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Q: How should I charge my 2015 rMBP?

Hello everyone

 

I just received my 2015 rMBP 13 inch model and I'm very happy with it. It is very fast, Force Touch is amazing and I used it on battery and it really lasted ages. Now I want to keep the battery in healthy state. How can I do this?

 

What I read on Apple community and on various sites is the following: Use the rMBP as much on charger as you can (to preserve some charge cycles) and discharge (to 40% or so, not too low) every week or so. As I'm a student who uses this laptop for note taking, I will surely be discharging it and using it on battery a few times a week.

 

What answer I got from chatting with an Apple coworker: you should charge to 100% and then discharge to 30 ish % and then recharge and repeat. This is because there is a memory effect happening (according to that person). I think this person has wrong info, or is he right?

 

What I'm planning to do: When I'm at home, I'm going to use it on charger and at least once a week I'll use it on battery (note taking or whatever). Is this a good rule of thumb?

 

And another question: When it's on the charger, is it bad to just put it in standby (closing the lid) or should I turn it completely off every time? And is it bad to keep it on the charger while it's off?

 

TL;DR: Charger all the time (with discharge every now and then) or Charge 'n discharge all the time?

            While on charger: sleep or fully off?

            When the laptop is off: should I remove the charger?

 

Thanks in advance

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Yosemite (10.10.3)

Posted on Apr 10, 2015 12:53 AM

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Q: How should I charge my 2015 rMBP?

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  • by Grane Duke,Helpful

    Grane Duke Grane Duke Apr 10, 2015 3:22 AM in response to laurens.be
    Level 2 (419 points)
    Apr 10, 2015 3:22 AM in response to laurens.be

    laurens.be wrote:

     

    And another question: When it's on the charger, is it bad to just put it in standby (closing the lid) or should I turn it completely off every time? And is it bad to keep it on the charger while it's off?

     

    TL;DR: Charger all the time (with discharge every now and then) or Charge 'n discharge all the time?

                While on charger: sleep or fully off?

                When the laptop is off: should I remove the charger?

     

     


    Some of the points you mentioned are up to the mark.



    BUT



    -   Keep your macbook charge connected all the time " Only when you are using it "....... And make it a point to at least drain your battery to 80% of the full charge and again charge it to 100% twice a week.

     

    -    You should never leave your computer connected in sleep mode or fully off. My only suggestion to you regarding your above highlighted points will be never leave a macbook plugged in when its 100% charged in a Clamshell Sleep Mode. When portable devices are charging and in the "on or sleep position", the current that is drawn through the device is called the "Parasitic Load" and will alter the dynamics of charge cycle. Battery companies suggests against parasitic loading because it induces mini-cycles.

     

    -   You should disconnect your macbook when its switched off if its 100% charged ( Green LED indicator indicates the macbook is fully charged). It doesn’t make any sense keeping the macbook connected when its 100% charged and switched off.



    Hope this helps.



    - Granel.


  • by laurens.be,

    laurens.be laurens.be Apr 10, 2015 3:25 AM in response to Grane Duke
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 10, 2015 3:25 AM in response to Grane Duke

    Okay thanks a lot for reassuring me. I will certainly drain it more than 2 times a week because I use it for note taking during classes, and most of the time there is no outlet within easy reach. However, when I'm at home for extended periods of time, I will also try to use it 2 times or so on battery for a while.

     

    I also downloaden Coconut battery to check up on battery status and levels to be sure that I do no harm/damage to the battery.

  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Apr 10, 2015 3:25 AM in response to laurens.be
    Level 9 (52,759 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 10, 2015 3:25 AM in response to laurens.be

    laurens.be wrote:

     

    What I read on Apple community and on various sites is the following: Use the rMBP as much on charger as you can (to preserve some charge cycles) and discharge (to 40% or so, not too low) every week or so. As I'm a student who uses this laptop for note taking, I will surely be discharging it and using it on battery a few times a week.

     

     

    Yes, but you can do it monthly, not weekly (based on the assumption that the MBP is connected to AC all the time).  Being a student, the type of usage will probably not require you to do that since you will be on portable mode very frequently.

     

    What answer I got from chatting with an Apple coworker: you should charge to 100% and then discharge to 30 ish % and then recharge and repeat. This is because there is a memory effect happening (according to that person). I think this person has wrong info, or is he right?

     

    The batteries do like to be 'exercised' allowing maximum battery life.  However when AC power is available, use it.  When the battery has been charger to 100%, it does NOT mean that you must disconnect from AC.

     

    What I'm planning to do: When I'm at home, I'm going to use it on charger and at least once a week I'll use it on battery (note taking or whatever). Is this a good rule of thumb?

     

    I would substitute 'monthly' for 'weekly'.  That would be a good rule of thumb.

     

    : When it's on the charger, is it bad to just put it in standby (closing the lid) or should I turn it completely off every time? And is it bad to keep it on the charger while it's off?

     

    There are the 'sleep' advocates and there are the 'turn off' advocates.  I am of the 'turn off' crowd, but it really is one of personal preference.  One caveat, If you carry your MBP in a backpack, turn it off.  There have been cases where the MBP has not been put to sleep and that results in a very hot MBP.

