Plugging in vs. Running on Battery

So I've heard the old "commuter on a train" bit about how long a battery should be plugged in vs. running on battery, but I find this answer sorely lacking in details. Right now, I have new Macbook Pro that I run mostly where I can plug it in or run if off battery. It makes no difference to me. Obviously, I want to plug it in as much as I can without damaging the battery so as not to add unnecessary charge cycles to the battery, but I know that it is bad to have the battery plugged in 100% of the time. Has Apple actually released a ratio of how long it should be plugged in vs. running on battery? Like, plug it in 80% of the time and charge it 20%. Or is it more about charge cycles? Like, plug it in as much as you can while still getting one charge cycle per week or something?
Thanks

Welcome,
I have new Macbook Pro...
If it is truly new (black keys) you might wish to post in the forum area for the current MBPs here:
http://discussions.apple.com/category.jspa?categoryID=251
The forum you found is for the older MBPs with detachable batteries; their battery technology is somewhat different from yours, and, if someone failed to notice "brand New" in your post (people tend to speed-read these forums), they could give advise or opinions not applicable to your model.
The problem is not you; Apple labels the forums with names not physically found on the computer or its box.
That said, the "cycles" issue seems pretty similar across the models. From seeing post here where the users got long battery life, it seems that roughly two cycles per week is part of their success.
The main point for any computer battery is to run the computer from the battery on a regular basis. Li batteries are like muscles--if not used they atrophy.

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whoswho wrote:
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The battery needs to be replaced, or there is some other hardware problem.

MB not running on battery

Hello,
My MB does not start up nor run on battery, although it does when plugged in. I reset the PRAM and SMC, to no avail.
Thanks for any thoughts on this.
Here is my battery information (from the system profiler)
Manufacturer: DP
Device name: ASMB016
Pack Lot Code: 0002
PCB Lot Code: 0000
Firmware Version: 102a
Hardware Revision: 0500
Cell Revision: 0102
Charge Information:
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Fully charged: Yes
Charging: No
Full charge capacity (mAh): 4037
Health Information:
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Condition: Good
Battery Installed: Yes
Amperage (mA): 0
Voltage (mV): 12557

Hello,
My MB does not start up nor run on battery, although it does when plugged in. I reset the PRAM and SMC, to no avail.
Thanks for any thoughts on this.
Here is my battery information (from the system profiler)
Manufacturer: DP
Device name: ASMB016
Pack Lot Code: 0002
PCB Lot Code: 0000
Firmware Version: 102a
Hardware Revision: 0500
Cell Revision: 0102
Charge Information:
Charge remaining (mAh): 4037
Fully charged: Yes
Charging: No
Full charge capacity (mAh): 4037
Health Information:
Cycle count: 441
Condition: Good
Battery Installed: Yes
Amperage (mA): 0
Voltage (mV): 12557

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Jobbaman wrote:
Till now my battery has been working perfectly. The machine is about 1 year old and I use it heavily for my work. I prefer to unplug my battery when it's full, and use it till it go's to sleep before plugging it in again. This results in a very high Cycle count (453) but a still perfectly working battery (98% according to CoconutBattery), I can use the machine for about 4 hours on a full battery.
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Hey Don,
I have an iBook G3 900 mhz model that I just replace the logic board in (video issue).
Just curious. Did the GPU chip die? or was it the BGA issue? I repair and donate iBooks to inner city school teachers.
it had a missing plug in connector, which is the one that connects from the Logic board to the power button. I soldered it back on and powered up the Laptop fine.
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"The computer runs when plugged into a wall outlet but not on battery power
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I have a netbook S10 and it started to have problems to run on battery. In fact, when the battery is installed, even if the pc is plugged or not the netbook does not boot. When I remove the battery the pc is running fine !
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Hi
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http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?cc=us&lc=en&dlc=en&docname=c02638953
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***** Click the KUDOS Thumbs UP (Like) on the left to say 'Thanks'*****
****Make it easier for other people to find solutions, by marking my answer “Accept as Solution”&"Kudos"if it solves your problem.****
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Although I am an HP Employee, I am speaking for myself and not for HP.

