Charge limiter app AlDente - now works on M1 Macs

[Leon1das]

GitHub - AppHouseKitchen/AlDente-Charge-Limiter: Menubar Tool to set Charge Limits and Prolong Battery Lifespan

Menubar Tool to set Charge Limits and Prolong Battery Lifespan - AppHouseKitchen/AlDente-Charge-Limiter

github.com

M1 version of AlDente released less than 24h hours ago.
All credits to the author.

 

[macislife]

Yup, been using it and it works fine.

 

[Mr Screech]

Not working here.
Keeps fully charging, after reboot, reinstalling helper and disabling optimized battery charging.

// seems to be working after downloading it from the releases page instead of using homebrew.

 

[Leon1das]

Not working here.
Keeps fully charging, after reboot, reinstalling helper and disabling optimized battery charging.

// seems to be working after downloading it from the releases page instead of using homebrew.

Also used release page - not homebrew.
Working as expected.

 

[Apple_Robert]

The new “allow discharge” beta feature also seems to be working well.

 

[macislife]

Yup, 2.1 is out and all works fine. https://github.com/davidwernhart/AlDente/releases/latest

 

[Apple_Robert]

I have found that running Better Battery 2 at the same time causes a slight battery charge. I have tested this several times with the same results. Removing BB2 from the equation removed the problem.

 

[vanasian]

I found that mine is 2.0. How could I update it to 2.1?
Delete the old version and install the new version?
Thanks

 

[Apple_Robert]

I found that mine is 2.0. How could I update it to 2.1?
Delete the old version and install the new version?
Thanks

To be safe, I set my charge limit back to 100%, deleted the app, cold booted (30 seconds to reset SMC) and then installed 2.1. Make sure you turn off "Optimized Charging."

 

[vanasian]

To be safe, I set my charge limit back to 100%, deleted the app, cold booted (30 seconds to reset SMC) and then installed 2.1. Make sure you turn off "Optimized Charging."

Thanks for reply. I will do it now. I turn off Optimized Charging when I installed version 2.0.

 

[nameste]

Can I use this app with the clamshell mode?

 

[Apple_Robert]

Can I use this app with the clamshell mode?

AlDente 2.1 alpha does not work in clamshell mode due to hardware limitation.

"Allow discharge" deactivates Thunderbolt display when in clamshell mode · Issue #114 · AppHouseKitchen/AlDente-Charge-Limiter

Hi! I know this feature is in development, just providing feedback: When I enable "Allow discharge (Beta)" while in clamshell mode with external display (via Thunderbolt, also charging via the disp...

github.com

 

[jdb8167]

AlDente 2.1 alpha does not work in clamshell mode due to hardware limitation.

"Allow discharge" deactivates Thunderbolt display when in clamshell mode · Issue #114 · AppHouseKitchen/AlDente-Charge-Limiter

Hi! I know this feature is in development, just providing feedback: When I enable "Allow discharge (Beta)" while in clamshell mode with external display (via Thunderbolt, also charging via the disp...

github.com

I'm pretty sure you can use the pmset disable sleep command line to get it to work. I haven't tried al Dente but the description of the problem sounds just like normal use when in clamshell and you disconnect the charger. The command is:

sudo pmset disablesleep 1

To reverse:

sudo pmset disablesleep 0

Someone with AlDente and an external monitor on a M1 MacBook should test this.

 

[Shadowbech]

Thank goodness. I just got this installed and is working, even the "Allow Discharge" is working too. I have set it to charge it to 80%.

 

[petterihiisila]

This is excellent news, thanks OP for bringing it up. I tend to dock my laptop a lot, but with random on/off patterns. The AI rarely makes correct guesses about whether to hold off charging or not. So I end up having to manage it myself.

The app seems to work as promised. Set to 80, it stays at 80, even if plugged in and lid closed. I've got an M1 Air with ~40 battery cycles and the battery condition is still at 99.7 ... 100%, which is great. Some of my previous Macs have lost capacity much faster than this, thanks to not having any functional way to manage charging, and thanks to leaving the computer docked for extended but random periods.

Let's see what the Pro version brings. I might purchase it just to support the developer. Resell value stays better if I can market an "almost like new" battery condition when purchasing the next Mac. Well worth a few coins.

 

[petterihiisila]

Did you notice a difference after installing 12.2.2? My M1 Air no longer wakes from sleep in clamshell mode, while connected to an external monitor, keyboard and trackpad. I had to uninstall or quit AlDente, and normal wake-up behavior resumed. It took a while before I thought of trying that.

Note that if you do uninstall AlDente, you should also reset the SMC and remove its helper programs. Instructions here, if you need them.

 

[jdb8167]

Did you notice a difference after installing 12.2.2? My M1 Air no longer wakes from sleep in clamshell mode, while connected to an external monitor, keyboard and trackpad. I had to uninstall or quit AlDente, and normal wake-up behavior resumed. It took a while before I thought of trying that.

Note that if you do uninstall AlDente, you should also reset the SMC and remove its helper programs. Instructions here, if you need them.

There is a reported problem where when AlDente disconnects from the power adapter to stop charging. When in clamshell mode, the MacBook automatically goes to sleep when the power adapter is disconnected. This is standard behavior for macOS. Clamshell mode normally only works when a power adapter is plugged in.

