MacBook Battery

[iris_failsafe]

So I just bought a MacBook. Although I am a veteran mac User I never had a laptop before so I was wondering when I use it with the battery its indicator turns red showing that I have short time left... when I see this I connect the power supply. AM I damaging the battery by doing this? should I wait until its completely drained to connect the computer?

 

[coastertux]

You only need to completley drain the battery about once a month to calibrate it. It actually is better to not deep cycle Lithium Ion batteries all the time.

 

[mad jew]

Connect it whenever you want, you don't have to wait for it to die. If you have the choice, run it from the wall rather than from the battery.

 

[mattjgalloway]

Does anyone know if it's best to remove the batttery when running directly from the wall when the battery is fully charged? Or does it know this and electrically disconnect the battery from the charger when fully charged.

The reason I ask is that sometimes my MacBook will be plugged into the wall for long periods of time and I don't want my battery to deteriorate.

 

[mad jew]

It should be fine just being left in. If you take it out the you run a higher risk of getting crap on the connectors (not actual crap because that's gross).

 

[FullmetalZ26]

The battery will probably deteriorate at the same rate whether it's out of the machine or not anyways. Both the laptop and the battery have "smart" circuitry built in to keep battery wear to a minimum, so the only difference is that it may get just a bit warmer while installed. The battery is mostly off in it's own corner though, so it probably won't even warm up that much (unless you recently used it and it's recharging, anyway.)

 

[ExileinBlonde]

I wish I could remember to calibrate my battery once a month!

 

[mad jew]

You could keep a reminder in iCal.