MacBook 5,1 - Battery with 300 cycles die after 10 minutes...

Question

MacBook 5,1 - Battery with 300 cycles die after 10 minutes...

I have a MacBook 5,1 - Intel Core 2 Duo (2,4 GHz) Battery with 300 cycles.
I use often (90% time) my MacBook in office and home linked to power.

Two months ago, using it not-linked to power, it start to die without tellin me that power is going down... now I've noticed it auto shot-down (die) after 7 - 12 minutes... (!!!)

I'm very upset! What you suggest?

thanks for the help that you can give me... 😟

MacBook 5,1, Mac OS X (10.6.2), Intel Core 2 Duo (2,4 GHz)

Posted on Apr 1, 2010 2:49 PM

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Answer 1

Apr 1, 2010 4:25 PM in response to GiaMarcantoni

Start by resetting your SMC:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964

How often do you calibrate your battery?
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1490

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Answer 2

Lyssa

Level 8

41,405 points

Apr 1, 2010 6:54 PM in response to GiaMarcantoni

You may need a new battery.

Let's check your battery's health.

*Open *System Profiler* (Applications>Utilities) and click on Power in the left-hand column. Copy the Battery information and paste it here.

~Lyssa

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Answer 3

Apr 2, 2010 3:03 AM in response to GiaMarcantoni

I'm really sad :-((

I've made the SMC reset (Thanks Jay), but today starting with 100% charge, after 32 min my MacBook died...
Restarting with the power adaptor linked the charge was at 64%

Below the informations (Thanks Lyssa) about my Computer and my Battery (in Italian):
------------------------------
Informazioni batteria: (BATTERY INFORMATIONS)

Informazioni sul modello:
Numero di serie: 9G8510HH13NYB
Produttore: DP
Nome dispositivo: bq20z951
Pack Lot Code: 0000
PCB Lot Code: 0000
Versione firmware: 002a
Revisione hardware: 0005
Revisione cella: 0100
Informazioni sulla carica:
Carica restante (mAh): 1450
Carica completa: No
In carica: Sì
Capacità a carica completa (mAh): 1995
Informazioni sulle condizioni della batteria:
Conteggio cicli: 301
Condizione: Controlla batteria
Batteria installata: Sì
Amperaggio (mA): 565
Voltaggio (mV): 12266

Impostazioni d’alimentazione del sistema:

Corrente alternata (AC):
Timer per la messa in stop del sistema (minuti): 10
Timer per la messa in stop del disco (minuti): 10
Timer per la messa in stop del monitor (minuti): 10
Riavvio automatico in caso di perdita di energia: No
Riattiva se cambia la corrente alternata: No
Riattiva aprendo lo schermo: Sì
Riattiva se connesso a LAN: No
Fonte di alimentazione attuale: Sì
Lo stop del monitor usa l'attenuazione di luminosità: Sì
Batteria:
Timer per la messa in stop del sistema (minuti): 15
Timer per la messa in stop del disco (minuti): 10
Timer per la messa in stop del monitor (minuti): 10
Riattiva se cambia la corrente alternata: No
Riattiva aprendo lo schermo: Sì
Lo stop del monitor usa l'attenuazione di luminosità: Sì
Riduci la luminosità: Sì

Configurazione hardware:

UPS installata: No

Informazioni sul dispositivo di ricarica CA:

Collegato: Sì
ID: 0x0100
Wattaggio (W): 60
Revisione: 0x0000
Famiglia: 0x00ba
Numero di serie: 0x00e155d0
In carica: Sì
------------------------------

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Answer 4

Apr 2, 2010 4:58 AM in response to GiaMarcantoni

Capacità a carica completa (mAh): 1995
Informazioni sulle condizioni della batteria:
Conteggio cicli: 301
Condizione: Controlla batteria

Two things jump out immediately: One, your full-charge capacity (Capacità a carica completa) is about half what a new battery should be (~4200 mAh). Two, the condition is "Check Battery," which means your Mac software thinks the battery is damaged.

These add up to suggest you need a new battery. If you are still under warranty, call AppleCare first. The unfortunate reality is that Apple usually only warrants these batteries for 300 cycles, which means that you would need to be very firm and very persuasive when you call them and you may still be able to get a replacement for free. If you are no longer under warranty, you will need to buy a new battery yourself.

Good luck!

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Answer 5

Apr 2, 2010 8:27 AM in response to GiaMarcantoni

ahhhhhh!

thankyou Jay for your precious help...
I can't imagine way this battery capacity reduction after so less usage...
I'll try to convince the Apple support...

Thanks and thank you to you and Lyssa for the precious help...

if you will come in Italy -> Tuscany -> Arezzo I'll take you to eat "chianina" steak... 🙂

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Answer 6

Lyssa

Level 8

41,405 points

Apr 2, 2010 9:25 AM in response to GiaMarcantoni

Apple's only claim about battery life is that the battery should maintain 80% or more of its original capacity up to 300 cycles. After 300 cycles, you may see the capacity plummet, as yours has.

