What's the risk in not servicing battery?

[McNelton]

Just noticed my battery menu says to Service Battery. Got a 2010 13" MBP. Not interested in throwing another $150-200(?) into it to get an official Apple battery, when I hope to get a new MBP eventually.

Anyone know what happens if I don't service it or put in a new one? If the worst case scenario is that it only works while plugged in, I could live with that. If the worst case scenario is it explodes in a fireball in my face, I'd like to know about that possibility preferably ahead of time.

 

[Rod]

Hi McNelton, I believe this happens when you have reached or exceeded the pre ordained number of recharge cycles. It is not actually a definitive evaluation of the battery condition. Try Coconut Battery a free app which will give you a more meaningful result.
I believe the recharge limit is 1000
After that the battery will retain less charge eg < 80%
As far as your concern about exploding that is unlikely, what is more likely is that the battery will swell which in some cases may prevent the trackpad from being depressed.


Sent from my iPhone using Mac Forums

 

[pigoo3]

Would be great to know how many charge cycles your battery currently has:

- Apple menu
- About this Mac
- More Info
- System Report
- click on "Power"
- Under "Health Information" you'll see the cycle count.

Let us know the cycle count.

- Nick

 

[McNelton]

503 cycles.
Had this battery about 3.3 years. Computer for nearly six. Original battery needed replacing while under Applecare.
If "Service Battery" just comes on at 500 cycles, and all that means is my charge is only 80% of what it used to be, then that's perfectly fine with me. Is there any way to know if it could be worse, or like warnings that the battery could ready get in trouble and swell or whatever?

 

[RadDave]

503 cycles.
Had this battery about 3.3 years. Computer for nearly six. Original battery needed replacing while under Applecare.
If "Service Battery" just comes on at 500 cycles, and all that means is my charge is only 80% of what it used to be, then that's perfectly fine with me. Is there any way to know if it could be worse, or like warnings that the battery could ready get in trouble and swell or whatever?

Just to add a few more comments - as described above, the battery cycles can be checked easily using 'System Report' - in addition, knowing your battery's original capacity (mAh) will allow calculation of 'battery health' which is the percentage of the current capacity vs. the original rating - see the first image below - my 3+ y/o MBPro battery has the cycles shown and knowing the original capacity (mine was 6600 mAh) allowed the battery health calculation, i.e. 82%. Also there are apps as already mentioned that can provide the same information - I have the two below on my laptop, i.e. Battery Health & Coconut Battery.

Finally, check out this Apple LINK which discusses battery cycles; you can also reset SMC which might just change the numbers for the battery (and its health) in your 'System Report' - helped me earlier this year. Good luck and let us know your results. Dave
.

 

[McNelton]

I've got a max charge of 4225 (out of 5770) so I'm at 73%.

Anybody know if there's a point at which its unsafe to continue using this battery?

Suppose I could ask apple support on twitter, too. they are kind of amazing.

 

[RadDave]

I've got a max charge of 4225 (out of 5770) so I'm at 73%.

Anybody know if there's a point at which its unsafe to continue using this battery?

Suppose I could ask apple support on twitter, too. they are kind of amazing.

As suggested in my previous post, check the SMC link and give the maneuver a try - reset my battery w/ better stats earlier this year, so might affect your service battery warning, or not? Also, take a look at this iFixit Discussion and scroll down to Matt's comments - he suggests the SMC reset first and then a recalibration of the battery.

As stated previously, a MBPro battery is rated at 1000 cycles until 'exhaustion' - at 73% health and 500 cycles, your battery should still be useable but of course will not provide the former 'run time' - the main issue w/ aging Li Ion batteries is the potential problem of 'swelling' which could damage the computer. If still in doubt, then check w/ Apple support or make an appointment at the Genius Bar if you are near a store. Dave

 

[pigoo3]

503 cycles.
Had this battery about 3.3 years. Computer for nearly six. Original battery needed replacing while under Applecare.
If "Service Battery" just comes on at 500 cycles, and all that means is my charge is only 80% of what it used to be, then that's perfectly fine with me. Is there any way to know if it could be worse, or like warnings that the battery could ready get in trouble and swell or whatever?

I'm not exactly sure what triggers the "Service Battery" statement to appear. But 503 cycles is too soon. With a 1000 cycle battery (80% life left)…I'm pretty sure this is too soon as well.

For what it's worth…I've used laptop batteries where they were only getting 30 minutes on a full charge…and of course the "Service Battery" warning was there or the "Replace Now" warning.

The most important thing is keep your eye on the battery when it gets really old…watch out for swelling.

Here's a pretty good article regarding Apple battery info.

http://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/mac/how-fix-macbook-battery-problems-replace-mac-battery-3522985/

- Nick

 

[MacInWin]

Also bear in mind that cycles is just ONE measure of battery health. Lithium batteries begin to decay two years after manufacture (that's MANUFACTURE, not the date put in service). So even if you babied the batteries and had very few cycles, you'll start to see rolloff of capacity at the 24 month point. It's slow at first, but accelerates over time.

