Almost reaching maximum cycle count

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Level 1

5 points

Almost reaching maximum cycle count

Hi. I was just wondering about cycle counts. I know that macbook pro batteries are designed to reach 1000 cycles, and after that point, it will hold about 80 percent of it's original capacity. Now. I am not sure what is considered 80 percent time wise. I am currently at 985 cycles. And so far my computer when browsing on the internet lasts from 3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours before I go to charge it up My battery doesn't act up and charges up normally. In fact, my whole computer works just fine, despite it being so old. This is actually my second battery. My first battery had about a cycle count in the 2000's before I replaced it. This one I have taken better care of, and I don't let it get too hot. Ever since I downloaded an adblocker for my browser, I noticed it hasn't heated up or drained the battery.

I mean I heard people say they have used their battery's past the cycle count, and since I used my previous battery so much, I probably didn't even notice the reduction in time. So would 80 percent really impact the time based on what I have told you? I'm just asking because I'm just worried the time will go really down. I know I will have to buy a new computer eventually, but I kind of want to wait till my income tax comes in next year before I even consider buying a new one.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8), Connection timeout.

Posted on Dec 5, 2017 8:44 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Allan Jones

Level 9

78,272 points

Dec 5, 2017 9:07 AM in response to noratcat

The "percent health" is the current charge capacity divided by the design, or baseline, capacity. Apple provides the curernt capacity number in System Information but do not see fit to provided the baseline. Fortunately there is a safe, third-party soluntion.

I use Coconut Battery. Information and download link here:

http://www.coconut-flavour.com/coconutbattery/

It has a database of baseline values for different Mac models (it varies). It is a utility that gives you the health as a percentage so it matches Apple's health criteria. It also give produciton dates for your Mac and your battery, allows saving results in a spreadsheet-type format, and recent versions will do the same for an Apple iDevice if attached to the computer by a USB cable.

Don't let cycle count get in your way of using the computer. My son has a 2012 13-inch MacBook Pro (non-Retina) that served him all the way through engineering school, most on battery power. The battery has nearly 1600 cycles yet only recently dipped below the 80% health level. If the battery runs long enough to get your work done, my vote is to keep using it.

The fact that you obtained 2000 cycles from your first battery and are at nearly 1000 for this one says to me you are doing everything right.

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Answer 2

Courcoul

Level 6

18,684 points

Dec 5, 2017 9:06 AM in response to noratcat

Those are guidelines, not sacred gospel cast in stone. Some batteries last like forever, much to the maker's chagrin who would love to sell you new, some last but a whisper in which case the guidelines (and warranty) kick in, again to the chagrin of Apple. As long as it isn't bloated in any way, enjoy your good fortune.

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Answer 3

dwb

Level 7

33,256 points

Dec 5, 2017 10:07 AM in response to noratcat

Allan's son experience closely matches my own. I used my 2011 MacBook Air for nearly 4 years with the same battery and for 3 1/2 of those years battery life changed only a little. But in the last 6 months it began to drop and the last 3 months the drop-off picked up quickly. You'll know when it is time to replace the battery - but you aren't going to harm the computer just because you passed the magic number of cycles.

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Answer 4

noratcat Author

Level 1

5 points

Dec 5, 2017 9:21 AM in response to Allan Jones

Ah okay. Thanks for replying. I just got a little scared by the cycle count and was worried my battery would crap out on me once it reached the 1000 cycle count, and I would barely have enough time to use it. I was actually worried it would go from 3 hours and 30 minutes to one or something. But I'm probably exaggerating. I mean so far it's been serving me pretty well. You know? Funny story, but my previous battery, the one that went past 2000 cycles, you see, when I still had that battery, I went to a site that did a number on my fans, and I was on google chrome at the time, and then it suddenly said "Replace soon". I then did an smc reset, and the condition went back to normal. This battery I don't use google chrome and so far as I mentioned above, it hasn't heated up since I installed that adblocker.

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