As Jay said, it's definitely worth calling up Apple if you're still under warranty.

Also, use your computer with the power adapter plugged in unless electrical outlets aren't available; this will help your next battery last longer!

~Lyssa

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Answer 7

y_p_w

Level 6

17,762 points

Apr 2, 2010 1:36 PM in response to Lyssa

Lyssa wrote:
Apple's only claim about battery life is that the battery should maintain 80% or more of its original capacity up to 300 cycles. After 300 cycles, you may see the capacity plummet, as yours has.

Even under 300 cycles, I've heard it isn't even a guarantee per se. It's really only supposed to be a typical outcome. Some people get lucky and can maintain their batteries considerably longer, while some end up with shot batteries after 200 cycles.

When my battery started going crazy (reporting 1000% of nominal capacity and "replace now") I took it to an Apple Store and was given two options (I didn't have AppleCare and it was out of warranty). It had less than 35 cycles and was otherwise reporting 100% health. They used their handy diagnostic tool (I think it was based on an iPod) and it came up immediately as "replace now". The Apple employee told me that he's never seen it come up that fast. I was given the option of either buying a new battery for US$129 or getting a "service replacement" battery for $99 (which would require I give them my old battery). He also stated that I could try it myself and see if the problem cleared itself. Strangely enough I just used it and after a few fits and starts (it would report 100% and then suddenly drop to 0), it recalibrated itself. It's now claiming about 98% health and can go down to reserve power normally.

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Answer 8

Apr 5, 2010 10:21 AM in response to y_p_w

Hi,

i've the same problem. One month before the guaranty ended i went to a repair center here near Dortmund, for this time i did have about 390 cycles and the guy told me that there is no guaranty for my battery. Now 2 months after the guaranty is over it looks like this here:
Battery Information:

Model Information:
Serial Number: 6N84803BP2VK
Manufacturer: SMP
Device name: bq20z951
Pack Lot Code: 0000
PCB Lot Code: 0000
Firmware Version: 002a
Hardware Revision: 000a
Cell Revision: 0100
Charge Information:
Charge remaining (mAh): 372
Fully charged: Yes
Charging: No
Full charge capacity (mAh): 388
Health Information:
Cycle count: 451
Condition: Check Battery
Battery Installed: Yes
Amperage (mA): -760
Voltage (mV): 12337

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: No
Current Power Source: Yes
Display Sleep Uses Dim: Yes
Battery Power:
System Sleep Timer (Minutes): 10
Disk Sleep Timer (Minutes): 10
Display Sleep Timer (Minutes): 2
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: Yes
ID: 0x0100
Wattage (W): 60
Revision: 0x0000
Family: 0x00ba
Serial Number: 0x00ddbff2
Charging: No

I think it's dead.

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Answer 9

Lyssa

Level 8

41,405 points

Apr 5, 2010 10:26 AM in response to mangasports

Your battery is dead indeed 😟

~Lyssa

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Answer 10

Apr 5, 2010 2:04 PM in response to mangasports

As Lyssa said, you need a new battery.

But you also should consider how you're using your MacBook.

In the two months between when you saw the tech at the repair center and when you posted today, you have put 60 full charge cycles on your battery (from "about 390" to 451). That means one full cycle a day--at that rate, it's no wonder your battery has worn out faster than you expected.

Some more reading for you:
http://www.apple.com/batteries/notebooks.html
http://www.apple.com/batteries/

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Answer 11

Apr 8, 2010 7:31 AM in response to Jay Bullock

Yes, i know. I was hard to my Battery. I don't know if it's right or not, but i remember that on my 2002 Powerbook it was so, that you charged the battery and when it was fill you unplugged the charger.
So, make full and empty. I really don't if it was right for this time, but the powerbook battery lived 4 years. The difference between the 390 and 451 cycles is, because charging the macbook from empty to 100 % took about 30 minutes. And everytime when i have to use it without charger it adds a new cycle after 15 minutes.

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Answer 12

Apr 8, 2010 11:50 AM in response to mangasports

Yes, i know. I was hard to my Battery. I don't know if it's right or not, but i remember that on my 2002 Powerbook it was so, that you charged the battery and when it was fill you unplugged the charger.

That is certainly not the right way to do it now. I don't think it was then, either; I had a 2003 iBook and I'm pretty sure the instructions were to stay plugged in as much as possible then, too.

charging the macbook from empty to 100 % took about 30 minutes. And everytime when i have to use it without charger it adds a new cycle after 15 minutes.

From above, about your battery:

Full charge capacity (mAh): 388

Yeah, it probably doesn't take long to put that little juice into your battery.

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