Battery cycling

[nickstan1]

I just learned about battery cycling for the MBP. Does the same protocol (1 full charge, 2 full discharge, 3 5 hours rest, 4 full charge) apply to other MAC/Apple products? If yes, which ones?

 

[pendlewitch]

I just learned about battery cycling for the MBP. Does the same protocol (1 full charge, 2 full discharge, 3 5 hours rest, 4 full charge) apply to other MAC/Apple products? If yes, which ones?

I'm not sure what you're referring to here nickstan1. Where is this advice ? If you're calibrating the fuel gauge on an older macbook with replaceable battery then you would fully charge and then run it down every couple of months or so until it sleeps before doing a full recharge again. This sets a reference point for the fuel gauge so that you know ( approximately) what capacity you have.

Partial discharges are more beneficial for lithium than deep ones, there is no memory effect and a charge cycle is as follows :

1 full charge in 1 day from 100% depth of discharge (flat) = 1 charge cycle

1 charge on 1 day from 50% depth of discharge (half) = 1/2 charge cycle
1 charge on the next day from 50% depth of discharge (half) = 1/2 charge cycle

In the latter case the two combined charges add up to one charge cycle. Simply put (though not exact....I can post some test figures if you would like) your battery will last twice as long doing it that way than the other.

The same principles apply for your other Apple products with Lithium batteries.

 

[RadDave]

I just learned about battery cycling for the MBP. Does the same protocol (1 full charge, 2 full discharge, 3 5 hours rest, 4 full charge) apply to other MAC/Apple products? If yes, which ones?

Hi Nickstan1 - not sure either what you are referring to in the above description?

Check HERE1 and HERE2 for several Apple Support articles on notebook batteries along w/ their advice.

As already stated, battery life relates to the number of charge cycles (whether a full charge or multiple partial charges) - my MBPro's (early 2013) battery is rated at 1000 cycles which would reduce the capacity to about 80% - the battery could be continued to be used but 'run time' would be less, so replacement might then become a consideration.

From the links, Apple recommends that their laptops not be plugged in ALL of the time and also a periodic (like once a month) complete discharge & recharge (which would be 1 full cycle); I guess the more the laptop is attached to the charger, then the fewer cycles will be added - will this prolong battery life? For myself, I'm in the middle, i.e. leave the laptop plugged into power much of the time but will at least twice a month allow a complete discharge. I'm sure others have their own plans - my battery is now on 192 cycles after 9 months of use. Dave

 

[MacInWin]

@RadDave, Apple makes that recommendation because the battery gauge software needs a full cycle to calibrate, so they figure once a month full cycle won't do much harm while it also re-calibrates the gauge. My laptop is plugged in 90% or more of the time, has 31 full cycles in 32 months, and has 97% of full capacity.

 

[RadDave]

@RadDave, Apple makes that recommendation because the battery gauge software needs a full cycle to calibrate, so they figure once a month full cycle won't do much harm while it also re-calibrates the gauge. My laptop is plugged in 90% or more of the time, has 31 full cycles in 32 months, and has 97% of full capacity.

Hi Jake - thanks for your comments; actually most of my accumulated cycles occurred in the first 3-4 months of ownership of the MBP; after learning more about battery principles I'm pretty much similar to your practice and have added about 10 cycles only in the last 3 months or so, probably could leave it plugged in even longer; I'm now @ 96% capacity. Dave

 

[MacInWin]

Yeah, Lithium batteries decay over time, even if lightly used and properly maintained. The chemistry starts to decay about two years after manufacture. But they will definitely last longer if you keep them topped off.