Goldobiel

Q: Wireless mouse and keyboard batteries losing charge quickly and USB devices draining energy

I have an iMac with wireless mouse and keyboard (OS X 10.6.8). Recently I am having to replace the AA batteries on an almost daily basis. Anyone have any ideas? I am using rechargable batteries and they are new, so not down to old batteries.

 

If I try to connect a camera to download images I'm also getting a message from time to time that USB devices will be disconnected as draining too much energy - other than the camera I don't have any USB devices connected.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Apr 2, 2016 12:19 AM

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Q: Wireless mouse and keyboard batteries losing charge quickly and USB devices draining energy

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  • by Mike Sombrio,

    Mike Sombrio Mike Sombrio Apr 2, 2016 5:12 AM in response to Goldobiel
    Level 6 (17,194 points)
    Apple Watch
    Apr 2, 2016 5:12 AM in response to Goldobiel
  • by seventy one,

    seventy one seventy one Apr 2, 2016 5:24 AM in response to Goldobiel
    Level 6 (15,068 points)
    Peripherals
    Apr 2, 2016 5:24 AM in response to Goldobiel

    Do you have Istat Pro or Mighty monitor with which you can read your battery's condition at any time.   And are you saying with the keyboard and the mouse, you have to replace all of the batteries every time.   That does sound odd.   Perhaps your charger is not working 100%

  • by Goldobiel,

    Goldobiel Goldobiel Apr 2, 2016 5:39 AM in response to seventy one
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 2, 2016 5:39 AM in response to seventy one

    Am pretty sure the charger is working OK. When checking the life in the battery it says 100% when I insert them but within a couple of hours it's down to 50% and after a couple of days it's saying batteries are low and need replacing. The keyboard more often than the mouse, but even that rarely lasts more than a few days.

  • by seventy one,

    seventy one seventy one Apr 2, 2016 5:45 AM in response to Goldobiel
    Level 6 (15,068 points)
    Peripherals
    Apr 2, 2016 5:45 AM in response to Goldobiel

    Take a look at my user tip at the top of the main Magic Mouse page.   I do suspect your charger may be at fault if you are using new batteries, particlularly the ones recommended. 

     

    Batteries.

  • by RebekkahRoseRyan,

    RebekkahRoseRyan RebekkahRoseRyan Apr 4, 2016 4:47 AM in response to Mike Sombrio
    Level 1 (31 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 4, 2016 4:47 AM in response to Mike Sombrio

    Hi Mike. I do see that you are a level 6, but do you really want to recommend to a level 1 that they should reset their SMC? I would think that would be more like a last resort. I too have had battery life levels since upgrading to OS X ElCapitan, but no one from Apple Support has suggested messing around with my SMC. There are so many other steps to try first in my humble opinion. Not wanting to offend, but these are my thoughts. Best Regards, RRR

  • by RebekkahRoseRyan,

    RebekkahRoseRyan RebekkahRoseRyan Apr 4, 2016 4:52 AM in response to seventy one
    Level 1 (31 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 4, 2016 4:52 AM in response to seventy one

    Hi 71. What is Istat Pro or Mighty monitor? Are they apps in the Apple App Store? Do they indicate more accurately the battery level in my Apple peripherals? Thanks for the help. Best Regards, RRR

  • by RebekkahRoseRyan,

    RebekkahRoseRyan RebekkahRoseRyan Apr 4, 2016 4:55 AM in response to seventy one
    Level 1 (31 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 4, 2016 4:55 AM in response to seventy one

    Hi 71 - So how do I find your user tip at the top of the main Magic Mouse page? So far moving my base unit of my cordless phone has ended my repeated lost connections of my keyboard and mouse. Appreciate the suggestions. Sorry to be a bother. Best Regards, RRR

  • by RebekkahRoseRyan,

    RebekkahRoseRyan RebekkahRoseRyan Apr 4, 2016 5:15 AM in response to seventy one
    Level 1 (31 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 4, 2016 5:15 AM in response to seventy one

    Is the user tip you refer to- the one about batteries? If so, I found that one. I thought you might have other information about Magic Mouse. RRR

  • by seventy one,

    seventy one seventy one Apr 4, 2016 5:57 AM in response to RebekkahRoseRyan
    Level 6 (15,068 points)
    Peripherals
    Apr 4, 2016 5:57 AM in response to RebekkahRoseRyan

    Yes the user tip is about batteries.   iStat Pro and Mighty monitor should be available (may be a small charge) from App store.   I recommend Mighty Monitor.   If it is no longer in App store you can Google them but ... be sure you only order from the developer or Apple.   Do NOT order from any site that carries the names Softonic, Cnet, Softpedia or MacUpdate.  This applies to any apps at all.


    https://www.apple.com/downloads/dashboard/status/mightymonitor.html

  • by RebekkahRoseRyan,

    RebekkahRoseRyan RebekkahRoseRyan Apr 4, 2016 6:01 AM in response to seventy one
    Level 1 (31 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 4, 2016 6:01 AM in response to seventy one

    Thanks 71. Do you know what the 'fn' key will do?

  • by seventy one,

    seventy one seventy one Apr 4, 2016 6:10 AM in response to RebekkahRoseRyan
    Level 6 (15,068 points)
    Peripherals
    Apr 4, 2016 6:10 AM in response to RebekkahRoseRyan

    Rebekkah,

     

    You may find it more educational to learn to use Google for many of these questions.   That often includes finding Apple's own documents.   The point is, individuals here are not always available to answer a question ... where Google is.   Just type in to Google what you want to know.   It is very understanding    Something like 'What is the fn key for with an Apple iMac'.   All you need to remember is always to include a reference to Apple and iMac

     

    With regards.

  • by RebekkahRoseRyan,

    RebekkahRoseRyan RebekkahRoseRyan Apr 4, 2016 6:18 AM in response to seventy one
    Level 1 (31 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 4, 2016 6:18 AM in response to seventy one

    I do use Google for some questions, but due to the hack I experienced on my Windoze based unit using Google, I never click on the links that Google offers. It was determined that the hack came from clicking on the Google link. If I am bothering you, please forgive me. I didn't man to be a nuisance. I'll stop bothering you. Best Regards, RRR

  • by seventy one,

    seventy one seventy one Apr 4, 2016 6:31 AM in response to RebekkahRoseRyan
    Level 6 (15,068 points)
    Peripherals
    Apr 4, 2016 6:31 AM in response to RebekkahRoseRyan

    It's not so much bothering, Rebekkah, it's me showing you the way to get answers at your convenience.

     

    It's not the Google link that's the trouble, its the links within those links.   Your Mac has good protection within itself but you just need to be careful.   For the moment, with downloads try to use only the App Store and recommended links within these columns.   That is why I gave you a short list of sites to steer clear of.    Others may step in and add more.

  • by RebekkahRoseRyan,

    RebekkahRoseRyan RebekkahRoseRyan Apr 4, 2016 6:36 AM in response to seventy one
    Level 1 (31 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 4, 2016 6:36 AM in response to seventy one

    Hi 71 - OK Thanks for the information. I appreciate the list. I printed it out so I won't forget it. 

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