Battery life abysmal since upgrading to leopard

Ok, so I lied in my original post. I am now using new battery number 4 since I bought my computer in August of '06, thankfully I purchased an AppleCare warranty. Shouldn't they be doing something else with my machine now?

It's interesting, I'm having similar problems, although not as severe. I've got a Sony battery, and before Leopard I got about 3.5 hours with a dim screen and no bluetooth. Now I'm getting about 2.5-3. It's a noticeable difference, but seemingly less severe than everyone's here.

Model Information:
Manufacturer: Sony
Device name: ASMB012
Pack Lot Code: 0003
PCB Lot Code: 0000
Firmware Version: 102a
Hardware Revision: 0400
Cell Revision: 0303
Charge Information:
Charge remaining (mAh): 3936
Fully charged: No
Charging: No
Full charge capacity (mAh): 4677
Health Information:
Cycle count: 148
Battery health: Good
Battery Installed: Yes
Amperage (mA): -1533
Voltage (mV): 11722

I also notice a different problem. When I'm running on battery my graphics card makes a faint "chirping" noise whenever I move a window or scroll up or down (or whenever the graphics are being taxed by any other screen movement). I didn't really notice it before, but can anyone else confirm this noise?

My battery capacity went rom 98% to 68% after I installed Leopard. The MBP C2D is only from April this year, so I sincerely feel this is a bad battery.
I am not sure if it is the actual battery which is the problem or the Leopard OS.

Batteriinformasjon:

Modellinformasjon:
Produsent: Sony
Enhetsnavn: ASMB012
Pack Lot Code: 0003
PCB Lot Code: 0000
Firmwareversjon: 102a
Maskinvarerevisjon: 0400
Cellerevisjon: 0303
Informasjon om ladenivå:
Gjenværende strøm (mAh): 3740
Fulladet: Ja
Lader: Nei
Full ladekapasitet (mAh): 3763
Informasjon om tilstand:
Syklusantall: 35 _Only 35 and already the battery is Fair?_
Batteritilstand: _Middels = Fair_
Batteri installert: Ja
Ampere (mA): 0
Volt (mV): 12533


Any thoughts?

Message was edited by: Freddy Johansen

Message was edited by: Freddy Johansen

Same issue here. I got a replacement today, so here are my before and after specs:

Before:
Model Information:
Manufacturer: Sony
Device name: ASMB012
Pack Lot Code: 0003
PCB Lot Code: 0000
Firmware Version: 102a
Hardware Revision: 0400
Cell Revision: 0303
Charge Information:
Charge remaining (mAh): 930
Fully charged: No
Charging: No
Full charge capacity (mAh): 1467
Health Information:
Cycle count: 80
Battery health: Fair
Battery Installed: Yes
Amperage (mA): 0
Voltage (mV): 12164

After:
Model Information:
Manufacturer: SMP
Device name: ASMB012
Pack Lot Code: 0002
PCB Lot Code: 0000
Firmware Version: 0102
Hardware Revision: 0500
Cell Revision: 0200
Charge Information:
Charge remaining (mAh): 5111
Fully charged: No
Charging: Yes
Full charge capacity (mAh): 5447
Health Information:
Cycle count: 1
Battery health: Good
Battery Installed: Yes
Amperage (mA): 333
Voltage (mV): 12619

Not sure if this helps anyone at all, but hopefully this new battery solves the issue.

Seems that I have the same problem too, but on a 2.33 GHz MBP. After upgrading to Leopard, battery life dropped from a fresh 5200 mAh to about 4000 mAh - and fluctuating between 3900 and 4100 mAh (still a value many of you seem to be content with!). This all happened within 2 weeks, with a mere 48 cycles on the counter.
To my impression, this is a software problem:
1. The fall in capacity happened quite suddenly after upgrading the OS
2. When the machine shuts down, it remains asleep for over 24 hours before finally shutting down. It seems that the software incorrectly concludes that the battery is low. Before, it shut down within a couple of hours.

I did a recalibration and a SMP reset, but nothing changed. Does a battery change really solves the problem? Mine has already been exchanged a couple of months ago.
I hope Apple will soon release a software upgrade that addresses this issue.

Hey, I replaced my 'Sony' battery with a 'SMP' battery and the fluctuating battery life problem disappeared and hasn't re-appeared in over a week and a few cycles. This sony battery was already a replacement under one warranty before.

I suggest you either try an apple store with a print out of the macbook pro 2 year extended warranty on batteries so they know they have to replace it.

Just so you know, when I went into boot camp on my old sony battery it actually ran the battery out to around 4800 mAh before it died and when I restarted in os x it finally was able to recognize there was 4800 after it had been at around 2600-4100 variable.

