battery issue?

[sgtalexmom]

I am a mac noob, my 13" mba with 4 gig is the first mac i've ever owned.
I have a question about the battery.
I calibrated the battery, and it charged to 100%. I have my mba plugged in all the time. Yet, it loses 1% every couple of days on the battery.
When I called apple they said NEVER leave it plugged in all the time. Always let the battery run out and then recharge. they told me that it will lose a bit of battery even when plugged in, but that it will recharge when it hits 90%.
Also told me the battery in the mba will have 300-400 cycles available for its lifetime.

Does this make sense? Anyone else leaving their air plugged in constantly?
Is it better to always work from battery?

I love this machine, just want to know what's the right thing to do.

thanks in advance

 

[simsaladimbamba]

This should answer most, if not all, of your battery questions: Apple Notebook Battery FAQ

Helpful Information for Any Mac User by GGJstudios

 

[sgtalexmom]

thanks
i never scrolled further down than the calibrate instructions, so i missed the ac power stuff. chalk it up to stupid noob too excited about her new mba to really prepare properly.

 

[GGJstudios]

I have my mba plugged in all the time. Yet, it loses 1% every couple of days on the battery.

That's because occasionally your Mac needs more power than the AC alone can provide, and it draws on battery power.

When I called apple they said NEVER leave it plugged in all the time. Always let the battery run out and then recharge.

You don't have to let it drain completely, but you should run it on battery every 2 or 3 days down to somewhere around 50% before recharging. This keeps the electrons moving. It's absolutely not necessary or recommended to drain the battery every time you use it, just for the sake of draining it.

but that it will recharge when it hits 90%.

93%, actually.

Also told me the battery in the mba will have 300-400 cycles available for its lifetime.

It's actually designed to retain up to 80% of its original capacity up to 1000 cycles.

Anyone else leaving their air plugged in constantly?

Don't do it. Great way to kill a battery quickly.

Is it better to always work from battery?

Work from AC power when available, work from battery when you need to. Just don't run on AC all the time.

Read all of the Battery FAQ that simsaladimbamba posted. It really will answer all your questions.

 

[markr346]

I use an external monitor at work, and the only way I know to power/use the external display while using my MBA-13, is to have the power cord attached to the MBA-13. Which means during the work day, I'm on AC power plugged-in all day.

Given recent posts/replies, it sounds like I will prematurely damage/end my battery life?

Are there any workarounds to using an external (23") display on a MBA-13 and avoiding the battery issues of having it plugged in while operating?

Thanks.