Just Bought Apple MacBook White 13" MC516LL/A on eBay

[CWL76179]

Mid 2010? I think? Always wanted a MacBook, so grabbed this one. The issue I have had in the past was always with the batteries of my laptop and charging them.

PLEASE ADVISE, what is the proper way to charge this battery? Always plugged in? Charged full and then let it drain down to what? I have no idea and don't want to ruin the battery, right out of the gate.

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated, an old cranky guy, 64, trying hard to get just a little tech savvy.

Thanks in advance for any help and advice.

CWL

 

[Dave Braine]

The battery is limited to a set number of cycles. A cycle being a complete discharge from 100% with a full recharge. If you discharge down to 50% and then recharge, that is half a cycle. If you keep it plugged in you'll reduce the cycle count.

CoconutBattery will tell you how many cycles you battery has had.

coconutBattery 4 - by coconut-flavour.com

With coconutBattery you are always aware of your current battery health. It shows you live information about the battery in your Mac and iOS devices (iPhone, iPad)

www.coconut-flavour.com

If you go to FAQ, you'll find an older version for your MacBook.

I have a 2009 White MacBook connected to my TV as a DVR. It's been on 24/7/365 for over 2 and a half years. Because the battery is on constant charge and never runs down, the cycle count has remained the same at 977. The battery is down to 75% of its original capacity. In theory it should last forever, but I'm sure it'll fail at some stage.

However, you use it, you are not going to damage or ruin it.

 

[CWL76179]

The battery is limited to a set number of cycles. A cycle being a complete discharge from 100% with a full recharge. If you discharge down to 50% and then recharge, that is half a cycle. If you keep it plugged in you'll reduce the cycle count.

CoconutBattery will tell you how many cycles you battery has had.

coconutBattery 4 - by coconut-flavour.com

With coconutBattery you are always aware of your current battery health. It shows you live information about the battery in your Mac and iOS devices (iPhone, iPad)

www.coconut-flavour.com

If you go to FAQ, you'll find an older version for your MacBook.

I have a 2009 White MacBook connected to my TV as a DVR. It's been on 24/7/365 for over 2 and a half years. Because the battery is on constant charge and never runs down, the cycle count has remained the same at 977. The battery is down to 75% of its original capacity. In theory it should last forever, but I'm sure it'll fail at some stage.

However, you use it, you are not going to damage or ruin it.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, DAVE!!!

 

[4sallypat]

These batteries will swell up and cause major damage to the trackpad if you leave it connected 24x7...

 

[Dave Braine]

These batteries will swell up and cause major damage to the trackpad if you leave it connected 24x7...

Well, I had a battery swell in another White MB, and that wasn't on 24/7. I check this one periodically and it's fine.

Not sure about it damaging the trackpad if it swells, as it a removable battery in its own compartment, and will swell in a downward direction away from the trackpad.

 

[avz]

Well, I had a battery swell in another White MB, and that wasn't on 24/7. I check this one periodically and it's fine.

Not sure about it damaging the trackpad if it swells, as it a removable battery in its own compartment, and will swell in a downward direction away from the trackpad.

The battery swells as a balloon, so direction is irrelevant.

 

[AZhappyjack]

These batteries will swell up and cause major damage to the trackpad if you leave it connected 24x7...

In my experience, the trackpad is typically not damaged permanently... but the swelling causes it to not sit properly in the upper case. Once the battery is removed/replaced, the upper case should return to normal... but that depends to some extent on how long (and how severely) the battery was swollen - meaning how far and how long the case was forced out of shape.