Battery Health

[JoelBC]

new version is available

Release AlDente 1.13 · AppHouseKitchen/AlDente-Charge-Limiter

Completely revamped the underlying state management system for better stability and more flexibility Updated calibration mode to feature an additional full charge cycle at the beginning. Based on r...

github.com

Awesome!

Already upgraded and using the new version .

Thank you!

 

[white7561]

new version is available

Release AlDente 1.13 · AppHouseKitchen/AlDente-Charge-Limiter

Completely revamped the underlying state management system for better stability and more flexibility Updated calibration mode to feature an additional full charge cycle at the beginning. Based on r...

github.com

Nice. I see that they've taken my suggestion and fixed the 100% charging. Since it was not charging to 100% correctly. As it pauses the charging when the percentage is 100% even tho on 100% it still charges for a long time until it's really full.

 

[JoelBC]

Hi A!!

I thought that I would come back with one related question.

I am thinking about biting the bullet and getting a monitor to go with my MacBook Pro.

I would appreciate someone explaining to me the following:

a) How do I setup / use AlDente when using the MacBook Pro in clamshell mode; and

b) How do I setup the MacBook Pro to be used in clamshell mode (noting that I will google this one momentarily).

c) Has anyone here successfully done this?

Thanks.

 

[GoztepeEge]

Hi A!!

I thought that I would come back with one related question.

I am thinking about biting the bullet and getting a monitor to go with my MacBook Pro.

I would appreciate someone explaining to me the following:

a) How do I setup / use AlDente when using the MacBook Pro in clamshell mode; and

b) How do I setup the MacBook Pro to be used in clamshell mode (noting that I will google this one momentarily).

c) Has anyone here successfully done this?

Thanks.

Clamshell mode means that you are actively using the MacBook, but on another display. It means that your device is actively working, not sleeping, hence AlDente works perfect as well. There is no more setup to do, I guess.

When your charger is connected and AlDente is set perfect, then when you close the lid, it directly starts the clamshell mode if you have an external display attached to the MacBook. This is what happens on my MacBook right now. I successfully done this and I have not set anything special.

If the charger is connected and if I close the lid, it starts clamshell mode on the second display,
If I unplug the charger during the clamshell mode, it directly goes to sleeping. This is it.

One more thing please check out these settings if they are helpful for you as well.

 

[JoelBC]

Clamshell mode means that you are actively using the MacBook, but on another display. It means that your device is actively working, not sleeping, hence AlDente works perfect as well. There is no more setup to do, I guess.

When your charger is connected and AlDente is set perfect, then when you close the lid, it directly starts the clamshell mode if you have an external display attached to the MacBook. This is what happens on my MacBook right now. I successfully done this and I have not set anything special.

If the charger is connected and if I close the lid, it starts clamshell mode on the second display,
If I unplug the charger during the clamshell mode, it directly goes to sleeping. This is it.

One more thing please check out these settings if they are helpful for you as well.

View attachment 1951528

@GoztepeEge , awesome, thank you so much noting that our AlDente settings are the same making this very encouraging.

Now all I need to do is select a monitor and a stand for my MacBook Pro. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

 

[GoztepeEge]

@GoztepeEge , awesome, thank you so much noting that our AlDente settings are the same making this very encouraging.

Now all I need to do is select a monitor and a stand for my MacBook Pro. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

There should be nothing more to do.
Just connect a monitor with like HDMI cable, then close the lid while your charger cable is plugged in.

It should then work.

 

[JoelBC]

There should be nothing more to do.
Just connect a monitor with like HDMI cable, then close the lid while your charger cable is plugged in.

It should then work.

Thank you!

 

[cool11]

If I decide to use aldente,
among the dozens of options available,
can you please tell me which ones are the most essential?

I want the basic/minimal settings to be done.
Give me a few things that should be definitely done,
and ideal settings about it.

 

[JoelBC]

AlDente just updated to 1.14 for those interested.

I have it installed and note no issues, all good!

 

[Christopher Kim]

Now all I need to do is select a monitor and a stand for my MacBook Pro. Any suggestions?

Take a look at the Mac Accessories forum here, lot of threads on external monitor suggestions. https://forums.macrumors.com/forums/mac-accessories.77/

At a high-level, it really depends on what your budget is and what you'll be using it for (eg. gaming? work / productivity?)

A lot of people (myself included) have gone with a 27" 4K monitor as good bang-for-buck. This market segment is really mature, and there are plenty of good monitors ~$300 range. I run it at "Looks like 2560 x 1440", which most ppl would agree is the ideal resolution for a 27" monitor in terms of text size / icons (it's what the 27" 5K iMac does) and doing so, allows you to use MacOS' HiDPI scaling feature which will look quite good IMO (better than if you just got a native 1440p 27" monitor).

 

[JoelBC]

Take a look at the Mac Accessories forum here, lot of threads on external monitor suggestions. https://forums.macrumors.com/forums/mac-accessories.77/

At a high-level, it really depends on what your budget is and what you'll be using it for (eg. gaming? work / productivity?)

A lot of people (myself included) have gone with a 27" 4K monitor as good bang-for-buck. This market segment is really mature, and there are plenty of good monitors ~$300 range. I run it at "Looks like 2560 x 1440", which most ppl would agree is the ideal resolution for a 27" monitor in terms of text size / icons (it's what the 27" 5K iMac does) and doing so, allows you to use MacOS' HiDPI scaling feature which will look quite good IMO (better than if you just got a native 1440p 27" monitor).