Airport crashes computer running off battery

This issue has been moved from "Wireless Internet stops working"
Posts: 11
Registered: May 25, 2007
Re: Wireless Internet stops working
Posted: Jun 22, 2007 7:26 AM in response to: squirrelofsnooze Reply Email
I'm having similar issue after upgrade to 10.4.10. My mbp is practically new, only a few weeks old. Originally thought it was Safari and flash problem but it also happens in Firefox. Went to genius bar, in log they saw problem with airport. they said it was problem at my home wireless since computer seemed to work ok in store, though we did not have it connected to internet very long in the store and store is open net, not closed.
when i got home and started browsing, my computer crashed twice, in both Safari and Firefox. It would have connection for a few minutes and then crash. (screen slowly turning gray and then prompt to restart). I ran internet connect diagnostic and it said i was not connected even though i had strong signal on icon. i could see internet connect icon in dock switching from ethernet to wireless (no ethernet cable connected). I did the diagnostic wizard thing and got a prompt that my WEP was not in the keychain and if i would always allow it to connect for diagnostic. I entered always and entered wep for keychain. I have not had a crash since but admittedly I have not had time to really put it to a test. Also, I have been helping it along by launching internet connect along with whatever browser in an effort to wake up both the airport card and the wireless router. I don't think you should have to launch internet connect to start or keep a connection going, but it seems to be working for me so far.
I'm open to more suggestions myself since i'm not so sure the issue is solved yet.
jim
MPB c2d, 2.33/2g Mac OS X (10.4.10)
jawood
Posts: 1
From: CA
Registered: Jun 22, 2007
Re: Wireless Internet stops working
Posted: Jun 22, 2007 8:43 AM in response to: jmitro Reply Email
My MBP has been running like a champ since I bought it in March. However, I started having the same exact problem after I updated yesterday.
I find that if I am on battery power I can only maintain a wireless connection for 2-5 minutes. AirPort shows that I am connected, but I cannot access webpages or email. If I turn off AirPort and turn it back on sometimes I get reconnected to the internet. The other times my computer crashes and I get the slow gray screen that tells me to reboot.
Strangely, if I stay plugged in to power I have none of these problems. I would therefore assume that yesterday's update somehow effected the power settings for my wireless card. However, all of the settings I can find look good to me. I am a Mac "newbie." Is there any way to go back to remove an update or go back to a previous system set up? I live about an hour from the nearest Apple store, so I am hoping to avoid a trip to the Genius Bar. Suggestions?
Joe
MacBookPro Mac OS X (10.4.10)
jmitro
Posts: 11
Registered: May 25, 2007
Re: Wireless Internet stops working
Posted: Jun 22, 2007 8:54 AM in response to: jawood Reply Email
joe,
thanks for the heads up on the power supply. that could have had more to do with my own solution than the wep and the launching of internet connect. my battery was running low and i did plug it in about the same time i was working on the connection. when i get a chance, i'll see if i can duplicate what you've experienced re power supply. we may have the same issue and maybe we'll be able to narrow it down. i'm close to an apple store and it's easy for me to drop in after work on the way home. i may be able to save you a trip. i'll report back later next week as i'll be out of town over the weekend.
jim
MPB C2D, 2.33/2g Mac OS X (10.4.10)
Joe,
I have duplicated what you reported about computer working fine plugged in but crashes when running off battery. I will try to get in to the Apple store on Monday or Tuesday. In meantime I guess we need to stay plugged in.
jim
17 MBP C2D 2.33Ghz 2G Mac OS X (10.4.10)

I drove over to my nearest Apple store today and naturally the problem wouldn't appear while I was in the store. The Genius took a look at my error logs and could see the problem I was having, but he didn't really have a fix for me. He did suggest rebooting from the CDs that came with my computer to reinstall the operating system if I kept having kernal panics.
Of course, when I got home the problem reappeared when I was running on battery power...my computer also had another kernal panic. Part of me started to wonder if it is a problem with my wireless router. However, I also have a MacBook still running 10.4.9 and it isn't having any problems nor is my PC laptop.
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