Battery Cicles

[Hendilemos]

My macbook has about 3 months and its battery is in the 82th cycle. I read at the apple site that the battery probaly needs replacement after 300 cycles. Is it my impression or this battery won't last for 2 complete years ?

And what can I do to not increase the cycle numbers ? Apple says at their website that recharging before total discharge would not improve one more cycle.

Does anyone can help me ?

Thanks !

 

[WildCowboy]

Many batteries last far more than 300 cycles, so it's not a guarantee it'll drop dead on you at that point. A cycle is simply a full discharge of the battery, followed by a full charge. If you run your battery down to 50%, recharge, then run it down to 50% again and recharge, that's also one cycle.

82 cycles in 3 months basically means you're going through a full battery capacity just about every day. That's pretty heavy usage, but certainly not abnormal for someone on the go a lot.

You may be able to extend your battery's lifetime by running on AC power more frequently if that's possible. But that's a trade-off...it may not be worth it if it hampers your ability to use the computer the way you want. My philosophy is to simply use my computer in whatever way works best for me. If my battery dies, I'll replace it...it's not worth it to me to continually analyze how I can reduce my cycles.

 

[Hendilemos]

Thanks a lot Wild Cowboy,

I guess you're right. I'll try to use the AC power more often. I usually recharges only when my battery is completely off ... It's time to get used with this batteries that don't have memory problems.

It's an old habit with a new computer.

 

[operator]

I sold my iBook a few weeks ago. I had put almost 600 cycles on the battery in about 1yr, 9mths. After about 500 cycles, the battery capacity dropped to 66%.

So then I got a macbook which at 95% capacity, lasts about the same amount of time as my iBook at 66% capacity. (This is becuase the ibook could get about 5 hours usually, and the macbook gets about 2.5 -3 hours usually.)

 

[Cindynjgirl79]

thank god for this thread. i was getting worried about my 105 cycles. someone on another thread said to take out the battery when u can. only when in use with the ac power. it makes your comp run slower but maybe it's worth it to save the battery.

 

[Eraserhead]

thank god for this thread. i was getting worried about my 105 cycles. someone on another thread said to take out the battery when u can. only when in use with the ac power. it makes your comp run slower but maybe it's worth it to save the battery.

No, these tricks don't help much, I think WildCowboy is spot on.

I have done 170 cycles and have 92% capacity on my 8 month old Macbook.

 

[Reaver]

I am setting on 8 loadcycles according to coconut battery for a 3 month old MBP, I use my power adapter almost everywhere I go.