Retina 13 Inch Macbook Pro 2015 Battery Charging Question

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Level 1

8 points

Retina 13 Inch Macbook Pro 2015 Battery Charging Question

I just bought a 2015 13.3" Retina Macbook Pro & I love it!

However, I do have a few questions about it!

1) How would you recommend I charge it? I'm confused about battery cycles & discharges. I heard it's best to not discharge this battery fully and re-charge when it goes down to about 40% and then back to 100% and continue that.
How would you recommend I charge it?

2) Should I put my macbook to sleep or shut down? The only time I don't use it is when it's night time until the morning/afternoon when I sleep & then do some tasks until I have free time to go on it. Is it okay if it's in sleep for 8+ hours? I noticed battery drop by like 1 to 2 % so not that big a deal.

All answers are appreciated, God bless!

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Yosemite (10.10.4)

Posted on Jul 31, 2015 3:31 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Jul 31, 2015 3:38 PM in response to jojelllybean

I have two 'golden rules' regarding batteries in a MBP.

Avoid discharging them completely.

If you choose to keep it connected to AC, at least monthly, exercise the battery by operating under battery power to about the 40% charge level. Then reconnect to AC.

In regards to sleep vs. shutdown, just select what you find convenient. This is an argument that has not been settled and never will, I suspect. I choose to shut down.

Here is every thing you wanted to know about batteries and were afraid to ask:

https://www.apple.com/support/macbookpro/batteries_power/

Ciao.

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Answer 2

Jul 31, 2015 3:42 PM in response to jojelllybean

There is a very large amount of misinformation available on Lithium-Ion batteries, the basics are:

1. DO NOT discharge the battery fully on a regular basis. Independent studies have shown that doing so shortens battery life a great deal. A battery discharged only 50% and recharged will have three to four times the battery life of one discharged deeply.

2. Leaving a battery on the charger does not damage it - the charging circuitry shuts down when the battery is fully charged, and goes into line-power mode. When the battery trickles down in charge (they all do that) to about 93-95% charge the circuitry restarts and tops up the battery.

3. Sleep mode is the best mode for the system unless you are leaving it for a few days. Sleep mode means it stays at a constant temperature which is easier on the parts than the thermal stress of going cold and then restarting if you are doing that every day.

You can check your battery easily, by going to the apple left side of the menu bar, About This Mac, System Report, Hardware, Power and just see what it says about the battery condition (should be Normal) and number of charge cycles (normal life is 1,000 cycles), and so on.

Anything else, just ask.

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Answer 3

jojelllybean Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 1, 2015 2:04 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

So, I should always have the macbook recharged up to 100% when it is around 50% charge on battery power

AND every month if I want to keep the macbook connected to AC while operating it, I should wait until it is around 50% charge & then connect it to a power outlet and wait until it is 100% charged while I'm still using it?

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Answer 4

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Aug 1, 2015 3:09 PM in response to jojelllybean

Fundamentally yes but I would suggest somewhat more that the 50% charge level. I try about 40%± charge level. Understand there may be situations when you will have to use it under battery power to level lower than that. But I would urge you to terminate the session under battery power when you get the low battery power warning.

Ciao.

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