But as has been said, the most important thing to watch for is swelling. Swelling is a result of chemical reactions inside the battery. It's not likely to explode or even to split, but swelling puts pressure on the rest of the "stuff" inside the MBP, such as the trackpad, logic board, etc. If your battery is not absolutely flat on both sides, it's headed for the door. Replace it as soon as you can.

 

[techiesteve]

Quite often when Apple's MRI test is run on a MBP or MBA that reports 'service', the test results fail with the report the the battery may hold less charge than expected. This can indicate the battery my die at a point when a useful charge is still indicated, not good if you use your MBP on battery and down to a low percentage or time.

 

[McNelton]

How about this for a twist: it no longer says "service battery."

Just says 5:30 hours remaining on 95% battery. Coconut battery reports that battery status is "Good."

Weird, right?

 

[MacInWin]

Not that weird if you haven't cycled the battery recently. The Apple battery monitor software "calibrates" the battery when it is run from 100 to about 10% or so. That is why they recommend a once a month battery cycle, for the calibration. So the original warning could have come if you had not cycled the battery recently and the monitor got lost.

 

[RadDave]

How about this for a twist: it no longer says "service battery."

Just says 5:30 hours remaining on 95% battery. Coconut battery reports that battery status is "Good."

Weird, right?

Not that weird if you haven't cycled the battery recently. The Apple battery monitor software "calibrates" the battery when it is run from 100 to about 10% or so. That is why they recommend a once a month battery cycle, for the calibration. So the original warning could have come if you had not cycled the battery recently and the monitor got lost.

@ McNelton - so, what did you do? Did you exhaust the battery and then recharge completely which would have recalibrated the monitoring technology and/or do a SMC reset, as suggested previously? Just curious - Dave

 

[pm-r]

I'm sure I read that the old Apple advice that they recommend a once a month battery cycle was now old tech with newer Macs and iDevices, and newer batteries and their associated technology, but I don't know when the "new" advice kicks in.

But I do know that when a battery will no longer hold a proper charge for mobile use, I and many clients, have never spent even 1/2 the cost that Apple charges for a replacement battery with good results, but do your homework and checking. And maybe some Canadian suppliers we've used just supply better replacement batteries.




- Patrick
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[Jonzjob]

I replaced the battery in my MBP 13 2010 just 2 weeks ago with a Floureon battery bought from Amazon.fr for just 35€. I went for that because it had a good reputation and I have replaced one for a friend a year or 2 back with a good result. The reason for the change was that the battery time had started to drop, even on sleep mode with the lid shut. It's the first replacement since new so no complaints from me and it took about 10 minutes to do the change.

I hadn't looked at the cycle number so no idea what it was, but in 6 years it must have been quite considerable? I had forgotten that the charge cycle time was recorded and I have never done a battery cycle never mind once a month??

 

[lyricjay]

Would be great to know how many charge cycles your battery currently has:

- Apple menu
- About this Mac
- More Info
- System Report
- click on "Power"
- Under "Health Information" you'll see the cycle count.

Let us know the cycle count.

- Nick

Thanks for this battery information. I just discovered I have only 199 cycles. I bought it used so I always wondered. Whew!

 

[normandoboudrea]

MacBook Air model A1369 (Feb.12th 2011) 13 inch.....with everything I repeat everything in it $1739.71 can.
I had the 3 year maintenance contract and the screen stopped working 2 and a half months after the the contract was done. So, i bought a monitor and 2 months later the battetery died. $740.00 for repar (battery and screen) .so I boutht a IPod touch.

 

[RichardMurison]

But as has been said, the most important thing to watch for is swelling. Swelling is a result of chemical reactions inside the battery. It's not likely to explode or even to split, but swelling puts pressure on the rest of the "stuff" inside the MBP, such as the trackpad, logic board, etc. If your battery is not absolutely flat on both sides, it's headed for the door. Replace it as soon as you can.

This is what finally befell my 2009 17" MBP. The trackpad stopped working, and when I opened it I found that the battery had swollen slightly. It was also rather warm to the touch. I decided to buy a new RMBP. I could have bought a new battery from Apple, but for my needs the cost was not justified by resale value of a 2009 MBP. YMMV. BTW, it still works fine - trackpad included - with no battery, provided it is connected to it power supply.

 

[normandoboudrea]

I have a track pad with 2 "AA" batteries.....NO MORE PROBLEM . By the way what's MBP HTW WMMV? It' easy for people that know BUT, I DON't...

 

[MacInWin]

MBP = MacBookPro
YMMV = Your Mileage May Vary, a slang term from US advertising for automobiles that indicates that your experience may not match mine.
HTH = Hope that Helps

At least I think that's what you asked.

HTH, YMMV.