Why is amber light on with battery showing at 99%?

Question

Why is amber light on with battery showing at 99%?

The light on my power cord has turned 'amber' instead of the 'green' it normally is when I have the cord attached (which is most of the time), in spite of a high (99%) battery reading.

I don't recall this happening before. With a battery reading indicating a 'high' or 'full' charge in the status line, the light has always been green.

What is this signaling?

Thanks.

MacBook 1.83 GHz, Mac OS X (10.4.9), 60 GB HD

Posted on Jun 17, 2007 12:49 PM

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Answer 1

First Magus

Level 7

21,299 points

Jun 17, 2007 2:08 PM in response to Michael Kraft1

Have you calibrated the battery?

This also helps to understand what is happening.

Apple portable computer's battery does not show a full charge in Mac OS X

It is not true that the battery is always trying to get to 100%. The charger only comes on when it is needed.

Mort

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Answer 2

First Magus

Level 7

21,299 points

Jun 17, 2007 4:33 PM in response to Michael Kraft1

Look here and here for some good tips about battery care.

I calibrate my battery every two months just for this purpose. I also use my battery once a week for thirty minutes. There is no set proportion as you asked. Li-Ion batteries prefer little charges over deep charges. This is explaind in the links I provided.

Mort

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Answer 3

JimUrban

Level 4

2,590 points

Jun 17, 2007 1:04 PM in response to Michael Kraft1

Michael
Amber light indicates the battery is charging.
It will only turn green once the battery reaches full 100% charge.
The MagSafe charger is functioning properly.
Jim

PowerBook G3 500 Mhz "Pismo"/ 2.0Ghz BlackBook 2GB OWC RAM Mac OS X (10.4.9)

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Answer 4

Jun 17, 2007 1:05 PM in response to JimUrban

Amber light indicates the battery is charging.
It will only turn green once the battery reaches full
100% charge.
The MagSafe charger is functioning properly.

Why would the battery be charging when it was already at 99% (according to the status line)?

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Answer 5

Haribol

Level 4

2,455 points

Jun 17, 2007 1:14 PM in response to Michael Kraft1

May be it'll make you feel better. I've been having my MB all day on power,but in a evening it started to charged and it took 15 min...
I didn't really pay attention to this... But yes,sounds strange...

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Answer 6

yaume

Level 3

655 points

Jun 17, 2007 1:20 PM in response to JimUrban

From what I understand, it will always recharge the battery to 100%, but only if when you plug it in, the remaining charge is below 95%. Try it, you'll see: use it on battery power for a few minutes, let it drop 2% and plug it back in. The magsafe won't bother making up for those 2%.
As far as the amber light still on at 99%' I've noticed that this last 1% can sometimes take a long while to charge. At one point, mine will go from green to orange every two seconds (with readings oscillating between 99 and 100 at the same frequency) for a couple hours. Tiny glitch, but it doesn't affect performance or stability in any way.
cheers

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Answer 7

Jun 17, 2007 1:33 PM in response to JimUrban

It will always charge until the battery reaches
100%.This is normal.

Thanks. It's green now -- but it sure took a long time to get there (i.e., to 100% from 99%).

I guess you're right, then, tho I don't know how I've managed to miss that over the past half year. I'm not old enough to have Alzheimers.

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Answer 8

Jun 17, 2007 1:37 PM in response to yaume

From what I understand, it will always recharge the
battery to 100%, but only if when you plug it in, the
remaining charge is below 95%.

I already had the MacBook plugged in, with a battery reading of 99% (i.e., it wasn't below 95%) when the light switched from green to amber.

I wasn't aware the battery is apparently always trying to get up to 100%. I guess that explains the amber light. I somehow never noticed it happening before. Thanks.

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Answer 9

Jun 17, 2007 2:02 PM in response to First Magus

Have you calibrated the battery?

Yes, just under 6 weeks ago, so according to Apple's recommendations it should not need recalibration again for another 2-3 weeks.

Apple portable computer's battery does not
show a full charge in Mac OS X

I'm not sure what you mean by that. Please elaborate.

It is not true that the battery is always trying to
get to 100%. The charger only comes on when it is
needed.

That recalls my question as to why charging should be 'needed' with a battery that was already at 99%.

MacBook 1.83 GHz Mac OS X (10.4.9) 60 GB HD

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Answer 10

Jun 17, 2007 3:06 PM in response to First Magus

Please notice the off color of the statement you
mentioned. It is a link. Click it and read the
apple article.

Yes, but doesn't that link support the reason for my original inquiry -- i.e., if "Intel-based computers may stop charging between 93 and 99 percent," why did my MacBook decide to 'go amber' (i.e., into 'charge' mode) when it was already at 99%?

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Answer 11

Toodor

Level 1

5 points

Jun 17, 2007 3:54 PM in response to Michael Kraft1

i have to say, i am experiencing the same thing. I just got my MB two days ago and i specifically remember that my charger was green when i plugged it in. Now on the 3rd day of usage, after a few battery cycles, my charger stays on amber even when my battery is at 99%. At the 99% state, when i unplug/plug the charger, it turns amber although theory states that it should actually be green.... can someone comment? ill report back when i get to 100%....

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Answer 12

Jun 17, 2007 4:12 PM in response to Toodor

It stays Amber cause 99% charge still isn't 100%, ie not completely full!!

Did you know if your using the system connected all the time, it could be bad for the battery unit, cause the electrons ain't flowing and aren't being exercised?

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Answer 13

Jun 17, 2007 4:29 PM in response to UltraNEO-__

Did you know if your using the system connected all
the time, it could be bad for the battery unit, cause
the electrons ain't flowing and aren't being
exercised?

Ah, I thought I recalled reading something to that effect.

What is the recommended proportion of 'battery use' v. 'A/C'?

Thanks.

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Answer 14

Jun 18, 2007 1:53 PM in response to First Magus

I calibrate my battery every two months just for this
purpose. I also use my battery once a week for
thirty minutes. There is no set proportion as you
asked. Li-Ion batteries prefer little charges over
deep charges. This is explaind in the links I
provided.

Thanks a lot.

Reply

Answer 15

JimUrban

Level 4

2,590 points

Jun 17, 2007 1:14 PM in response to Michael Kraft1

It will always charge until the battery reaches 100%.This is normal.
Jim

PowerBook G3 500 Mhz "Pismo"/ 2.0Ghz BlackBook 2GB OWC RAM Mac OS X (10.4.9)

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