Prev: The new keyboard dock....
Next: Satellite box to iMac connection
From: Paul Fuchs on 29 Jan 2010 21:35
nospam <nospam(a)nospam.invalid> wrote:

> In article <1jd3gw7.sx8sn6d4red5N%pf(a)porkain'tkosher.oink>, Paul Fuchs
> <pf(a)porkain'tkosher.oink> wrote:
>
> > My friend (he's in Holland) downloaded coconutbattery. It reports that
> > his battery is at 96% of orginal and has only 40 cycles. Yet he is
> > only getting an hour out of it. Any ideas?
>
> does it suddenly shut down after an hour or so?

Yes
>
> does system profiler say service battery (snow leopard only i think)?
>
He is running 10.6.2 but I'll ask about that.

> it sounds like there may be a defective cell in the battery.

If a cell where defective, would it register 96% of the original on
coco?


--
During times of universal deceit, telling the truth
becomes a revolutionary act.
George Orwell
From: nospam on 29 Jan 2010 23:03
In article <1jd3nw7.1igramua3xb2xN%pf(a)porkain'tkosher.oink>, Paul Fuchs
<pf(a)porkain'tkosher.oink> wrote:

> > > My friend (he's in Holland) downloaded coconutbattery. It reports that
> > > his battery is at 96% of orginal and has only 40 cycles. Yet he is
> > > only getting an hour out of it. Any ideas?
> >
> > does it suddenly shut down after an hour or so?
>
> Yes

usually a failed cell in the battery pack, as i thought. the solution
is replace the battery pack.

> > does system profiler say service battery (snow leopard only i think)?
>
> He is running 10.6.2 but I'll ask about that.

chances are it says service battery. sudden shutdown is a very clear
symptom of a failed internal cell.

> > it sounds like there may be a defective cell in the battery.
>
> If a cell where defective, would it register 96% of the original on
> coco?

sure. the cell can be charged, it just doesn't hold the charge for very
long. that cell is first to discharge and then it might reverse charge
from the other healthy cells. the output voltage of the battery pack
drops, and if it drops below the minimum to run the computer, it
suddenly shuts down with no warning.
From: David Empson on 30 Jan 2010 04:30
Tom Harrington <tph(a)pcisys.no.spam.dammit.net> wrote:

> In article <1jd1upm.80c0gts4b0u3N%thewildrover(a)me.com>,
> thewildrover(a)me.com (Andy Hewitt) wrote:
>
> > Thomas Hauber <tom(a)hauber.com> wrote:
> >
> > > On 1/28/2010 12:35 PM, Paul Fuchs wrote:
> > > > A friend of mine in Europe bought a refurb MacBook Pro (15" , 2.53
> > > > GHz, 10.6.2) and says that this was the last of the removable battery
> > > > models and it's down to about an hour. Is there a way to try to
> > > > refubish the battery through software? Inexpensive replacements of
> > > > reasonable quality. I got totally ripped off last year by a supposedly
> > > > new Chinese replacement for my now dead Pismo. Useless.
> > > >
> > > You can try to recondition it. Essentially it involves using the laptop
> > > to where it shuts itself off because of the battery being drained. Then
> > > you recharge to full capacity. Unfortunately this does not always work.
> >
> > Before doing so, check the instructions on the Apple website,
> > reconditioning is a different procedure for Li-Ion and Li-Polymer
> > batteries.
> >
> > But basically, the older Li-Ion are reconditioned as you have already
> > stated (iBook, PowerBooks etc.), but later models, like the MacBooks,
> > use a Li-Polymer battery, which need to be left drained for an
> > additional 5 hours before starting the recharge cycle.
>
> Also, make sure to check the number of cycles on the battery, in System
> Profiler under "Power". Batteries don't last forever, and if you're
> over 300 or so cycles you may be getting the best it can give.

I should be worried about my MacBook Pro battery which is approaching 3
years old, has 432 cycles, and which Snow Leopard is telling me "Replace
Soon".

It is still getting an hour or two of useful life, and the estimated
power remaining still seems reasonably linear.

I'm waiting until it declines noticeably or develops a sudden power loss
before I bother replacing it. At this rate I might be getting a new
laptop before I need a new battery.

