Is there an app that will discharge the battery while it's plugged in?

[Rakehellion]

I keep my laptop plugged in all day, but I'd like the battery to be drained to extend its life. Is there an app that will do this?

 

[JAG87]

Nope. Really wish there was though.

 

[Eug]

? Just unplug the laptop.

BTW, I keep my MacBook Pro plugged-in most of the time too, but the battery on my 2009 is still reasonable. Mind you I'm less concerned with that one since the battery can be replaced easily.

 

[JAG87]

But that yo-yo game is not a solution. Some people need to run heavy work loads on their laptop and there is no point in draining the battery in 2 hours and destroying it, when it could easily work off AC power and stop charging at a long-term recommended level of 40-50% to maximize it's life. It's quite a trivial feature that could easily be implemented in the charging circuitry, other laptops have it.

 

[iluvdeal]

I have a 2009 model MBP with the original battery that's still working fine as well and I kept it plugged in most all the time.

 

[gochi123]

i would definently discharge the apple battery.

 

[TheStu]

i would definently discharge the apple battery.

Go on...

 

[TheStu]

But that yo-yo game is not a solution. Some people need to run heavy work loads on their laptop and there is no point in draining the battery in 2 hours and destroying it, when it could easily work off AC power and stop charging at a long-term recommended level of 40-50% to maximize it's life. It's quite a trivial feature that could easily be implemented in the charging circuitry, other laptops have it.

What other laptops have that feature?

 

[JAG87]

Sony Vaio for example. It's called Battery Care Function

 

[thecoolnessrune]

What other laptops have that feature?

From first-hand experience, Lenovo >=T43x, >=T54x, >=W43x, >=W54x, >=L43x all have a function to optimize for battery lifespan, including the ability to set custom thresholds. Other models may have this ability too, but I only have first-hand experience with the T, and W series from work, with the L series from a friend's workplace.

 

[wilds]

My old Asus Transformer also had a nice battery feature where the battery would not charge unless below 80% when connected to its keyboard (another battery inside to charge the tablet)

The Macbook should stop charging ~95%. You can make the battery discharge of you exceed the power supply's wattage and have the mac sustain a load higher than say the 15" 85w PSU.

If I play a game or run a benchmark that will run both the CPU and GPU at 100% for several hours, the battery may be in the low 80% range.

This is impractical and creates a lot of heat. Playing GTA V would be an excellent way to exceed the PSU's limit. It would probably take more than 24 hours to drain the battery when plugged in. Oh, you also need to find the maximum sustained frequency the cpu and gpu can keep at load; otherwise the notebook will throttle from high temps.

I remember Apple patched this by making tbe limit 5w lower, but you can still exceed the psu if you find the right benchmark or game.

The above solution would definitely not be friendly for the battery or any of the mac's components

 

[Mark R]

I keep my laptop plugged in all day, but I'd like the battery to be drained to extend its life. Is there an app that will do this?

It depends on your laptop.

Lenovo laptops have a facility to send commands to the battery's internal processor - which allows you to set charge limits, and schedule charging/force discharging. Most of these are undocumented but there is a windows driver which allows you to set the battery firmware to "conservation mode" which keeps the battery charge at 55-60% while on AC power, which is the level at which Li-ion cells show the lowest rate of aging.

 

[mosco]

Check out http://fruitjuiceapp.com

 

[OrionMaster]

is there one like that for windows?

 

[MotionMan]

I use my Early 2009 MacBook plugged in all day for work and have done so since I bought it new.

I replaced the battery last year.

I am not sure that having it plugged in all the time shortened the battery's life, but I cannot complain about a battery that lasts 6 years.

I am not sure this is really that much of an issue.

MotionMan

 

[RampantAndroid]

is there one like that for windows?

I thought Windows had this built in...?

You also DO NOT want to be discharging a battery fully. It should be fine to let it hit 100% and leave it - you'll pull power straight from the wall then.

 

[JAG87]

Thought I'd bring this thread up to say I have found a solution for those who want to run their Macbooks off AC for extended periods while keeping your battery at a safe 40-50% charge.

It's quite easy. Insulate the middle pin on the Magsafe 2.

 

[Artdeco]

IIRC, discharging the battery really doesn't make a difference. Just use it and don't worry about it.

 

[Rakehellion]

Thought I'd bring this thread up to say I have found a solution for those who want to run their Macbooks off AC for extended periods while keeping your battery at a safe 40-50% charge.

It's quite easy. Insulate the middle pin on the Magsafe 2.

And the battery will discharge to 50%?

 

[JAG87]

And the battery will discharge to 50%?

You obviously have to first discharge it to your desired long-term charge level (40% is recommended), then plug in and run off AC.

 

[Rakehellion]

You obviously have to first discharge it to your desired long-term charge level (40% is recommended), then plug in and run off AC.

So it just keeps the battery from charging? That sounds useful.

 

[JAG87]

So it just keeps the battery from charging? That sounds useful.

Correct. Just put a thin strip of electrical tape over the middle pin on the magsafe and plug in to run off AC without charging the battery.

 

[wilds]

That's a good idea, I may try that if I ever want to stop charging the battery.