Is my battery load cycle too high?

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Level 1

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Is my battery load cycle too high?

Hi, I bought my MacBookPro5,5 around June/August 2009 and the battery status shows the load cycle is already at 214 in its 6 months of usage. It is true that I use my laptop everyday but usually I have the power adapter plugged in. 214 cycles in 6 months means I fully recharge the battery, on average, everyday right? well that's something not true.

The capacity is, I think, still quite good. System profiles and coconutBattery show me the current capacity is 5322 which is 97% of the original.

any thoughts?

MacBookPro5,5, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Jan 28, 2010 9:48 PM

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Answer 1

iVmichael

Level 6

13,740 points

Jan 28, 2010 9:55 PM in response to frusadi

Your figures don't add up, I think the reading is inaccurate ...

Reset the SMC (System Management Controller) and re-calibrate the Battery then see what it says ?

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Answer 2

frusadi Author

Level 1

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Jan 28, 2010 10:03 PM in response to frusadi

ok I will try it..

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Answer 3

frusadi Author

Level 1

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Feb 7, 2010 12:33 AM in response to frusadi

Hi again.. sorry if it took me too long to try this, finally I had the chance last night..

well.. it still didn't work 😟 the load cycle number is still high.

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Answer 4

eww

Level 9

53,028 points

Feb 7, 2010 5:39 AM in response to frusadi

I've never heard anything to convince me that the cycle count can be wrong, so I think it's generally prudent to assume it's correct, then try to figure out how it got so high.

What I would advise, farjan, is that you continue to use the machine *exactly the same way you've been doing* for the next week, noting the cycle count tomorrow morning and again each successive morning. Take notes of the battery's charge level (percentage, NOT time remaining) each morning and again each evening when you leave the machine for the night. Note also whether or not you leave it plugged into AC power overnight, and whether it's asleep or shut down. This should give you solid information on which to judge whether or not your cycle count is accurate and what has driven it up so fast. Keep us posted on what you learn.

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Answer 5

frusadi Author

Level 1

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Feb 7, 2010 6:07 AM in response to frusadi

Actually for the past a week I have been watching the load cycle and capacity percentage of the battery. Looks like the load cycle changed as I expected, I worked on battery and recharged it twice (including the last night full recharge) and the load cycled was increased by 2. The capacity is still at the same level, 97% or 98%.

Well, as far as I remember, in this past 6 months, there were some period of time that I used my MBP on battery quite frequent. But I still don't feel that I have used that much. Maybe I was wrong anyway.

If I can ask more questions just for clarification, battery capacity of 97%/98% after 6 months of usage is still a good sign, right? Is there a correlation between the capacity and load cycle?

thanks!

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Answer 6

eww

Level 9

53,028 points

Feb 7, 2010 6:20 AM in response to frusadi

Yes, a battery capacity of 97-98% after six months is good, and about what I'd expect of a battery in good shape at that age. And yes, battery capacity gradually diminishes as the age and cycle count of the battery increase. But it wasn't the battery capacity percentage I was referring to in my post above; it was the *charge level* percentage indicated in the menu bar (check the box for "Show battery status in the menu bar" in Energy Saver Preferences, then choose "Percentage" from the "Show" menu under the battery icon in the menu bar.)

Well, as far as I remember, in this past 6 months, there were some period of time that I used my MBP on battery quite frequent. But I still don't feel that I have used that much. Maybe I was wrong anyway.

I suspect you've put your finger on the issue here. But I still recommend that you do as I suggested above, simply to make you more aware of how your behavior affects your battery.

As general background for all of this, you should read this outstanding User Tip on the subject of battery management:

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1764220

It's more complete than anything Apple has published, and includes links to other useful references including those from Apple.

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Answer 7

frusadi Author

Level 1

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Feb 7, 2010 6:39 AM in response to frusadi

But it wasn't the battery capacity percentage I was referring to in my post above; it was the charge level percentage indicated in the menu bar (check the box for "Show battery status in the menu bar" in Energy Saver Preferences, then choose "Percentage" from the "Show" menu under the battery icon in the menu bar.)

oh I see.. in that case, I have to unplug the power first before I can get the percentage level then? otherwise the percentage level is always 100%. ok I will monitor this one for coming week.

It's more complete than anything Apple has published, and includes links to other useful references including those from Apple.

Thanks! I'll spend a time to read it.

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