     

    You can keep it connected to the charger as much as you want.  The OSX will not allow the battery to be overcharged.

     

    TL;DR: Charger all the time (with discharge every now and then

    Yes. If possible.

    or Charge 'n discharge all the time?

            

    No.

     

                While on charger: sleep or fully off?

                When the laptop is off: should I remove the charger?

     

    Makes no difference.  You may leave the charger connected as much as you want.  The OSX controls the charging.

     

    Here are the Apple support article regarding the battery and charging:

     

    https://www.apple.com/support/macbookpro/batteries_power/

     

    Ciao.

  • by laurens.be,Helpful

    laurens.be laurens.be Apr 10, 2015 3:31 AM in response to OGELTHORPE
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 10, 2015 3:31 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

    Thanks for the very extensive answer. I guess my usage will just be charge at home/dormitory, use on battery during classes. I'm also more a fan of turning off so I will continue to do that, because the laptop is on in a matter of seconds anyway so I see no reason to just close the lid. And I will remember your point of monthly instead of weekly for when I have vacation and always be near a A/C.

  • by laurens.be,

    laurens.be laurens.be Apr 11, 2015 12:22 PM in response to laurens.be
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 11, 2015 12:22 PM in response to laurens.be

    Well guys. Today I had a chat with an Apple coworker on the Apple site and a coworker from the local Apple Reseller. Both told me to use the laptop on battery as much as I can because they can handle loads of cycles and the risk of "damaging" the battery on charger is bigger than just using it.

     

    Well well well, now I'm unsure again on what I should do...

  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Apr 11, 2015 1:13 PM in response to laurens.be
    Level 9 (52,759 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 11, 2015 1:13 PM in response to laurens.be

    laurens.be wrote:

    Both told me to use the laptop on battery as much as I can because they can handle loads of cycles and the risk of "damaging" the battery on charger is bigger than just using it.

     

     

    The OSX controls battery charging and I fail to see how there can be a risk of damaging the battery.  If the battery is being charged from another source, then that is possible, but not when inside the MBP.

     

    I can only add my empirical experience.  I recently replaced the battery in my 2010 MBP as a matter or procedure rather than dire need. I assume that 5 years is what one may reasonably expect from a notebook battery.  I have essentially used the procedures that I outlined to you.

     

    Here is some information you may find of interest:

     

    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204054

     

    http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/do_and_dont_battery_table

     

    Ciao.

  • by laurens.be,

    laurens.be laurens.be Apr 11, 2015 1:24 PM in response to OGELTHORPE
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 11, 2015 1:24 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

    Well I'll tell you what I think. On the site, you can read that the MBP batteries are designed to keep around 80% of their original capacity after 1000 cycles. Assume you do 1 FULL  cycle a day (which is a **** of a lot of usage if you don't use for work or something). That would be 80% capacity after a year or 3. Let's say you use it one more year (around 75% capacity left). So you have your 4 year old laptop with 75% capacity (very acceptable after that amount of time).

     

    BUT after 4 ish years, the battery will also be old and have to be replaced. Not because it has such a big amount of cycles on it, but because it is just "old".

     

    My point: Once you have done 1000 full cycles, the battery will be old and has to be replaced, whether you have a lot of cycles on it or not.

     

    Does this make sense to you?

  • by Grane Duke,

    Grane Duke Grane Duke Apr 11, 2015 3:42 PM in response to laurens.be
    Level 2 (419 points)
    Apr 11, 2015 3:42 PM in response to laurens.be

    laurens.be wrote:

     

     

     

    My point: Once you have done 1000 full cycles, the battery will be old and has to be replaced, whether you have a lot of cycles on it or not.

     

    Does this make sense to you?



    Laurens, you will never get 1000 full cycles on any macbook battery. The 1000 figure stands for the combination of full and half cycles. Getting 1000 full cycles from a battery will be a huge achievement though.          (1000 full cycles... impossible.......!!! )


    The replacement of any macbook battery heavily depends on the use of it. The number or charge cycles, the number of discharges, number of deep discharges.

     

    You can easily wear out a Macbook battery within a year if :


    -     You run it only on the battery power as it will increase the number of full charge cycles. Also,


    -     If you constantly drain it to 3% to 2% , its very very bad for the battery as you are deep discharging it.


    -     If you are charging it in sleep mode, it induces mini cycles due to parasitic load also adversely affecting the battery life.


    -     If you are constantly draining your macbook batttery several times a day by playing games or doing any graphic intensive work and again charging it to 100% and again discharging it vice versa.


    -    Constantly running graphic intensive applications which generates  a lot of heat inside the Macbook. Eventually, the battery life is declined due to the heat.


     


    AND THE SAME BATTERY IF YOU USE IT WISELY WILL EASILY LAST OVER 4 YEARS BY PROPER WAYS LIKE:



    -     By avoiding any deep discharge which is  by far the worst enemy of any Macbook battery.


    -     Running your Macbook on AC power as much as possible to reduce the charge cycles.

