What should I do when I want to charge my MBA?

[verytiti]

Hi I'm a total new user to Mac and I'm getting the MBA 2010 model. I don't know how do i supposed to charge the battery.


I'm a college student so I will be using the laptop all day until I get back to my room, which maybe until late in the day.

Should I charge it full 100% and try to use it until it nearly dies and charge it full again? or charge it when it hits a certain % ? What should I do when I go to bed? Charge it full for the next day or just hibernate it? I'm more concern about the life of the battery than the fast boost up, but anyway which ever you guys feel is the best.

And thanks so much ! I CAN'T WAIT FOR MY MBA

 

[ProstheticHead]

It's like any other device with a rechargeable battery.

Plug it in, let it run down to 15-20% or so, charge it back up.

You don't have to necessarily let it die all the way, nor do you ALWAYS have to keep it plugged in.

The beauty of the new air is the "instant on" feature. It'll stay in standby for up to 30 days. So I'd just wait til you get your hands on it, take it to class, see how much you actually burn through it on a daily basis. My thoughts are that you will not be seriously using your laptop ALL day. You'll probably be taking notes for 3-5 hours while you're in class and putting it in sleep mode when you're not. It should have more than enough battery to handle a day on a full charge.

If you're worried about battery, turn off the Airport and the Bluetooth. Surfing the web in class isn't why you're at college anyway.

 

[andrewag]

I suggest use it and when I get home plug it in.

I did a really silly thing with a 2006 macbook where I let it regularly run out, and then do a full charge and it really hammered the battery. By comparison, my other half always returned his to charge after using it and the battery is at 99% condition after 3 years.

Oh, and just leave it in sleep and attached to power at night while sleeping.

 

[verytiti]

Hey thanks for your reply it was so fast...I had a dell before and it sucked the battery really fast so I didn't know how to deal with the mac. Thanks !

Hmm but then what should I do when I go to bed? Charge it before go to sleep perhaps ?

 

[ProstheticHead]

Hmm but then what should I do when I go to bed? Charge it before go to sleep perhaps ?

Yeah, just shut the lid and plug it in the go to sleep! It'll be all ready in the morning.

 

[verytiti]

I suggest use it and when I get home plug it in.
Oh, and just leave it in sleep and attached to power at night while sleeping.

Thanks for this advice it's really helpful

and dear ProstheticHead, thank you alot too

 

[Moodikar]

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Lithium batteries don't need to be drained.

When you buy the laptop, charge it full the first time.

After that, a cycle is when you charge a battery to full from empty. It can be whatever combination such as charging 10% one day and then needing to charge it 90% the next day. 1 cycle = charging up to 100% from 0% (based on multiple charges added up).

A battery usually can be charged 1000 cycles before needing a replacement. That's usually about 3 years or more.
I hope this makes sense.

Anyone else care to try explaining cycles?

 

[Mr. Savage]

When ever possible run on A/C power. The battery will last hundreds of "cycles." (run down to zero from 100% and back to full charge= 1 cycle; run down to 50% from 100% and charge back to 100% = half a cycle, and so on...)

Every so often "calibrate" (check Apple site for details) and you'll get a long life-span out of your battery.

That's what I've always done and my 3 year old MacBook Pro has about 225 cycles and still has about 78% health and still lasts me about 4 hours on battery power.

And yeah, just leave it plugged in when you go to bed etc.

Enjoy your new MBA

 

[verytiti]

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Lithium batteries don't need to be drained.

When you buy the laptop, charge it full the first time.

Thanks for the tips. And can you please tell me how long do i supposed to do that? I've heard some myths about this some says 8 hours...Can I use it while it's charging?

I might not be able to resist from using it when it gets here though !

 

[sammich]

All you need to know and more:

http://guides.macrumors.com/Laptop_Battery_Guide

 

[Moodikar]

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If you charge it to 100% on the first charge, your good to go. You can leave it plugged in or unplug it. It makes no difference. I'd leave it plugged in and use it plugged in where possible (like at home).

I think it charges quickly to about 80% and then trickle charges the last 20% meaning it takes longer to do the last bit. Time wise, they use to take a long time but not anymore. Probably 4hrs maybe.

May want to do a test to see how long it takes as I'm sure it's not really a science and all batteries differ a bit.

 

[verytiti]

Thanks moodika, you really helped my me i'm so slow on these things :'(.....the link is quite useful too but I get confused after reading couple sentences.

So...just to be cleared, I should plug it in whenever possible, correct? Best choice ?

 

[bossxii]

Thanks moodika, you really helped my me i'm so slow on these things :'(.....the link is quite useful too but I get confused after reading couple sentences.

So...just to be cleared, I should plug it in whenever possible, correct? Best choice ?

Yes.

I've had several MBP's, used them all day, left them plugged in all night so they are ready to go in the morning. If I was at a desk/near a plug I usually plugged it in. These new MBP's and MBA's have "smart" chargers (actually the "smart" part is in the actual computer that regulates the batteries) but anyhow... it will not overcharge or hurt your battery. Enjoy!

 

[verytiti]

I definitely learned useful things from you guys....

just random question i'm so scared that the laptop might scratched or damage since it's so thin...anyone knows where to buy a case ? that would be so great