I appreciate and thank you for the response.

I was looking at the Dell 2720Q UtraSharp 27" which seems to match what you are describing plus can deliver 93 watts through USB -C which means only one power cable as I can use a TB cable to the monitor to both pass the image and power my MBP. The only concern I have is that it is now 3 years old.

I just picked up -- my office send me -- a BenQPD3200Q which is 32" but only 2K and now TB power transfer but it was / is free. It is 2560 x 1440 so again falls into what you described. Will give it a try and see.

All that said, I am hopeful that Apple will release a new monitor that is 27", 5K, has a built in FaceTime camera and passes power for my MBP. If that hits the market and is reasonable -- in Apple pricing terms -- then I will be all over it.

Am finding it hard t decide on a monitor as there are so many options and it is impossible to see a good selection in person, hence the ask for recommendations.

 

[StoneJack]

I appreciate and thank you for the response.

I was looking at the Dell 2720Q UtraSharp 27" which seems to match what you are describing plus can deliver 93 watts through USB -C which means only one power cable as I can use a TB cable to the monitor to both pass the image and power my MBP. The only concern I have is that it is now 3 years old.

I just picked up -- my office send me -- a BenQPD3200Q which is 32" but only 2K and now TB power transfer but it was / is free. It is 2560 x 1440 so again falls into what you described. Will give it a try and see.

All that said, I am hopeful that Apple will release a new monitor that is 27", 5K, has a built in FaceTime camera and passes power for my MBP. If that hits the market and is reasonable -- in Apple pricing terms -- then I will be all over it.

Am finding it hard t decide on a monitor as there are so many options and it is impossible to see a good selection in person, hence the ask for recommendations.

buy and put cheap logitech webcamera on display

 

[JoelBC]

buy and put cheap logitech webcamera on display

@StoneJack , you bet! I waiting to see what Apple comes out it — hoping for an integrated camera — and need to figure something out with the cables, I hate the site of all the cables!

And yes, I am admittedly OCD about cable management.

@ All, as @GoztepeEge noted, AlDente works perfectly with clamshell mode.

 

[cool11]

Still, I do not use aldente, though I am thinking of it.
So, besides this...

----

I have activated 'optimized battery charge' in monterey battery Settings.
And...I unplug the power cord about 2 hours a day, when I use mbp. The battery charges falls a little bit. Then I plug again.
Is this manual practice, a good practice? In combination with 'optimized battery charge'?

 

[JoelBC]

Still, I do not use aldente, though I am thinking of it.
So, besides this...

----

I have activated 'optimized battery charge' in monterey battery Settings.
And...I unplug the power cord about 2 hours a day, when I use mbp. The battery charges falls a little bit. Then I plug again.
Is this manual practice, a good practice? In combination with 'optimized battery charge'?

I would say not great to the extent that your MacBook is plugged in and banging at the 100% charged level.

 

[JoelBC]

Question:

How often should I be running AlDente’s battery calibration?

Thanks.

 

[dagored]

Question:

How often should I be running AlDente’s battery calibration?

Thanks.

Their site says every two weeks if continually plugged in. I do it about once a month.

So far it has been flawless for me.

 

[JoelBC]

Their site says every two weeks if continually plugged in. I do it about once a month.

So far it has been flawless for me.

Awesome, I guess that I am due then.

Thank you.


Joel

 

[cool11]

Hmmm, not so happy right now, a bit of a glitch.

I have AlDente set 50% and all was working well. I have the following AlDente configuration:

I cannot set, any of the above settings! I saw everything like the image above but I cannot move a slider or change something.
What am I doing wrong?

 

[cool11]

Almost, my only possible setting

Here, I cannot set anything:

It is the second or third time I try to handle the battery situation with aldente.
I hope with your help, to make it finally happen.

 

[astorre]

Almost, my only possible setting

...
It is the second or third time I try to handle the battery situation with aldente.
I hope with your help, to make it finally happen.

you need to pay for full version, with free you can only set-up % of battery charge

 

[cool11]

you need to pay for full version, with free you can only set-up % of battery charge

Even with this feature enabled,
still, something goes wrong.

I set aldente to 80%. And mbp charges above this.
What is going wrong?

 

[cool11]

-----
'Optimized battery charging' from Apple:
does anyone know, if it keeps its/user's data,
every time it is enabled/disabled?

Because with all these aldente experimentation, I have to turn it off and then on, and so on,
and I wonder if it is losing everything everytime and it starts from zero point.

 

[astorre]

-----
'Optimized battery charging' from Apple:
does anyone know, if it keeps its/user's data,
every time it is enabled/disabled?

Because with all these aldente experimentation, I have to turn it off and then on, and so on,
and I wonder if it is losing everything everytime and it starts from zero point.

I really dont know what experimentation you mean, you just turn it off forever if you have Aldente, otherwise it wont work.

 

[cool11]

I really dont know what experimentation you mean, you just turn it off forever if you have Aldente, otherwise it wont work.

My question is:
Every time I turn on the 'optimized battery charging', it starts collecting user data from the beginning? All previous data is lost?