Add me to the list. 15" MBP, purchased in 02/2007. I have been running Leopard for about 2 weeks. I first noticed the Orange/Green flashing Saturday, and just started getting the instant power downs today around 43%. This is after about 45-50 min of use with Airport and no peripherals. Web, Mail, Terminal, Addium. Not exactly performing a `port upgrade all` or rendering H.264. =)

At 70 cycles this is a bit ridiculous. Tried SMC/PMI resets and in the middle of a battery condition exercise. I've been charging for about 4 hours now..... It started the Orange/Green around 80%. CoconutBattery and Battery Health Monitor show nearly identical to System profiler.

Anyone have a better condition/calibration method than change, drain, sleep/off, charge?

Hardware Overview:

Model Name: MacBook Pro 15"
Model Identifier: MacBookPro2,2
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.33 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 4 MB
Memory: 2 GB
Bus Speed: 667 MHz
Boot ROM Version: MBP22.00A5.B07
SMC Version: 1.12f5
Serial Number: XXXXXXXXXXX
Sudden Motion Sensor:
State: Enabled


Battery Information:

Model Information:
Manufacturer: Sony
Device name: ASMB012
Pack Lot Code: 0003
PCB Lot Code: 0000
Firmware Version: 102a
Hardware Revision: 0400
Cell Revision: 0303
Charge Information:
Charge remaining (mAh): 2587
Fully charged: No
Charging: No
Full charge capacity (mAh): 3044
Health Information:
Cycle count: 70
Battery health: Fair
Battery Installed: Yes
Amperage (mA): 153
Voltage (mV): 12531

P.S. Am I the only person who thinks constantly shutting down your HD's in a 2.5" form factor while on AC power is ridiculous? Save the planet also includes more than just saving energy. We should also avoid tossing massive amount of hardware in the landfills due to over cycling practices. That is about the only significant thing I have changed in my Power Mangement.

Update: Overnight I let it attempt to charge for about 11 hours. It reached 98% and the capacity increased to 3199.

Charge remaining (mAh): 3199
Full charge capacity (mAh): 3199

Within 1 minute of being unplugged it increased to 4634

Charge remaining (mAh): 4634
Full charge capacity (mAh): 4634

I wish I could create energy and capacity so easily! Someone page Al Gore....

On a serious note, I am going to continue to cycle the battery and see if things improve. Anyone know how to get around the shutdown without warning?

Not long afer I posted that update, things got worse. I am using `system_profiler SPPowerDataType` to monitor progress. I am running it in a loop every 10 seconds. Check out the difference between these two polls:

Power:

System Power Settings:

AC Power:
System Sleep Timer (Minutes): 10
Disk Sleep Timer (Minutes): 10
Display Sleep Timer (Minutes): 10
Automatic Restart On Power Loss: No
Wake On AC Change: No
Wake On Clamshell Open: Yes
Wake On LAN: Yes
Display Sleep Uses Dim: Yes
Battery Power:
System Sleep Timer (Minutes): 10
Disk Sleep Timer (Minutes): 10
Display Sleep Timer (Minutes): 5
Wake On AC Change: No
Wake On Clamshell Open: Yes
Display Sleep Uses Dim: Yes
Reduce Brightness: Yes

Hardware Configuration:

UPS Installed: No

AC Charger Information:

Connected: No
Charging: No

Battery Information:

Model Information:
Manufacturer: Sony
Device name: ASMB012
Pack Lot Code: 0003
PCB Lot Code: 0000
Firmware Version: 102a
Hardware Revision: 0400
Cell Revision: 0303
Charge Information:
Charge remaining (mAh): 4130
Fully charged: No
Charging: No
Full charge capacity (mAh): 4634
Health Information:
Cycle count: 70
Battery health: Good
Battery Installed: Yes
Amperage (mA): -1891
Voltage (mV): 11585

Power:

System Power Settings:

AC Power:
System Sleep Timer (Minutes): 10
Disk Sleep Timer (Minutes): 10
Display Sleep Timer (Minutes): 10
Automatic Restart On Power Loss: No
Wake On AC Change: No
Wake On Clamshell Open: Yes
Wake On LAN: Yes
Display Sleep Uses Dim: Yes
Battery Power:
System Sleep Timer (Minutes): 10
Disk Sleep Timer (Minutes): 10
Display Sleep Timer (Minutes): 5
Wake On AC Change: No
Wake On Clamshell Open: Yes
Display Sleep Uses Dim: Yes
Reduce Brightness: Yes

Hardware Configuration:

UPS Installed: No

AC Charger Information:

Connected: No
Charging: No

Battery Information:

Model Information:
Manufacturer: Sony
Device name: ASMB012
Pack Lot Code: 0003
PCB Lot Code: 0000
Firmware Version: 102a
Hardware Revision: 0400
Cell Revision: 0303
Charge Information:
Charge remaining (mAh): 2102
Fully charged: No
Charging: No
Full charge capacity (mAh): 2621
Health Information:
Cycle count: 70
Battery health: Fair
Battery Installed: Yes
Amperage (mA): -1904
Voltage (mV): 11581

There is something definitely wrong here. How can a battery change capacity by 50% in 10 seconds? Other than this loop, the machine is idle. This has to be either a software issue in the OS or a firmware issue in either the battery or the power management portions of the MBP. Since it seems to be affecting multiple machine/battery types (G4, CD, C2D - iB, MB, MBP, etc) I am leaning toward OS. There could be multiple factors, but OS has to play into it in my mind.

