OK just thought I post this for reference. My MB pro is only 18 months old but the battery health has dropped to 77% after only 18 cycles - Yeh I keep it plugged in when in use.
I am taking it to the repair center in Bangkok on Weds for a battery test.
I'll let you know how I get on and if they replace the battery. I have Apple Care.
MacBook Pro (13-inch Early 2011), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)
That battery should be replaced.
Ok so I had my MB Pro checked at MCC - Discovery Center 5th Floor, Bangkok.
They did the full hardware check and showed me that the battery is functioning normally but said that I should use the battery more and follow the recommended monthly calibration procedure. They said the battery health indicator should rise again with further software updates.
They did notice that my card reader slot isn't functioning and this would require a logic board replacement. My Apple care runs to 2014 so said I would wait for now as I need my laptop for work & it isn't critical.
Don't believe this. I've got 'Service Battery' notice again. What is with this thing? Is this Mountain Lion or what?
The battery is bad. Get it replaced.
After 18 months, 18 cycles is absolutely nothing! Ive had my mac since jan, I havent travelled much and im on 66 cycles, with 100% health. I also noticed that after a prolonged period of use from the AC, the battery health would start to drop a bit and the battery wouldnt charge to 100%. Then after removing AC and using for a few hours, it would charge back up to 100% and the health back to 100% too. So, without regular discharging of the battery it loses its abillity to store charge. I hardly ever shut down my mac, it always goes to sleep at night, and I restart every week or so. What I do now is if I know I wont take my mac off the charge for a few days, at least for one or two of the nights I will pull out the AC and let the mac sleep on battery. Then in the morning when you open it up plug the power back and it will charge up. Overnight it will only lose 4 or 5%, but for me it has been enough to keep the health and charge at 100% during periods of time that I know I wont take the laptop anywhere.
As for your problem, I think you need to allow your mac to run down the battery and recharge again several times. If the hardware check showed up that the battery is fine, and with your limited number of cycles, I would run it down, charge it back up, run it down etc for a couple of days and then check the health. You might also want to install a program that gives you some realtime info about the battery. For example I use iStat, and have it configured to show the battery in the menu bar and some additional information when I click it as you can see below. Keep us updated, good luck.
I already have iStat & Coconut Battery.
I ran it down yesterday as I have been doing since the hardware check on the 31st Oct. Now I have the service battery warning. I am going to take it in again next week to have the card reader repaired and will ask them to run the battery test again.
Will keep you posted.
The battery sounds defective. My battery's health is 98% and I have almost 120 cycles.
I wouldn't even want to use that battery, gives me the creeps.
Now 43 cycles & down to 65% (3 hours). I run it down nearly every time before charging. I reckon I am due a new battery under warranty.
I must also add that sometimes my macbook is shutdown for 2 weeks at a time whilst I am working offshore. In this case I usually leave it with only 50% charge.
As others have said, replace the battery of that MacBook as soon as possible, because it's defective. You shouldn't use that battery, unless you only want to use the MacBook connected to its power adapter
What I will do is call Apple in Singapore first before I take the trip to BKK. I dont want to go all the way there for them to say there is no problem again.
What I don't understand is how they can say that your battery is OK. In my opinion, some of the Apple resellers are hateful. That's why you should call Apple first, and then, take it to a reseller or maybe Apple repairs your computer (in some countries, they have this service)
Just to update. I called Apple in Singapore and they said Applecare in Bangkok were absolutely wrong to tell me my battery was OK. He gave me a case number and told me to go back for a free new battery.
It was replaced under warranty and my card reader was fixed about 4-5 weeks ago. Now I have a problem with headphone jack but that is on another thread!!!
Battery Health 77% after only 18 cycles