There may be a workaround. There is an undocumented setting in the command line tool pmset that tells the MacBook not to sleep. I use it sometimes when I want to run the battery down but leave the laptop in clamshell mode. The command is:
sudo pmset disablesleep 1.

To reverse it and go back to normal clamshell mode is:
sudo pmset disablesleep 0.

I don't use AlDente so if someone who does could confirm that this works that would be good. There is also a app called Amphetamine that might also work if you are adverse to the command line. I also haven't tried that.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Did you notice a difference after installing 12.2.2? My M1 Air no longer wakes from sleep in clamshell mode, while connected to an external monitor, keyboard and trackpad. I had to uninstall or quit AlDente, and normal wake-up behavior resumed. It took a while before I thought of trying that.

Note that if you do uninstall AlDente, you should also reset the SMC and remove its helper programs. Instructions here, if you need them.

AlDente does not work in Clamshell mode. It is a hardware limitation.

 

[petterihiisila]

AlDente does not work in Clamshell mode. It is a hardware limitation.

Maybe my M1 doesn't know about that limitation, because it sure did work for me, all week. ? In every scenario I used the Mac, the charge never went past 80%. Otherwise the computer behaved normally, clamshell and all. Would that not fulfill your "it works" criteria? Any guesses as to why it did work if it shouldn't?

But on Friday the Mac stopped waking up, unless the charge was below 80%, when in clamshell mode. Had to keep the lid open, which is kind of a bummer, because I use and hold very dear my vertical Brydge/Henge dock. (The misbehavior was the same even without the dock, I tested that too.)

The only variable I can think of is 12.2.2. Everything else remained the same, as far as I know. And that's a different kind of "does not work". Affects not just charging, but the whole Mac, so unfortunately I had to uninstall AlDente for now.

 

[stanleydesu]

But on Friday the Mac stopped waking up, unless the charge was below 80%, when in clamshell mode. Had to keep the lid open, which is kind of a bummer, because I use and hold very dear my vertical Brydge/Henge dock. (The misbehavior was the same even without the dock, I tested that too.)

Maybe try this option (System Preferences > Battery > Power Adapter)

 

[Apple_Robert]

Maybe my M1 doesn't know about that limitation, because it sure did work for me, all week. ? In every scenario I used the Mac, the charge never went past 80%. Otherwise the computer behaved normally, clamshell and all. Would that not fulfill your "it works" criteria? Any guesses as to why it did work if it shouldn't?

But on Friday the Mac stopped waking up, unless the charge was below 80%, when in clamshell mode. Had to keep the lid open, which is kind of a bummer, because I use and hold very dear my vertical Brydge/Henge dock. (The misbehavior was the same even without the dock, I tested that too.)

The only variable I can think of is 12.2.2. Everything else remained the same, as far as I know. And that's a different kind of "does not work". Affects not just charging, but the whole Mac, so unfortunately I had to uninstall AlDente for now.

You should contact the developer and let him know about your findings. He said it wouldn't work. Other users haven't been successful either.

 

[petterihiisila]

Maybe try this option (System Preferences > Battery > Power Adapter) View attachment 1736020

Looks like discharge+clamshell+TB3 combo has a known issue. Maybe I did not have auto-discharge option enabled until Friday, and that’s why I didn’t encounter this problem initially.

Though I really thought I had it on from the beginning. Unfortunately my memory doesn’t have a Rewind feature to double check.

Without auto-discharge it seems to work. Phew.

 

[Leon1das]

Just wondering - why would one use Discharge option in AIDente?

My logic says - it allows discharge/charge cycles around the max defined percentage...

If its off - once battery is at max % - system power supply switched to charger only, without touching the battery - which I prefer.

 

[petterihiisila]

Just wondering - why would one use Discharge option in AIDente?

My logic says - it allows discharge/charge cycles around the max defined percentage...

If its off - once battery is at max % - system power supply switched to charger only, without touching the battery - which I prefer.

Just to get the charge level down to the max %, while also docked and working.

You have a point though. Once it’s down, it never comes up, if AlDente is running and works. This setting should become unnecessary in long term use.

 

[Mike Boreham]

Just to get the charge level down to the max %, while also docked and working.

You have a point though. Once it’s down, it never comes up, if AlDente is running and works. This setting should become unnecessary in long term use.

I find there are times when it goes over my selected max, eg while booted to an external (for testing) which doesn't have Al Dente running, or plugged in while powered off. Also during a macOS update install Al Dente is not running.

I had a bit of trouble getting my mind round what Allow Discharge actually does, so did some tests using a Satechi USB-C in line power meter to observe what was going int the machine.

I started with the battery at 100% and with AlDente set to 80% max. I set the Mac to play long home movies.

With Allow Discharge OFF, the meter showed the machine was taking 0.3A at 20V and the battery level took two hours to drop to 99.5%.

With Allow Discharge ON, the meter showed the machine was taking 0.01A at 20V and the battery level dropped rapidly. When charge level dropped 80%, it went back to 0.3A at 20V, enough to run the machine but less than it would be if charging the battery as well.