Huge amount of battery cycles.

Open System Profiler in your Utilities folder. Click on the Power item in the left side list. Your battery information will be displayed in the main window. Check the cycle count and other information. If you actually have more than 300 cycles, then consider replacing the battery.

Sounds like you're really lucky to me.

After 300 cycles, the batteries tend to lose their capacity more quickly, but they should maintain at least 80% until that point. After that, there's no guarantees. Your battery life could stay great for several hundred more (as yours has) or the capacity could fall off a cliff without any warning.

I agree with Kappy--don't replace it yet. But be prepared to replace it at any time, because the chances are the capacity will go down to unusable before too long.

~Lyssa

As has been suggested... it's probably a good idea to consider at least having a spare battery on hand. With cycle counts that high, even though your system is reporting 96% health, you may start to experience sporadic battery behavior. More importantly, intermittent failures can result in unexpected shutdowns. If you happen to be working on something while working on battery and your system shuts down... you risk losing any unsaved data. Your battery has lasted you well over twice the expected life... it's just a good precautionary measure to replace it at this time.

Hey Lionel,

You and I have a similar situation. Here is my power profile...

Battery Information:

Model Information:
Serial Number: DP-ASMB013-369a-78a5
Manufacturer: DP
Device name: ASMB013
Pack Lot Code: 0001
PCB Lot Code: 0000
Firmware Version: 0102
Hardware Revision: 0300
Cell Revision: 0100
Charge Information:
Charge remaining (mAh): 4344
Fully charged: No
Charging: No
Full charge capacity (mAh): 5154
Health Information:
Cycle count: 673
Condition: Good
Battery Installed: Yes
Amperage (mA): -1279
Voltage (mV): 11978

I don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

Adam

Message was edited by: Adam White

From the number of battery cycles reported by System Profiler, it looks like you run you battery down often. Is that what you do? ... I'd like to know to factor it into my understanding about about MacBook battery care.
Based upon the little info I've gleaned from reading through this forum, it appears that DP batteries with the Device name: ASMB013; Pack Lot Code: 0001; PCB Lot Code: 0000; Firmware Version: 0102; Hardware Revision: 0300 are lasting long. ... here's the data on mine (running since 12/06):

Health Information:
Cycle count: 348
Condition: Normal
Battery Installed: Yes
Amperage (mA): -1174
Voltage (mV): 11270

Hi John0123,

They're using a 3rd party application like iStat or Coconut Battery. They're free applications that help take the guess work out of understanding your battery. One thing to add, neither of these programs are "Apple Approved" methods for battery reporting but it helps the end user better translate current full charge capacity to overall battery health.

After a friend of mine noted that his MacBook started exhibiting the "Snow Leopard" battery bug, I swung by to also report that my MacBook's battery has a large cycle count (388)-- but shows higher than original battery capacity (5158)!

Just to test it out, I'm discharging it now.

Like others have noted, mine is manufactured by DP. I wonder what magic they used in their battery mix?

Battery Information:

Model Information:
Manufacturer: DP
Device name: ASMB013
Pack Lot Code: 0001
PCB Lot Code: 0000
Firmware Version: 0102
Hardware Revision: 0300
Cell Revision: 0100
Charge Information:
Charge remaining (mAh): 3721
Fully charged: No
Charging: No
Full charge capacity (mAh): 5158
Health Information:
Cycle count: 388
Condition: Normal
Battery Installed: Yes
Amperage (mA): -2329
Voltage (mV): 11474

Same here...
582 cycles and iStat reports 96%

Compare that to any Windows based laptop I've used, I'd say it's lasted about 4 times as long, so far.
My fiance's XPS m1530 doesn't last a third as long and is newer.

And to an earlier poster: I run my battery all the way down to 5% before charging, then I disconnect the charger right when I get to 100%. Seems to work great for me. I'm not sure if it's the recommended way but I'm pretty sure I've heard all over that this is a good, if not the best method..

Can anyone clarify?

BobbyLeeSwaggR wrote:

And to an earlier poster: I run my battery all the way down to 5% before charging, then I disconnect the charger right when I get to 100%. Seems to work great for me. I'm not sure if it's the recommended way but I'm pretty sure I've heard all over that this is a good, if not the best method..

Can anyone clarify?

I've heard this isn't the way to go with most newer computers. You want to keep them plugged in whenever possible and use them on battery power only when necessary. This helps keep the cycle count down.

Along with that, you need to calibrate the battery each month (if you're running almost exclusively on AC power) or every few months (if you use the battery on a semi-regular basis).

~Lyssa

My MacBook's battery life has been pretty remarkable really. Here's the current Power rundown. iStat Pro readout at bottom.

Battery Information:

Model Information:
Manufacturer: DP
Device name: ASMB016
Pack Lot Code: 0002
PCB Lot Code: 0000
Firmware Version: 102a
Hardware Revision: 0500
Cell Revision: 0102
Charge Information:
Charge remaining (mAh): 2552
Fully charged: No
Charging: Yes
Full charge capacity (mAh): 4819
Health Information:
Cycle count: 1170
Condition: Normal
Battery Installed: Yes
Amperage (mA): 1627
Voltage (mV): 11835

iStat Pro is reading that I have done 1,170 cycles with 96% health. I bought this MacBook new in June '07 and have never encountered any problem with the battery. No loss of power, no sporadic performance or anything. Apparently, some of us are just lucky.

Then don't replace it.

Pretty much same here - i'm at 463 cycles and 96% health...still getting great battery life. Lucky us!

When someone says "I''m at 463 cycles and 96% health," where do they get that health percentage from? I am at 335 cycles but don't see any health percentage, just "good."