Macbook battery draining while off

Vixen

Vixen

Vixen

Soldato
Joined
23 Feb 2004
Posts
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Location
Edinburgh
I've had my macbook for just over a year and often don't turn it on for a week or more at a time yet the battery level wouldn't change between uses (without charging) and had never seen it totally dead without running it down myself.

I took it away with me in August and charged it a few days before I left. I tried to turn it on in my hotel but the white light on the front wouldn't even go on. When I plugged it in and switched it on, the battery level was at 0%.

The same happened today when I tried to use it, it has been untouched in my bag for the last week and the battery was around 70% before that.

Is this a common problem with macbooks? Is it the sort of thing that I could expect to be fixed with Apple Care?

Thanks :).
 
About this Mac > More Info > Power (tab at the side)

The click in the area of the Battery Information and cmd-A, cmd-C and then past the information in a [ code ] x [ /code ] block here. Just want to check the condition of the battery. Also it may be a duff battery.

Code: 
  Model Information:
  Manufacturer:	Sony
  Device name:	ASMB012
  Pack Lot Code:	0001
  PCB Lot Code:	0000
  Firmware Version:	0110
  Hardware Revision:	0500
  Cell Revision:	0303
  Charge Information:
  Charge remaining (mAh):	5284
  Fully charged:	Yes
  Charging:	No
  Full charge capacity (mAh):	5323
  Health Information:
  Cycle count:	36
  Condition:	Normal
  Battery Installed:	Yes
  Amperage (mA):	0
  Voltage (mV):	12514

If it's not old, and the battery cycle count isn't crazy then I suspect they'll change it.
 
Code: 
 Model Information:
  Serial Number:	DP-ASMB016-387f-2ad7
  Manufacturer:	DP
  Device name:	ASMB016
  Pack Lot Code:	0002
  PCB Lot Code:	0000
  Firmware Version:	0110
  Hardware Revision:	0500
  Cell Revision:	0102
  Charge Information:
  Charge remaining (mAh):	4940
  Fully charged:	Yes
  Charging:	No
  Full charge capacity (mAh):	4983
  Health Information:
  Cycle count:	66
  Condition:	Good
  Battery Installed:	Yes
  Amperage (mA):	-1607
  Voltage (mV):	12249

What is a normal cycle count?
 
Dumb and obvious question, you are shutting it down rather than just putting it to sleep?

I don't really know much about the expected cycles but 66 over a year doesn't seem excessive at all to me, it's got to be worth a shout under your Applecare.
 
Vixen said:
What is a normal cycle count?
Click to expand...

A cycle count is the number of times it's been running off battery power since the battery was first installed.

The batteries are meant to be fine for 300 cycles (the limit I believe that apple care restrict to). My old battery has 360+ but only lasts about 1.5 hours so I replaced it about a month or so ago - hence why my cycle figure is low.

Your battery looks fine and in good health, it's certainly not over cycled and the amount of power it can hold is good (full charge capacity).

As Feek has suggested - is the machine on standby (sleep/lid shut) or powered down (shutdown), has another device plugged into it or is set to wake up at any point?
 
Last edited:
I always shut it off completely, it normally turns on so quickly that I don't see any benefit of using sleep. I have issues with my wireless keyboard connecting to it randomly, but I don't think it can turn the machine on and it's kept in a cupboard all the time anyway.
 
If you're shutting it down it should be completely powered off (except the power button).

One other way is just take the battery out next time and see if the power has dropped when you plug it in and power up next time. If the power drops - then it's an apple care visit.

Also does your mac have a battery life indicator button under it? A long shot but it could be something pushing it.
 
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