gabamatron
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: MacBook Pro battery draining completely while plugged in

I've researched this problem myself as best as I could but most people seem to be experiencing a drop of ~5% and none of the solutions (resetting PRAM + SMC, verified/repaired disk permissions) have worked.

 

Context:

I had to bring my MBP (15", early 2011, OSX 10.6.8) in a few weeks ago because of a harddrive failure.  They replaced it and cleaned out my vents and whatnot, and when it came back it was OSX 10.7.5 for whatever reason.  They must have assumed that's what I had originally?  I don't know.  Anyway, I only just got it back a few days ago and since it was already Lion, I decided to upgrade to Mountain Lion. 

 

I've had some battery issues before, with Snow Leopard, in the vein of the battery just not charging sometimes, only to magically recover, but since I've upgraded to ML, it literally drains before my eyes while the MagSafe is in (nothing wrong with the MagSafe - tested it on another computer).  Sometimes the light will be green while it drains and it'll say "not charging", sometimes it'll be orange and say "calculating time until full" but it will be draining.  It's never gone to 0% but it will consistently get to 5%.

 

Today, while running video conversions, I had an inkling that maybe running many intensive programs at the same time would be the issue and sure enough, as soon as the videos were done converting, the battery started charging again (albeit slowly).

 

So I guess my question is - is this absolutely an ML problem (it sounds like it but I've had mild issues with the battery before) or is it a battery defect or...?  And if it is an ML problem, what are my options for downgrading back to Lion since I never actually owned it myself?  Can I do the restore option I've seen around because it "came with the system" (kind of)?  Thanks in advance for any help!

 

 

The numbers under the hood:

 

Battery Information:

 

  Model Information:

  Serial Number:          D861124068JDGDMAN

  Manufacturer:          SMP

  Device Name:          bq20z451

  Pack Lot Code:          0

  PCB Lot Code:          0

  Firmware Version:          406

  Hardware Revision:          2

  Cell Revision:          157

  Charge Information:

  Charge Remaining (mAh):          3634

  Fully Charged:          No

  Charging:          Yes

  Full Charge Capacity (mAh):          6305

  Health Information:

  Cycle Count:          343

  Condition:          Normal

  Battery Installed:          Yes

  Amperage (mA):          3139

  Voltage (mV):          12117

 

System Power Settings:

 

  AC Power:

  System Sleep Timer (Minutes):          0

  Disk Sleep Timer (Minutes):          10

  Display Sleep Timer (Minutes):          10

  Wake on AC Change:          No

  Wake on Clamshell Open:          Yes

  Wake on LAN:          Yes

  Current Power Source:          Yes

  Display Sleep Uses Dim:          Yes

  GPUSwitch:          2

  PrioritizeNetworkReachabilityOverSleep:          0

  Standby Delay:          4200

  Standby Enabled:          0

  Battery Power:

  System Sleep Timer (Minutes):          15

  Disk Sleep Timer (Minutes):          10

  Display Sleep Timer (Minutes):          5

  Wake on AC Change:          No

  Wake on Clamshell Open:          Yes

  Display Sleep Uses Dim:          Yes

  GPUSwitch:          2

  Reduce Brightness:          Yes

  Standby Delay:          4200

  Standby Enabled:          0

 

Hardware Configuration:

 

  UPS Installed:          No

 

AC Charger Information:

 

  Connected:          Yes

  ID:          0x0100

  Wattage (W):          60

  Revision:          0x0000

  Family:          0x00ba

  Serial Number:          0x003e7711

  Charging:          Yes

MacBook Pro (15-inch Early 2011), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)

Posted on Aug 20, 2013 6:30 PM

Close
gabamatron

Q: MacBook Pro battery draining completely while plugged in

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by hobbesocrates,

    hobbesocrates hobbesocrates Nov 5, 2013 11:31 PM in response to gabamatron
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 5, 2013 11:31 PM in response to gabamatron

    I have the EXACT same problem with almost the exact same specs. 

     

    I think the problem we're both having is with the charger.  MBPs require an 85W charger, and we're both on 60s.  (Here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2346) Is it possible you're not using the charger that came with your computer? I haven't been able to retrieve my charger yet to test it, but I think that's the problem. 

     

    For now, try the steps listed HERE, and I've found that selecting  Automatic Graphics Switching under Sys Pref >Energy Saver helps a bit. 

     

    Hope this helps.

  • by FlyEvolution,

    FlyEvolution FlyEvolution Dec 21, 2013 6:01 PM in response to hobbesocrates
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 21, 2013 6:01 PM in response to hobbesocrates

    This is entirely due to defective design on apple's part.  The 2011 macbook pros are engineered poorly and when they are given enough work to do, they will drain the battery  for extra power because even the 85w adapter is insufficient to power the i7 and the GPU.   The CPU and GPU draw more like 95w together.  The only thing you can do to make it stop doing that is this use Xcode to limit the number of CPU cores your system will use to just one.

     

    The steps are different depending on the OS you're running.

     

    10.6.8 -

    download this program CPUPalette (its part of xcode, and can also be extracted from a 10.6.8 dvd using pacifist) and use it to disable all but one core of your cpu, as well as hyperthreading. no matter how hard you push the system with 3/4 cores disabled, it will not drain.  This will not persist through boot and needs to be done every time you restart.  You also have to keep cpu palette open.

    https://mega.co.nz/#!YUohlQ7a!WDRrImiMN1fxJyrFvfJ8IFCYCfUZLxRGlx_YR_Ktq9A

     

    10.7 -  10.9 -

    install xcode from mac app store:

    https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/xcode/id497799835?mt=12

     

    Once installed, open up Instruments, and look in it's preferences window.  It should have a slider in there to adjust cpu cores and a checkbox to disable hyperthreading as well.  Use this the same way as cpupalette to disable cpu cores.

     

    Until apple owns up to their defective design and does something about it, this is all you can do.

    I wouldn't hold my breath on that one though.