I have two mid-2010 17" Macbook Pros. I’m using them both side-by-side in my recording studio. About 3 months back, the Apple store replaced one of the batteries with the DP battery they install. The other laptop's battery finally triggered a service warning too, but i figured I’d save money by replacing the other one with this Newer Tech battery.
When i look at the battery temperature readings on the DP Macbook battery with the Hardware Monitor app, the TS_Max reads 30-31°C. Battery position 2 and 3 read about the same or 1-2° less. This seems completely normal. Even if i use this laptop intensely with audio/video, the hottest it gets is 33°C.
When i look at the readings on the Newer Tech battery, it starts out at about 32°C when i first open the laptop but quickly goes up to 36-37° if i start running off the battery. Strange thing is not matter how hot it gets, the battery readings stay pretty much consistent at 30°C position 2 and 29°C position 3. If i use the laptop running audio/video software when powered off the battery, the TS_Max temp will reach 41-42°C. Position 2 and 3 may reach 30-31°. All the other laptop temperatures seem totally normal... fans are working perfectly, etc.
I actually remember the temperature strangeness being somewhat similar with the original battery the Newer Tech one replaced. The old battery would get hot too, but the position 2 and 3 number went up as well. At the time, I'd figured it was an issue with the old battery being at the end of it's life.
This all seems really weird. I wrote Newer Tech, and they basically said to not be concerned as long as the room temperature is below 35°. Maybe they're right, but I’m under the impression that running battery above 35°C is bad for it and dramatically shortens it's life. The app coconutBattery reflects the same temperatures. Annoyingly, i keep getting messages saying the battery's too hot. For the time being, I'm just up-ing the threshold from 35°-45°, but this seems ridiculous.
Anyone know what’s up with this?