Macbook A1181 Battery only charges to 85%

[core2kid]

Just bought a new generic battery for my MacBook since my old battery didn't hold a charge at all. First new battery charged to around 82% and didn't go any higher after 12 hours of charging. Replacement battery charged to 85% and isn't going any higher after an overnight charge. The laptop still says the battery is charging, it just won't move.

Seller of the battery is refusing to take it back and refund me, they're blaming the problem on my laptop. Is this true? I bought the MacBook used with a dead battery so I have no idea if it ever charged a battery completely.

 

[Kmax82]

Are you even looking for a legitimate answer? I'm guessing based upon your poll that you're just trying to bait people into an argument.

 

[core2kid]

I am looking for a legitimate answer, I also added to poll for my own curiosity. If you don't want to answer, you don't have to. Who's forcing you?

 

[Kmax82]

I am looking for a legitimate answer, I also added to poll for my own curiosity. If you don't want to answer, you don't have to. Who's forcing you?

Of course no one is forcing me. I just think it's dumb to start a thread about a battery issue and have a poll that asks if it's worth it to buy a Mac.

About your battery, you have no way of testing, and I'm not an electrician/technician so I don't know the proper voltage readings to know if it's properly charging the battery or if it's the battery that's defective.

Best way to check, is to get another battery (from the Apple Store) and see if it exhibits the same symptoms. If it does, then return the battery and it's the laptop. If it works, then return the defective battery and keep the Apple one.

 

[core2kid]

Of course no one is forcing me. I just think it's dumb to start a thread about a battery issue and have a poll that asks if it's worth it to buy a Mac.

About your battery, you have no way of testing, and I'm not an electrician/technician so I don't know the proper voltage readings to know if it's properly charging the battery or if it's the battery that's defective.

Best way to check, is to get another battery (from the Apple Store) and see if it exhibits the same symptoms. If it does, then return the battery and it's the laptop. If it works, then return the defective battery and keep the Apple one.

You cannot return a battery from the Apple Store and why would I spend $130 on a battery? I'd rather use one that doesn't charge up 100%.

 

[ubercaffeinated]

dunno if you have applecare, but applecare has replaced my macbook pro battery after 2 years no questions asked - i simply complained that my battery wouldn't last more than 1.5 hours, when it used to last 3+. new battery in 5 minutes.

 

[TheStu]

dunno if you have applecare, but applecare has replaced my macbook pro battery after 2 years no questions asked - i simply complained that my battery wouldn't last more than 1.5 hours, when it used to last 3+. new battery in 5 minutes.

Results may vary on that one. They check cycle counts and things of that nature, and run diagnostics (all of which are free OP).

My friend took in his MBP, the battery was barely worth 30 minutes after a year, after testing and asking him how often he used it on just battery (not that often) they told him that they could not replace it under warranty, and so he had to buy one.

OP, did you buy a genuine Apple battery both times, or a generic one? Have you tried conditioning the battery yet?

 

[Emulex]

buy a genuine battery. anyways what is your lifespan on 85%?

 

[Kmax82]

buy a genuine battery. anyways what is your lifespan on 85%?

Oh yea.. forgot about that.. Check out:

Apple Menu > About this Mac > More Info

Then on the left hand side you should see "Power" underneath the Hardware section. That should give you a bunch of info about the battery itself. What it's full charge is, the condition, the cycle count.. etc...

 

[TheStu]

Original MacBook, with genuine battery... About 4400 mAh fully charged, that is the target number.

 

[Koing]

thread hijack for myself...


Battery Information:

Model Information:
Serial Number: SMP-ASMB016-387e-cb7
Manufacturer: SMP
Device name: ASMB016
Pack Lot Code: 0000
PCB Lot Code: 0000
Firmware Version: 0110
Hardware Revision: 0200
Cell Revision: 0102
Charge Information:
Charge remaining (mAh): 0
Fully charged: No
Charging: No
Full charge capacity (mAh): 0
Health Information:
Cycle count: 339
Condition: Check Battery
Battery Installed: Yes
Amperage (mA): 9
Voltage (mV): 4566

System Power Settings:

AC Power:
System Sleep Timer (Minutes): 0
Disk Sleep Timer (Minutes): 0
Display Sleep Timer (Minutes): 0
Automatic Restart On Power Loss: No
Wake On AC Change: No
Wake On Clamshell Open: Yes
Wake On LAN: Yes
Display Sleep Uses Dim: Yes
Battery Power:
System Sleep Timer (Minutes): 0
Disk Sleep Timer (Minutes): 10
Display Sleep Timer (Minutes): 11
Wake On AC Change: No
Wake On Clamshell Open: Yes
Display Sleep Uses Dim: Yes
Reduce Brightness: Yes

Hardware Configuration:

UPS Installed: No

AC Charger Information:

Connected: Yes
Charging: No

I was away for 3 weeks. I swear I powered the macbook off and not plugged in. I come back and it seems the battery is completely dead . After some research it seems that my battery is dead. I haven't tested another mag safe but the mag safe does provide power so it would seem that it works fine? The battery connected I get the "Not Charging" text next to my battery indicator.

I'll see if I can test my mac with someones macbook battery before I buy one.

Koing

 

[TheStu]

thread hijack for myself...