--
David Empson
dempson(a)actrix.gen.nz
From: John McWilliams on 30 Jan 2010 11:12
David Empson wrote:
> Tom Harrington <tph(a)pcisys.no.spam.dammit.net> wrote:
>
>> In article <1jd1upm.80c0gts4b0u3N%thewildrover(a)me.com>,
>> thewildrover(a)me.com (Andy Hewitt) wrote:
>>
>>> Thomas Hauber <tom(a)hauber.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On 1/28/2010 12:35 PM, Paul Fuchs wrote:
>>>>> A friend of mine in Europe bought a refurb MacBook Pro (15" , 2.53
>>>>> GHz, 10.6.2) and says that this was the last of the removable battery
>>>>> models and it's down to about an hour. Is there a way to try to
>>>>> refubish the battery through software? Inexpensive replacements of
>>>>> reasonable quality. I got totally ripped off last year by a supposedly
>>>>> new Chinese replacement for my now dead Pismo. Useless.
>>>>>
>>>> You can try to recondition it. Essentially it involves using the laptop
>>>> to where it shuts itself off because of the battery being drained. Then
>>>> you recharge to full capacity. Unfortunately this does not always work.
>>> Before doing so, check the instructions on the Apple website,
>>> reconditioning is a different procedure for Li-Ion and Li-Polymer
>>> batteries.
>>>
>>> But basically, the older Li-Ion are reconditioned as you have already
>>> stated (iBook, PowerBooks etc.), but later models, like the MacBooks,
>>> use a Li-Polymer battery, which need to be left drained for an
>>> additional 5 hours before starting the recharge cycle.
>> Also, make sure to check the number of cycles on the battery, in System
>> Profiler under "Power". Batteries don't last forever, and if you're
>> over 300 or so cycles you may be getting the best it can give.
>
> I should be worried about my MacBook Pro battery which is approaching 3
> years old, has 432 cycles, and which Snow Leopard is telling me "Replace
> Soon".
>
> It is still getting an hour or two of useful life, and the estimated
> power remaining still seems reasonably linear.
>
> I'm waiting until it declines noticeably or develops a sudden power loss
> before I bother replacing it. At this rate I might be getting a new
> laptop before I need a new battery.

Just two days ago I switched back to my "Replace Soon" original battery
on my MBP, which has less than an hour's service. But since I use it
mostly at home and mostly powered, I'm saving the cycles on my new
battery for trips, etc. Seems hard to believe this laptop is approaching
four years......

--
John McWilliams
From: Paul Fuchs on 30 Jan 2010 12:20
nospam <nospam(a)nospam.invalid> wrote:

> In article <1jd3nw7.1igramua3xb2xN%pf(a)porkain'tkosher.oink>, Paul Fuchs
> <pf(a)porkain'tkosher.oink> wrote:
>
> > > > My friend (he's in Holland) downloaded coconutbattery. It reports that
> > > > his battery is at 96% of orginal and has only 40 cycles. Yet he is
> > > > only getting an hour out of it. Any ideas?
> > >
> > > does it suddenly shut down after an hour or so?
> >
> > Yes
>
> usually a failed cell in the battery pack, as i thought. the solution
> is replace the battery pack.
>
> > > does system profiler say service battery (snow leopard only i think)?
> >
> > He is running 10.6.2 but I'll ask about that.
>
> chances are it says service battery. sudden shutdown is a very clear
> symptom of a failed internal cell.
>
> > > it sounds like there may be a defective cell in the battery.
> >
> > If a cell where defective, would it register 96% of the original on
> > coco?
>
> sure. the cell can be charged, it just doesn't hold the charge for very
> long. that cell is first to discharge and then it might reverse charge
> from the other healthy cells. the output voltage of the battery pack
> drops, and if it drops below the minimum to run the computer, it
> suddenly shuts down with no warning.

Makes sense to me. I could see the bad cell draining the other cells,
but, just out of curiosity, where would the energy be dissipated?

The refurb is less than a year old, and the battery should be covered if
its problem is defective workmanship. I would say that 40 cycles and no
bullet holes is pretty sure proof of that.

I wonder if refurbs get new batteries? Maybe Apple just resets the old
ones to 0 cycles? Hmmm.
--
During times of universal deceit, telling the truth
becomes a revolutionary act.
George Orwell
First  |  Prev  |  Next  |  Last
Pages: 1 2 3 4
Prev: The new keyboard dock....
Next: Satellite box to iMac connection