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No more need for battery calibration?


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No more need for battery calibration?
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BlueApple
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Join Date: Jun 2006
 
2007-11-08, 06:11

I remember way back in 2005, the user manual of my iBook G4 mentioned about battery calibration. It said to charge the battery in full, then use it without plugging in power source, until the battery almost completely drained (the computer goes to sleep). Then charge it to full again.

However, I don't see something like that mentioned in the manual in the recent MacBook / MacBook Pro. Do you still do the battery calibration? Do we need that?
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chucker
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: near Bremen, Germany
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2007-11-08, 06:13

It's not as important any more, but it doesn't hurt. Intel laptops use lithium-ion-polymer batteries, rather than lithium-ion ones, so the behavior is slightly more ideal.
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BlueApple
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Join Date: Jun 2006
 
2007-11-08, 06:18

I also heard that if I let the battery drops to almost completely drained, the overall battery life decreases. Is that also the case on lithium-ion polymer batteries?
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PB PM
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Vancouver, BC
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2007-11-08, 13:11

Yes, from what I've seen even more so. Don't let your battery fall bellow 10-15% or you still see a drop, maybe even a few hundred mAh if you go right down to 0%.
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Sargasm
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Join Date: Jul 2005
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2007-11-08, 13:36

Aww shit. I've gone right down to 0% a few times with this PowerBook
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kieran
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Join Date: Jan 2005
 
2007-11-08, 13:51

I've drained the battery on my iBook G4 (from 2004) numerous times.

The battery still has 88% of it's original capacity remaining, according to Coconut Battery.

That seems great to me for a three year old battery.

No more Twitter. It's Mastodon now.
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Gargoyle
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: In your dock hiding behind your finder icon!
 
2007-11-08, 14:02

My MacBook just shuts itself off without warning!

There was an article on the discussion forums so I have just forced it back to BatteryUpdater 1.2, and am waiting to see if I get a warning.

Anyone else seen this problem?

OK, I have given up keeping this sig up to date. Lets just say I'm the guy that installs every latest version as soon as its available!
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Kickaha
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Join Date: May 2004
 
2007-11-08, 14:03

I did - they replaced the power inverter, no problems since.

(Although mine shut off at 99%!)
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Gargoyle
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: In your dock hiding behind your finder icon!
 
2007-11-08, 14:05

I assume when this is when the battery is very low, but without the 15 min warning, it's hard to keep an eye on it. At the mo it's telling me I have 29mins.

OK, I have given up keeping this sig up to date. Lets just say I'm the guy that installs every latest version as soon as its available!
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Taskiss
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: St. Louis, MO
 
2007-11-08, 14:06

Quote:
Despite its overall advantages, lithium-ion has its drawbacks. It is fragile and requires a protection circuit to maintain safe operation. Built into each pack, the protection circuit limits the peak voltage of each cell during charge and prevents the cell voltage from dropping too low on discharge. In addition, the cell temperature is monitored to prevent temperature extremes. The maximum charge and discharge current on most packs are is limited to between 1C and 2C. With these precautions in place, the possibility of metallic lithium plating occurring due to overcharge is virtually eliminated.
http://www.batteryuniversity.com/partone-5.htm

A good mac-centric post:
http://www.macosxhints.com/article.p...30314081843218
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ghoti
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Charlotte, NC
 
2007-11-08, 14:18

How old is your MacBook, Gargoyle? There were problems with some MBs where they would shut off without a warning due to some problem with a temperature sensor that would suddenly report bogus information. Geniuses at Apple Stores can check that easily and will replace the part (if still under warranty).
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Gargoyle
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: In your dock hiding behind your finder icon!
 
2007-11-08, 14:28

I got it shortly after they came out, but I just got my low power warning so it looks like rolling back to BatteryUpdater 1.2 has fixed it.

OK, I have given up keeping this sig up to date. Lets just say I'm the guy that installs every latest version as soon as its available!
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Motor
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
 
2007-11-08, 14:53

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gargoyle View Post
My MacBook just shuts itself off without warning!

There was an article on the discussion forums so I have just forced it back to BatteryUpdater 1.2, and am waiting to see if I get a warning.

Anyone else seen this problem?
I also have this problem. When my battery is between 15% and 30% full, my MacBook will shut off without warning. Then when I flip my computer over to check the battery meter on the battery itself, none of the lights come on at all. If I wait a little bit though, the battery meter will eventually show one or two lights. I got my MacBook in September 2006 and hadn't noticed this problem until recently (about the time my warranty expired actually).

Is this the type of thing your computer was doing? How do I go about forcing it back to BatteryUpdater 1.2?

Thanks
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Gargoyle
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: In your dock hiding behind your finder icon!
 
2007-11-08, 16:03

First, download battery update 1.2 from here

Then in finder, goto <your HD>/System/Library/SystemConfiguration and do a "Get Info" on BatteryUpdater.bundle. If you have 1.3 then it sound like your in the exact same position as I was.

If so, drag BatteryUpdater.bundle to the trash and reboot (Don't bother trying to empty the trash, it's still loaded by the OS and won't let you)

After you reboot you'll be able to empty the trash and install the 1.2 version from the download. You'll have to reboot again, and then hopefully you'll be sorted.


Disclaimer: If you delete the wrong file and hose your system, or it has a fit it's not my fault!

OK, I have given up keeping this sig up to date. Lets just say I'm the guy that installs every latest version as soon as its available!
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Motor
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
 
2007-11-08, 18:45

Hey, sounds good I'll have to try that out. Hopefully it goes smoothly.

By the way, did you have the same issue with the battery meter not responding for a while after your computer shut off?
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Gargoyle
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: In your dock hiding behind your finder icon!
 
2007-11-09, 03:25

Don't think I ever tried. If the software in the computer is not working properly then the battery is possibly being run almost 100% flat - so the meter will not show anything.

After a few mins of "rest" which probably involves slight changes in temperature, the chemicals in the battery probably gain a small amount of charge.

OK, I have given up keeping this sig up to date. Lets just say I'm the guy that installs every latest version as soon as its available!
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