good idea using macbook with ac adaptor on?

[spick]

I know that laptop batteries loses life as they ages by cycles and some even lose life because of overcharge. So I was wondering if I'm using my macbook with the ac adaptor plug in, am i using the power from the battery or straight from the ac.

Should I use it with the ac plug in when i'm at home or should I just use the battery and charge it when it gets low?

 

[great high wolf]

I know that laptop batteries loses life as they ages by cycles and some even lose life because of overcharge. So I was wondering if I'm using my macbook with the ac adaptor plug in, am i using the power from the battery or straight from the ac.

Should I use it with the ac plug in when i'm at home or should I just use the battery and charge it when it gets low?

You won't be able to overcharge it. Li-polymer batteries include special circuits to stop that happening.

 

[/V\acpower]

To continue on what as been said before, the battery as a circuit who stop the charging when on 100% charge.

For your question about the energy coming from the battery or the charger, it come from the charger. However, from time to time, the computer may use both the charger energy and the battery energy when he need a big amount of energy quickly, like if you insert a CD at the same time you are searching the harddrive and photoshop is doing a big job in background. But it is generally quick moments so the vast majority of time, the Macbook is running directly from the AC.

For the same reason, the Macbooks are designed to run at 50% of their speed capacity if you are using the computer from the AC without a battery to avoid running out of energy if a quick energy boost is needed.

Also, if you want to maximize your battery, you should calibrate it like Apple suggest :

Calibrating a MacBook or MacBook Pro battery
Calibrate the battery in your MacBook or MacBook Pro every month or two to keep your battery functioning at its fullest capacity.

To calibrate the battery:
1. Plug in the MagSafe power adapter and fully charge the MacBook or MacBook Pro battery until the light on the MagSafe connector changes to green and the Battery icon in the menu bar indicates that the battery is fully charged.

2. Allow the battery to rest in the fully charged state for two hours or longer. You may use your computer during this time as long as the power adapter is plugged in.

3. Disconnect the power adapter with the computer on and start using it with battery power. When the battery's charge gets low, you’ll see the low battery warning dialog on the screen.

4. Continue to keep your computer turned on until it goes to sleep. Save your work and close all applications when the battery's charge gets low and before the computer goes to sleep.

5. Turn off the computer or allow it to sleep for five hours or longer.

6. Reconnect the power adapter and leave it connected until the battery is fully charged. You may use your computer during this time.

Repeat the calibration process every two months or so to keep the battery fully functioning. If you use your MacBook or MacBook Pro infrequently, it’s best to recalibrate the battery at least once a month.

If you purchased additional batteries, repeat the calibration process with those batteries as well.