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Using 13" MBP while plugged in

Andr3w

Andr3w

Andr3w

Soldato
Joined
6 Oct 2004
Posts
20,284
Location
England
Hi all,

I've always let my 13" 2010 MBP (First mac) run down to 0% then charged it up to 100% (while using it sometimes) and unplugged it and carried on using for 7/8hours unplugged for browsing the web etc etc.

HOWEVER, I've recently started playing the odd old school game on my mac (the sims complete collection :D) and the battery runs down within about 2-2.5 hours or so.

Is it ok to play these games while its plugged into the mains or does this completely knacker my battery?

Whats the best way to do it, just keep charging it then unplugging it a few times aday? :eek:

One final question, it gets rather hot under the bottom left of the mac - I guess this is where the processor is - I'm under the impression it has some kind of safety built in to ensure the temperatures that it gets to (which are quite hot) are safe?
 
You'll ruin your battery quicker by constantly cycling it than using it some of the time plugged in. Just use it plugged in when you're near power.
 
I just didn;t want to start plugging it in when it's at say...50% etc incase it gets 'memory' and doesn't charge to it's full potential?

This seems to happen to mobile phones I have had before if I didn't let them drain full.
 
As long as the electricity is always flowing you should be good. So it's a case of don't leave it on fully charged too long and don't leave it dead too long. :)
 
It's not confusing at all. Don't even think about it - just use it "normally" and it'll take care of itself. I think Apple recommend that if you don't run it away from the mains at all to cycle the battery once a month (!)
 
Oh right? I was under the impression that always using it from the mains is really bad for the battery and it won't last as long when you use it battery only.
 
No, no way. You're just cycling the battery more than necessary so it'll need replacing sooner.
 
If you're near power, plug it in. There is no point wasting battery cycles for the sake of it.
 
This will sound stupid, but wether I use it at home or at work/girfriends/friends etc I'm ALWAYS within reach of a plug.
 
I use my mbp plugged in about 6 days out of 7. Pretty much plugged in all the time except if powered down.

Maybe a few times a month I'll not plug it in, and it's just usually cos I literally can't be bothered. I've ran it down to 0% maybe 3 times since May. 24 Load cycles since then
 
Use it on the mains if possible - you'll get better performance. More cycles will wear the battery out more quickly. There is no memory effect with modern Lithium batteries - that affected the NiCad and Ni-MH batteries of the 90s.

Just make sure to empty and recharge the battery every 3-4 weeks or so.
 
Ah crap i've been using it on the battery for the past 2 months :eek:!

I will use it on the mains from now on and then 0% - 100% every few weeks :o


If the battery is only at say 78% for example, should I let it run down or just plug it in?
 
It's plugged :D


It's because I still think of the old school batteries like my last laptop had, it last 20minutes by the end of the 2 years I had it
 
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