Prevent charging from TB devices?

[fakestrawberryflavor]

I got a new M2 Max MBP and want to take care of my battery health; however my workflow basically is to use this as a desktop replacement. I have 2x LG 5K monitors hooked up 24x7x365 for my specific workflow, and I also have a CalDigit TB4 Dock for hardwire ethernet and another DisplayPort monitor.

Each of these TB devices provides power and charges the laptop all the time, which is not good for battery health. Is there anyway, even with another app, that will allow me to toggle charging on or off from specific sources?

 

[iMacDragon]

I got a new M2 Max MBP and want to take care of my battery health; however my workflow basically is to use this as a desktop replacement. I have 2x LG 5K monitors hooked up 24x7x365 for my specific workflow, and I also have a CalDigit TB4 Dock for hardwire ethernet and another DisplayPort monitor.

Each of these TB devices provides power and charges the laptop all the time, which is not good for battery health. Is there anyway, even with another app, that will allow me to toggle charging on or off from specific sources?

I'm pretty sure the laptop will only charge from one port at a time, whichever is advertising the highest wattage.

Just because a port provides power, does not mean it charges from it.

 

[fakestrawberryflavor]

I'm pretty sure the laptop will only charge from one port at a time, whichever is advertising the highest wattage.

Just because a port provides power, does not mean it charges from it.

I guess what I’m asking is, I want to turn off all incoming power from all Thunderbolt sources. So I can use battery power and not have my battery constantly charging all day every day, just because I have some monitors connected.

 

[iMacDragon]

I think best you can probably do is use al dente to set a max charge level. THough if it's always plugged in anyway, macos will after a few days instantiate it's own max 80% charge to help battery preservation.

 

[JPack]

As a DTR, the notebook will put charging on hold after 1-2 weeks of plugged power.

 

[xraydoc]

I guess what I’m asking is, I want to turn off all incoming power from all Thunderbolt sources. So I can use battery power and not have my battery constantly charging all day every day, just because I have some monitors connected.

App called Al Dente.

When plugged in, you can specify a state of charge to not exceed. For example, I usually use my MacBook as a "desktop" machine plugged in to two Studio Displays. Al Dente keeps the battery at 80% and doesn't charge beyond that unless I tell it to.

This will do what you're after.

 

[jdb8167]

I think best you can probably do is use al dente to set a max charge level. THough if it's always plugged in anyway, macos will after a few days instantiate it's own max 80% charge to help battery preservation.

Must have optimized battery charging set on for this. Apple hid the setting in Ventura under battery health click the circle-i ⓘ button.

 

[Fishrrman]

Do the LG displays offer any option (from the display's own menu) to TURN OFF charging?

 

[Apple_Tiger]

Alternative would be as some have said is Al Dente. I've been using this on my Macbook Pro 14 M1 Pro and it's set stop charging and remain at 80%. I have mine plugged in all the time. My battery health is still 100% to this day. I did not get mine in launch. I got mine in August of 2021.

 

[tstafford]

Another vote for AlDente. OP: If you are the type of person (like me) who is concerned enough about this to post that question, AlDente is a decent bet to make you happy. YMMV but I like it so far.

 

[xraydoc]

Do the LG displays offer any option (from the display's own menu) to TURN OFF charging?

No. At least not on the two I have.

 

[fakestrawberryflavor]

No. At least not on the two I have.

There are no OSD menus as far as I know. No controls for such thing unlike PC monitor equivalents