Battery Information:

Model Information:
Serial Number: SMP-ASMB016-387e-cb7
Manufacturer: SMP
Device name: ASMB016
Pack Lot Code: 0000
PCB Lot Code: 0000
Firmware Version: 0110
Hardware Revision: 0200
Cell Revision: 0102
Charge Information:
Charge remaining (mAh): 0
Fully charged: No
Charging: No
Full charge capacity (mAh): 0
Health Information:
Cycle count: 339
Condition: Check Battery
Battery Installed: Yes
Amperage (mA): 9
Voltage (mV): 4566

System Power Settings:

AC Power:
System Sleep Timer (Minutes): 0
Disk Sleep Timer (Minutes): 0
Display Sleep Timer (Minutes): 0
Automatic Restart On Power Loss: No
Wake On AC Change: No
Wake On Clamshell Open: Yes
Wake On LAN: Yes
Display Sleep Uses Dim: Yes
Battery Power:
System Sleep Timer (Minutes): 0
Disk Sleep Timer (Minutes): 10
Display Sleep Timer (Minutes): 11
Wake On AC Change: No
Wake On Clamshell Open: Yes
Display Sleep Uses Dim: Yes
Reduce Brightness: Yes

Hardware Configuration:

UPS Installed: No

AC Charger Information:

Connected: Yes
Charging: No

I was away for 3 weeks. I swear I powered the macbook off and not plugged in. I come back and it seems the battery is completely dead . After some research it seems that my battery is dead. I haven't tested another mag safe but the mag safe does provide power so it would seem that it works fine? The battery connected I get the "Not Charging" text next to my battery indicator.

I'll see if I can test my mac with someones macbook battery before I buy one.

Koing

How old is the MacBook? If it is a pre-unibody, the older cell based batteries were only rated to hold at least 80% of their charge after 3 years or 300 cycles whichever comes first, but sometimes things just go wrong.

Any chance you are still under warranty, you might be able to cry a little at the Apple Store.

 

[Patranus]

Wait, you bought a generic battery and then ask if Macs (Apple products) are worth it?

How do you even connect the two?

 

[Patranus]

How old is the MacBook? If it is a pre-unibody, the older cell based batteries were only rated to hold at least 80% of their charge after 3 years or 300 cycles whichever comes first, but sometimes things just go wrong.

Trust me, you won't get anywhere with Apple on the 3 year/300 cycle claim.

I would argue that since the battery was defective out of the factory it should be covered under warranty as it was defective while the computer was within the warranty period.

However, they will simply claim that you damaged the battery in some way.

Anyways, try calibrating the battery.

 

[JSt0rm]

I would like to highjack this retarded thread and promote this software

http://www.coconut-flavour.com/coconutbattery/

great program for managing your battery.

 

[JSt0rm]

Wow my mac battery is amazing. 2% loss in 39 months and 705 load cycles? omg apple is teh suck!

 

[Spicedaddy]

buy a genuine battery.

Please add this to the poll.

 

[Koing]

How old is the MacBook? If it is a pre-unibody, the older cell based batteries were only rated to hold at least 80% of their charge after 3 years or 300 cycles whichever comes first, but sometimes things just go wrong.

Any chance you are still under warranty, you might be able to cry a little at the Apple Store.

It's at least 2yrs old. It's the older white pre-unibody running a 2.1GHz C2D. I'd be MORE then happy with 80% after 300cycles. I'm just annoyed it's completely flat and won't hold any charge .

Got to go test with someone elses pre-unibody Macbook but it's a pain in the ass having my laptop run powered and if the power able is nudged out it brings down my whole system

Koing

 

[Tegeril]

Coconut is nice, more info than I get out of iStat. I'm very pleased with my battery so far.

 

[thinknow101]

After having replaced the battery on my MacBook four times over four years, the last one costing me $130 since my Applecare expired, I decided to buy a generic one off of eBay. The battery's full capacity is 5493, but it also stops charging before it is fully charged, 94% every time. I've only had it a few days, so don't know about the long-term performance, but if it lasts at least 6 months, then it's a better deal than the original batteries.

 

[Kmax82]

After having replaced the battery on my MacBook four times over four years, the last one costing me $130 since my Applecare expired, I decided to buy a generic one off of eBay. The battery's full capacity is 5493, but it also stops charging before it is fully charged, 94% every time. I've only had it a few days, so don't know about the long-term performance, but if it lasts at least 6 months, then it's a better deal than the original batteries.

Has AppleCare checking out the charger and the motherboard? You shouldn't need to replace the battery that much.

 

[Koing]

Bought a genuine battery off ebay...£38 delivered.

Koing

 

[Emulex]

no kidding my macbook air 2007 (for sale) has 85-90% battery life left. you guys must be not following the proper handling protocol.

 

[thinknow101]

Has AppleCare checking out the charger and the motherboard? You shouldn't need to replace the battery that much.

My first-gen MacBook pretty much has has everything replaced at some point--good thing I had AppleCare. I think one of the problems was that I kept the charger plugged in most of the time while running an external monitor. I think that caused the battery to swell and the LCD inverter to go bad (that's been replaced a couple of times, too).

Anyhow, probably time to upgrade to a newer computer...

 

[umrigar]

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/Apple/Laptop/Batteries