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hollyfromaz

Q: Can you overcharge your MacBook Pro battery?

I know that you can't overcharge the iPhone battery, but is this also true of the MacBook Pro? Just wanted to know.

MacBook Pro (15-inch Late 2011)

Posted on Apr 11, 2012 12:44 AM

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Q: Can you overcharge your MacBook Pro battery?

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  • by Courcoul,

    Courcoul Apr 11, 2012 1:07 AM in response to hollyfromaz
    Level 6 (14,193 points)
    Apr 11, 2012 1:07 AM in response to hollyfromaz

    NOPE. Lithium based batteries, as used on almost all portable devices today, always include a charge control circuitry to absolutely prevent that under any circumstance. The circuitry strives to allow a max charge of about 95% capacity, leaving a safety margin. And the circuitry is built INTO the battery, so there is no way to sidestep it.

     

    Why? If you overcharge a Lithium cell, the lithium metal precipitates and catches fire. Dell discovered that in a very hot way when they were the first to attempt to use this technology back in the early 90's, without any protection. Flamin'Dells were a very real possibility then. Nowadays battery makers have become very conservative to avoid the awful lawsuits that would ensue, and lithium batteries are very safe.

     

    http://batteryuniversity.com/