue about that. Aside from aging faster, it also increases the risk of swollen battery cells. Exactly for those reasons Apple meanwhile introduced optimized battery charging.
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