Charging and stop charging at certain battery level

[yudilks]

Hi,

I have IBM x60 laptop right now, and in its "Power Manager" scheme, we can actually set the battery to be charge only when it goes below certain level, and stop the charging at any battery level we want.. Currently, I set it to be charging when the battery level goes down to 40%, and stop charging when it has been charged to 45%... I set it to be like this since IBM has recommended that "If you primarily use your computer with the ac adapted attached and only infrequently use battery power, battery deterioration may occur faster if the battery is constantly charged at 100% (I read similar thing before). Lower the charge thresholds for your battery and periodically resetting the battery gauge will help increase its lifespan."

Is there such thing in Apple laptop? Thanks

 

[Quboid]

Hi,

I have IBM x60 laptop right now, and in its "Power Manager" scheme, we can actually set the battery to be charge only when it goes below certain level, and stop the charging at any battery level we want.. Currently, I set it to be charging when the battery level goes down to 40%, and stop charging when it has been charged to 45%... I set it to be like this since IBM has recommended that "If you primarily use your computer with the ac adapted attached and only infrequently use battery power, battery deterioration may occur faster if the battery is constantly charged at 100% (I read similar thing before). Lower the charge thresholds for your battery and periodically resetting the battery gauge will help increase its lifespan."

Is there such thing in Apple laptop? Thanks

Apple laptops don't normally charge to 100%. There was recently a thread on this here i think. But you can calibrate your battery.

 

[yudilks]

OK... Maybe it's not 100%, but it definitely more than 95% right? This can be considered as full as well...

 

[mad jew]

Apple laptops will recharge their battery to 100% but will not recharge it until the level falls below 95%. This ensures the battery isn't constantly being charged and discharged, which will eventually wear it out. I don't know a way of ensuring the battery automatically stops charging at a predetermined spot (other than 95%) though.

However, the best way to look after your battery is to occasionally let it run down (once a month to empty), but otherwise keep it on the adaptor if feasible. I hope this helps a little.

 

[yudilks]

Yeah, I read the article from Apple.. It says that

Some PowerBook G4, iBook, MacBook Pro and MacBook computers may not show the battery as 100 percent charged in Mac OS X, even when the power adapter is plugged in. The battery appears to stop charging between 93 percent and 99 percent. (PowerPC-based computers may stop charging between 95 and 99 percent; Intel-based computers may stop charging between 93 and 99 percent.)

This is normal. The batteries used in these computers are designed to avoid short discharge/charge cycles in order to prolong the overall life of the battery. Because of this, when setting the Mac OS X battery status menu bar icon to display charge state by percentage, you may notice that the reported charge stays between 93 or 95 percent and 99 percent. When the battery level eventually drops below 93 or 95 percent, it will charge all the way to 100 percent.

But these level are very near to 100% which can be considered as full... Hmm, I think such software just doesn't exist in Mac huh?

 

[mad jew]

Maybe, but not that I know of. Sorry mate.

 

[latisha1903]

Mine has stopped charging at 77%. Tonight I am going to let it run all the way out. It usually stays plugged into the adapter, since I haven't been taken my computer anywhere. It won't charge past 77% now, even though it shows the charge sign. It would get to 100% sometimes, but usually only too 99%.

Do you think I have damaged something? Is this a problem?

 

[Mac'Mo]

yeah sometimes 98 or 99 appear when i have the plug in all the time