I ended up getting about 1h10m out of that charge before I hit sleep mode. Last update I saw from my loop was 4 mAh left out of about 2199 mAh. Following these instructions:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86284

I powered it off. I checked the battery's status by pressing the button and I got a single LED, flashing rapidly, about 2x per second. I have connected the charger and it is solid orange. Now the wait begins.

After a full charge (adapter went green) with the machine turned off and not the battery reflects 2193 mAh capacity and remaining. Looks like it's time to hit the Apple Store......

My battery has gone tits-up as well since the upgrade to Leopard.
today i went to a apple support center and they initially told me they would replace it for me. and called me back an hour later that they could not! @#*$&$%
(warranty expired 8-12-07) this it not very good news.

It seems almost al batteries with this problem are from Sony.....
Since the MBP is such an expensive piece of kit one would expect Apple a bit more
careful with their customers and ambassadors.
Apple should be aware of this problem and replace it for its users. (they made the software and the hardware in this case. (but he thats just me)



Modelinformatie:
Fabrikant: Sony
Apparaatnaam: ASMB012
Pack Lot Code: 0003
PCB Lot Code: 0000
Firmwareversie: 102a
Hardwarerevisie: 0400
Celrevisie: 0303
Ladingsinformatie:
Resterende lading (mAh): 645
Volledig opgeladen: Nee
Bezig met opladen: Ja
Volledige laadcapaciteit (mAh): 2743
Statusinformatie:
Aantal cycli: 69
Batterijstatus: Redelijk
Batterij geïnstalleerd: Ja
Ampèrage (mA): 1801
Voltage (mV): 12020

I'm adding my battery info to this thread. This is after Leopard upgrade.

Model Information:
Manufacturer: Sony
Device name: ASMB012
Pack Lot Code: 0003
PCB Lot Code: 0000
Firmware Version: 102a
Hardware Revision: 0400
Cell Revision: 0303
Charge Information:
Charge remaining (mAh): 116
Fully charged: No
Charging: Yes
Full charge capacity (mAh): 208
Health Information:
Cycle count: 75
Battery health: Fair
Battery Installed: Yes
Amperage (mA): 478
Voltage (mV): 12590

Simple Guidelines

* Avoid frequent full discharges because this puts additional strain on the battery. Several partial discharges with frequent recharges are better for lithium-ion than one deep one. Recharging a partially charged lithium-ion does not cause harm because there is no memory. (In this respect, lithium-ion differs from nickel-based batteries.) Short battery life in a laptop is mainly cause by heat rather than charge / discharge patterns.

* Batteries with fuel gauge (laptops) should be calibrated by applying a deliberate full discharge once every 30 charges. Running the pack down in the equipment does this. If ignored, the fuel gauge will become increasingly less accurate and in some cases cut off the device prematurely.

* Keep the lithium-ion battery cool. Avoid a hot car. For prolonged storage, keep the battery at a 40% charge level.

* Consider removing the battery from a laptop when running on fixed power. (Some laptop manufacturers are concerned about dust and moisture accumulating inside the battery casing.)

* Avoid purchasing spare lithium-ion batteries for later use. Observe manufacturing dates. Do not buy old stock, even if sold at clearance prices.

* If you have a spare lithium-ion battery, use one to the fullest and keep the other cool by placing it in the refrigerator. Do not freeze the battery. For best results, store the battery at 40% state-of-charge.

Okay, so try this one on for size...

My first battery went kablooie and Apple replaced it. My power supply and Apple replaced that. Afterward, I was getting close to three hours from a charge. I let it run down frequently before recharging, as recommended by Apple, so my cycles were high. But I was still getting that 3 hours. Even after the Leopard update.

At about 250 cycles, suddenly my battery charge plunged to 1h20. Now here's an interesting detail. Our 14 month old happened to slobber on the end of my power cord (it was unplugged at the time, though I don't think it would have mattered). I cleaned it and had to reset the buttons. It seemed to work okay, but I had already tried to recharge the battery using a spare (repaired) power adapter.

It was then that the battery failed to charge to anything better than 1h20. I had already applied the battery update 1.3, so that wasn't it. I repaired permissions and reset the power unit. I calibrated the battery (more than once). But nothing worked. So I figured that, at 250+ cycles, I had just put the battery through its paces. I bought a replacement battery of higher capacity (from FastMac).

At less than 10 cycles, I'm STILL only getting a total charge of about 1h30 or less. Even though the battery health, per iStat, is 100%. Other things I've tried: Charging it using a friend's MacBook Pro Magsafe adapter. Fixing permissions, both from my own drive and from the Leopard installer DVD.

Next thing I'm thinking would be to do another "Archive & Install" (same way I first installed Leopard). And after that, I guess, just wait for the 10.5.2 update (said to be on the way). Any other thoughts?