MacBook Pro 13" 2015 long term clamshell mode; will it damage the battery as it's always on AC?

To maintain good battery efficiency and life, at least once per month you should use the MBP under battery power alone to about the 40% charge level. Lithium ion batteries need periodic exercise.

Ciao.

aoch88 wrote:

Thanks. If I understand correctly, it's completely fine to have it on AC running clamshell mode docking into the Thunderbolt Display as long as I drain the battery to around 40% once a month? I would plan to do it twice a month at least.

That will make the battery happy. 🙂

Ciao.

A rough guide is the battery 'health' which is the maximum charge divided by the designed capacity. Maximum charge will be attained when the charge level reaches 100%. Over the course of time and use this will gradually decline. By Apple standards, if it is 80% or more, the battery is serviceable. If it is below 80%, the battery should be replaced.

Ciao.

But if it is plugged in all the time, will it cause the battery or swell or bulge, like the older macbook models? Presumably, from overcharging?

Swelling is not common (not exactly rare, but not common). It is caused more by "end of life" than "overcharge". Circuits prevent overcharging.

If your battery is 3 years old, pay attention to the maximum charge amount to know when it is close to 80% of "designed maximum". Apple defines end-of-life as "cannot charge to more than 80% of design". Download "coconut battery" directly from the developer http://www.coconut-flavour.com/coconutbattery/ as some sources may put small adware components.

thank you!

jayliew wrote:

But if it is plugged in all the time, will it cause the battery or swell or bulge, like the older macbook models? Presumably, from overcharging?

As a point of information, the OSX controls charging and will not allow the battery to be overcharged.

Ciao.