C2D MBP ... Does the battery need Calibrating ??

[Bongolo]

Hi there,

I have seen no mention of battery calibration in my new MBP C2D manual.

Does the battery actually need calibrating?

Many thanks.

/Bongolo

 

[mr_matalino]

Yes.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86284

 

[Bongolo]

Many thanks mr_matalino.

/Bongolo

 

[iW00t]

Do it only once a month because each time you do it you waste 1 cycle on your batteries.

 

[Bongolo]

Thanks for the useful info iW00t!

/Bongolo

 

[wiraone]

My three weeks old C2D MBP is showing 14 cycles. I do run on battery most of the time and I've only done one recalibration. Is it bad to run down the battery to less than 30% before charging it back up? Should I not let the battery lower than 50% full before charging up? What is the percentage before the MBP consider it as one charge cycle?

 

[emotion]

My three weeks old C2D MBP is showing 14 cycles. I do run on battery most of the time and I've only done one recalibration. Is it bad to run down the battery to less than 30% before charging it back up? Should I not let the battery lower than 50% full before charging up? What is the percentage before the MBP consider it as one charge cycle?

I always run Li-Ion batteries right down before recharging. It's a habit from older technology to prevent memory effect (I don't think LiIon has this prob though).

Batteries in both my laptops are both in good shape so I think it helps (I have 2.5 yr old powerbook rev c 12" with 3.5 hours capacity still).

 

[Omegamanstyle]

Yes.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86284

this is actually the calibration process for PowerBooks. The calibration process for MacBookPros is a little different. Check this out:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.4/en/mh2339.html

I calibrated my 15" C2D MBP in the first 48 hours when i got it about three weeks ago. I run mostly off the power cord, but my iStatPro says that it's gone through ten cycles. It seems that if I drain the battery below 90%, then recharge, that counts as a cycle.

Oh well.

 

[graln1k]

this is actually the calibration process for PowerBooks. The calibration process for MacBookPros is a little different. Check this out:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.4/en/mh2339.html

I calibrated my 15" C2D MBP in the first 48 hours when i got it about three weeks ago. I run mostly off the power cord, but my iStatPro says that it's gone through ten cycles. It seems that if I drain the battery below 90%, then recharge, that counts as a cycle.

Oh well.

Are you allowed to use the computer during step one or do I have to stare at my pretty computer for (how many hours) while it completes the initial charge?

 

[ToastMaster]

My three weeks old C2D MBP is showing 14 cycles. I do run on battery most of the time and I've only done one recalibration. Is it bad to run down the battery to less than 30% before charging it back up? Should I not let the battery lower than 50% full before charging up? What is the percentage before the MBP consider it as one charge cycle?

Hmmm... is it bad to have a lot of cycles? My iStat pro widget says that I have 40, but I still get decent battery life.

 

[sycho]

  Battery Installed:	Yes
  First low level warning:	No
  Full Charge Capacity (mAh):	5646
  Remaining Capacity (mAh):	5446
  Amperage (mA):	0
  Voltage (mV):	12390
  Cycle Count:	23

I got this guy near the beginning of the month, and I have been running it off of the power apator for several days now. Do that mean I lost 200mA of capacity in the first month alone?

 

[NJuul]

  Battery Installed:	Yes
  First low level warning:	No
  Full Charge Capacity (mAh):	5646
  Remaining Capacity (mAh):	5446
  Amperage (mA):	0
  Voltage (mV):	12390
  Cycle Count:	23

I got this guy near the beginning of the month, and I have been running it off of the power apator for several days now. Do that mean I lost 200mA of capacity in the first month alone?

No, that means that when your battery is fully charged, you have a capacity of 5646 mAh. At present you have 5446 mAh left of a full charge. It says "charged" when the battery is charged to between 95% and 100%, which means that your battery will only start to re-charge if your battery has less than 95% juice left. It's to prevent it from doing small-scale recharging when the battery is almost fully charged, which preserves battery life. You can try and unplug the mbp, and when the meter says 94%, plug it back in. It will now charge to 100%.

 

[sycho]

No, that means that when your battery is fully charged, you have a capacity of 5646 mAh. At present you have 5446 mAh left of a full charge. It says "charged" when the battery is charged to between 95% and 100%, which means that your battery will only start to re-charge if your battery has less than 95% juice left. It's to prevent it from doing small-scale recharging when the battery is almost fully charged, which preserves battery life. You can try and unplug the mbp, and when the meter says 94%, plug it back in. It will now charge to 100%.

ok, thank you.

 

[imMAColata]

I always run Li-Ion batteries right down before recharging. It's a habit from older technology to prevent memory effect (I don't think LiIon has this prob though).

Batteries in both my laptops are both in good shape so I think it helps (I have 2.5 yr old powerbook rev c 12" with 3.5 hours capacity still).

Lithium polymer batteries are AFAIK best served by "topping" off rather than completely discharging them. They do not develop memory but degrade over time and from each charge cycle. I dont think you want to deep discharge yoru batteries too often, it is merely helping them degrade faster.

 

[emotion]

Lithium polymer batteries are AFAIK best served by "topping" off rather than completely discharging them. They do not develop memory but degrade over time and from each charge cycle. I dont think you want to deep discharge yoru batteries too often, it is merely helping them degrade faster.

Interesting article I've found:

http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-34.htm

It also suggests removing batteries when plugged in because of heat.

 

[aaron.lee2006]

LOL I haven't calibrated since i got my MBP. I am at 71 load cycles and still at 99% battery capacity

 

[vega07]

LOL I haven't calibrated since i got my MBP. I am at 71 load cycles and still at 99% battery capacity

wow that's pretty good for 71 cycles.

Coconut battery shows that my battery is 93% after 40 cycles.

IStat Nano shows 96%.

which one is correct?

 

[zipper1022]

what exactly does the cycles mean?

my mbp says

4 cycles at 84% abd i havent reay been using it that much...
ahht his thing is making me scared!!

 

[mightymike107]

Wow, you have a full charge capacity of 5600? mine is only 5000. is this the difference of a 17" and the 15" or did i get screwed?

-mike

 

[countach]

I always run Li-Ion batteries right down before recharging. It's a habit from older technology to prevent memory effect (I don't think LiIon has this prob though).

Batteries in both my laptops are both in good shape so I think it helps (I have 2.5 yr old powerbook rev c 12" with 3.5 hours capacity still).

As I understand you're better off NOT running it down with LiIon most of the time.

 

[mr_matalino]

Many thanks mr_matalino.

/Bongolo

You're welcome!

 

[mr_matalino]

this is actually the calibration process for PowerBooks. The calibration process for MacBookPros is a little different. Check this out:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.4/en/mh2339.html

I calibrated my 15" C2D MBP in the first 48 hours when i got it about three weeks ago. I run mostly off the power cord, but my iStatPro says that it's gone through ten cycles. It seems that if I drain the battery below 90%, then recharge, that counts as a cycle.

Oh well.

Actually if you read it...it does say MacBook Pro (all models)

 

[UmaThurman]

My battery at full charage capacity is 5268. Do I need to calibrate my c2d MBP?