     

    -     By avoiding to charge the Macbook on AC power when in sleep mode.

     

    -     Making a point to run your Macbook on battery power at least once or twice a month by draining the battery to a favourable 60% charge and charging it back to 100%.

     

    -     Charging it to at least 50%  charge if you intend to store it for couple of months.

     

    -     Using Macbook of hard surfaces rather than soft surface, which avoids heat generation ensuring a good battery life.

     

    Hope this helps....







  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Apr 11, 2015 5:09 PM in response to laurens.be
    Level 9 (52,759 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 11, 2015 5:09 PM in response to laurens.be

    laurens.be wrote:

     

    Well I'll tell you what I think. On the site, you can read that the MBP batteries are designed to keep around 80% of their original capacity after 1000 cycles.

    That is incorrect.  The operative words that Apple uses are UP TO 1000 cycles at 80% design capacity.  Some peoples MBPs have exceeded that, most will not.  The life span of a battery will be determined how well it is manufactured, how it is used and the age.  Batteries are the least reliable component of a MBP.


    BUT after 4 ish years, the battery will also be old and have to be replaced. Not because it has such a big amount of cycles on it, but because it is just "old".

     

    My point: Once you have done 1000 full cycles, the battery will be old and has to be replaced, whether you have a lot of cycles on it or not.

    I agree that old batteries should be replaced.  The primary reason is that old batteries that start to fail have a habit of expanding and occasionally damaging the trackpad and the bottom cover.  I retired the battery in my 2010 MBP due to age.  It had not reached more than 200 cycles and I suppose I could very well have squeezed out more service time, but why take the risk.  It is analogous to tires on a car, when the grooves have worn down, the tires still will allow you to run your car, but then you do incur an element of risk.

     

    Ciao.

  • by laurens.be,

    laurens.be laurens.be Apr 12, 2015 12:32 AM in response to OGELTHORPE
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 12, 2015 12:32 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

    Well I guess you guys convinced me. Still, I think it's funny that Apple coworkers all advise me to just use the battery because "it is better". My dad has a middle 2014 rMBP and he does charge - discharge all the time, even though I told him it's not the best. Maybe I should do a Coconut on his MBP and see if the capacity has dropped by a significant amount for the time used. Well well well, looks like Apple employees should be taught better.

  • by Grane Duke,

    Grane Duke Grane Duke Apr 12, 2015 12:53 AM in response to laurens.be
    Level 2 (419 points)
    Apr 12, 2015 12:53 AM in response to laurens.be

    Laurens, frankly speaking it totally depends upon the support staff member whose guiding you. I have personally experienced some staff members to be very helpful. In many instances, I have come across support staff members who by their knowledge are not eligible to work at Apple.....

     

    Sadly, in your case you came across an employee whose seems imbecile (no pun intended)....

  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Apr 12, 2015 2:32 AM in response to laurens.be
    Level 9 (52,759 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 12, 2015 2:32 AM in response to laurens.be

    Understand, I am not saying not to use the battery but if you want tho achieve maximum battery life, by using AC will prolong it.  What I am delineating are the minimums.    In certain occupations and situations, my suggestions are impractical and battery use is mandatory.  So be it.  That is a prime reason for a note book, portability and use where the 'grid' is not available.  I find that I am not in portable mode often but students, salespeople,and other field oriented occupations are.

     

    Bottom line, if you are out in the field, use the battery, when you are not plug, into AC.  If you are in AC for a long time, do 'exercise' the battery at least once per month.

     

    Ciao.

  • by laurens.be,

    laurens.be laurens.be Apr 12, 2015 4:35 AM in response to OGELTHORPE
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 12, 2015 4:35 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

    Yeah, as a matter of fact, I'm a student so I do need the battery. I asked this question because I want my battery to stay healthy so I can keep using it for note taking without having to look for a A/C every time I go to class. But the battery will be "exercised" more than once a month, just because I will/do need it. When I'm at home or at my dorm, I will plug it in. Seems fine to me because I will never have to worry about it running empty during classes because it will be fully charged every nigth because it's plugged in.

     

    Thanks for all your advice and help.

  • by Grane Duke,

    Grane Duke Grane Duke Apr 12, 2015 6:29 AM in response to laurens.be
    Level 2 (419 points)
    Apr 12, 2015 6:29 AM in response to laurens.be

    Laurens, you can keep your macbook connected to AC power as much as you want and thats the universal fact for any Macbook battery. And as a student, I can understand you will always be mobile, where there are very minimal chances to connect your macbook to an AC power source.

     

    Do not ever be worried about your Macbook running on Battery power because, as I had mentioned in my previous post, the life of a Macbook battery heavily depends on the way its used and not only on the Charge cycles. The best suggestion I can give at this context is, use your Macbook on battery power whenever you need to but when you come across a power source please connect to it. So whenever at home, always keep your macbook connected to the power source.

     

    And there's no need to discharge your battery even once a month because anyways you are compensating that procedure with your way of use i.e; using on battery during lecture hours.

     

    I hope my suggestions will clear your doubt.....

     

    - Granel.