External Battery Setup for MacBook

Question

Level 1

4 points

External Battery Setup for MacBook

Saw somewhere of a laptop setup where they were running the laptop on an external battery supplied with power WITHOUT using the battery inside the laptop. This helps maintain the integrated battery's capability.

In this sense, the external battery (portable charger's battery) would function as a complete alternative battery for the device.

I was wondering if this setup could be achieved for a MacBook.

If I connect a portable battery that is charging into the MacBook, will it behave as an external battery? If not, is there a method to achieve this "external battery setup"?

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 14.4

Posted on Sep 23, 2024 12:31 PM

Reply

Answer 1

varjak paw

Level 10

182,940 points

Sep 23, 2024 1:54 PM in response to vinegarchips

No way that I know of. The power circuitry inside the MacBook is designed to use its internal battery and I know of no way to bypass that. An external power source of any type, be it mains or a battery pack, just charges the battery.

Regards.

Reply

Answer 2

John Galt

Level 10

158,460 points

Sep 23, 2024 2:50 PM in response to vinegarchips

This helps maintain the integrated battery's capability.

It's not entirely clear to me what "maintain the integrated battery's capability" means exactly, but it is certainly not a good idea to neglect exercising the Mac's built-in battery in favor of an external battery, even if it were possible, which it isn't.

You can certainly use an external battery, but it can only supply power as any external power source would.

Reply

Answer 3

John Galt

Level 10

158,460 points

Sep 24, 2024 5:39 AM in response to vinegarchips

While at your work desk you might as well leave the Mac connected to mains power.

Sure, you could connect an external battery / "power bank" to the Mac. You could even connect that external battery to mains to keep it charged, or you could connect that external battery to another external battery to keep it charged...

Reply

Answer 4

vinegarchips Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 23, 2024 9:27 PM in response to John Galt

Well its known lithium-ion batteries' capacity degrades overtime. And so I was thinking of this idea to save using the Mac's built-in battery when using my Mac at my work desk. I'd use built-in battery when I'm on the go.

All this was just an idea for extending battery capacity potential but I guess it's not possible based on the current responses.

Reply

External Battery Setup for MacBook

Similar questions