Care and feeding for MacBook and MacBook Pro batteries.
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Apple Support. The following links are provided as is, with no guarantee of the effectiveness or reliability of the information. Apple does not guarantee that these links will be maintained or functional at any given time. Use the information below at your own discretion.
You do not need to discharge your battery completely every time you use it. Li-Ion Polymer batteries like little charges instead of big ones. It is OK to leave your battery hooked to the charger most of the time. The only time I unhook mine from the charger is when I calibrate or use it for a short time. You should calibrate your battery every two months, if you use it unplugged regularly, to keep the battery fully functioning. If you use your MacBook infrequently it’s best to calibrate the battery at least once a month.
A cycle, Determining Battery Cycle Count, is a full discharge and a full charge of the battery. This can happen by using the battery for 20% for 5 days and charging each time you used the battery. This would equal a 100% cycle. Charge the battery after each use, don't let it get lower just because you didn't use up all the power at one time. Its best in little charges. Don't worry if every once in a while you have to discharge completely when you are not near your power adapter. It happens. A little care and the battery can last years. Anything over 300 cycles means you should start considering replacing your battery.
The following links have good information about the MacBook and MacBook Pro and the care of it's battery.
Determining Battery Cycle Count
Apple Portables: Tips for maximizing your battery charge
MacBook and MacBook Pro: Reduces processor speed when battery is removed while operating from an A/C adapter
Apple Portables: Troubleshooting MagSafe adapters
Calibrating a MacBook or MacBook Pro battery
Apple Notebooks
Wikipedia: Lithium-ion polymer battery
Battery Replacement
Runaway applications can shorten battery runtime
This is the 1st version of this tip. It was submitted on October 19, 2010 by First Magus.
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