------------------------------ Date: Sat, 7 May 2005 18:37:42 -0500 From: Frank Cornew <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Doesn't anyone wait anymore?!
[snipped[
My newer tech 6600 mAH battery doesn't seem to calibrate. Time remaining for full discharge/charge never gets calculated in menu bar display - yet. Pecentage, yes. Am cycling, have reset PMU, nvram, etc. Think there is a hard core calibration tactic via terminal that I may yet try.
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Some info I've collected re batteries ... ---------------------------------------
Battery Life
Thanks to MacInTouch, I've followed battery care pretty closely. Apple states that you need to exercise the battery monthly (full discharge with immediate recharge), and from [this report] and, BatteryUniversity: How to prolong lithium-based batteries <http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-34.htm> describe battery care for all Lithium uses. Points I got from all of them:
1. Exercise the battery monthly. They stagnate if not used regularly. Battery University states the exercise is needed after every 30 charges (cycles). Apple is likely trying to simplify so I go with the 30 (partial) cycles as I don't use it as frequently.
2. If not to be used in the near future, discharge it to 40 - 66% and store in refrigerator (NOT FREEZER; keep above 0°C/32°F). I keep my extra battery there and warm it then charge it for flights.
3. Avoid leaving it plugged into the charger for prolonged periods such as sitting at a desk for weeks. Though I believe it's the least problematic, LiOn batteries don't like being at a fully charged state for long periods either. It's best to use them or they will crystallize and lose life.
As I use my desktop the most, my two batteries have lasted 3 years and still have lots of life. The first still makes it through a movie on my iBook G3/2001 with some juice to spare. The extra battery seems like it's new. --------------------------
I do believe Mr. G....'s "stay charged or die" mantra has some virtue, but keeping a battery permanently installed/charging on the AC power adapter for very extensive periods is quite contrary to advice stated in one manufacturer's (www.batterytech.com) FAQ:
Always fully charge your battery when not in use or when being stored for extended periods of time. Check on this battery every 3-4 weeks. If total self-discharge occurs, the notebook may not recognize the battery.
To increase the life of the battery, it is best to remove it from the computer, if the computer will be plugged in for long periods of time. If the battery remains in the computer, it will constantly be charging which reduces its life cycle. It may also overheat the battery, which will cause the battery cells to slowly deteriorate over time. --------------------------
XBattery <http://www.kezer.net/xbattery.html> XBattery is a battery monitoring utility for Mac OS X. It provides a user-customizable dock icon that shows your current battery level and charging status. It also provides a variety of graphs detailing battery information, and a user-customizable display
XBattery is currently available as a pre-release download. I normally do not post utilities until they are further along, but because OS X is so new, I want to get as much ffeedback as I can about battery monitoring performance under OS X.
[Cost - $15 - Last UPDATE - November, 2003] --------------------------
iBatt <http://raynersoftware.com/ibatt/> What is iBatt? iBatt is a battery monitor for PowerBooks. It goes far beyond the basic charge level information reported by the system and tells you your battery's capacity, voltage, and overall health report. In addition, it will provide a running graph showing trends in your battery's performance.
What useful information does it provide? iBatt will almost certainly tell you things about your PowerBook's battery that you never knew. All batteries degrade over time, and OS X has no built-in way of showing you just how worn out your battery is. But your PowerBook knows, and iBatt knows how to get that information out. Have you ever wondered if your PowerBook falls short of others in terms of battery performance? iBatt is not just a standalone application, but an Internet-based statistical tool. It reports how your battery measures up against other PowerBooks of your model, and gives you the option to submit your own battery statistics to iBatt's Internet database.
How much does it cost? iBatt costs $15. You can download it free for evaluation purposes. The demo version will quit after 10 minutes of use, and it will not allow you to view battery statistics on any PowerBook model other than your own. [Cost - $15 - Last UPDATE - May, 2004]
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