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Radioflyer · Oct 18, 2009, 01:18 PM

Hi:

Our Macbook battery is dead. We've ordered a replacement but was wondering if anyone can shed some light on possible causes. The last time I checked "About My Mac" everything appeared to be OK. I might have left the Macbook asleep and put it away but then I would expect the computer would recognize it was running out of power and shutdown thereby preserving the battery.

Thanks in advance for your advise.

Cold Warrior · Oct 18, 2009, 01:23 PM

How old is your battery? How many charge cycles did it have? These things only have a certain lifespan. Some are just defective, too.

Radioflyer · Oct 18, 2009, 03:14 PM

The computer is a couple of years old and this is the original battery, from the Battery Information ....

Charge information:
- Charge remaining: 0
- Fully Charged: NO
- Charging: NO
Health Information:
- Cycle count: 170
- Condition: Replace Now
Battery Installed: Yes

Did I cause this to happen?

EndlessMac · Oct 18, 2009, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by Radioflyer

I might have left the Macbook asleep and put it away but then I would expect the computer would recognize it was running out of power and shutdown thereby preserving the battery.

How long did you let it sleep for and how much battery power did you have left when doing so? Sleeping shouldn't cause your battery to die but batteries don't like being left at low charge for long periods of time. Actually I've been told that if you store a battery at empty charge then it can lose it's ability to recharge ever again no matter how new the battery is. The recommendation for storing a battery is to have it at half charge but even a full charge is better than low battery charge.

My PowerBook is roughly 5 years old and it still has the original battery. It doesn't last as many hours as when it was new but it still holds a charge and it works perfectly fine so it might come down to how a person takes care of their battery. Here is what Apple says about battery care.

turtle777 · Oct 18, 2009, 05:31 PM

Originally Posted by Radioflyer

The computer is a couple of years old and this is the original battery, from the Battery Information ....

Charge information:
- Charge remaining: 0
- Fully Charged: NO
- Charging: NO
Health Information:
- Cycle count: 170
- Condition: Replace Now
Battery Installed: Yes

Did I cause this to happen?

That's actually not too high of a charge cycle count.

According to Apple:

Battery Lifespan
For Apple notebooks with removable batteries — such as previous generation MacBook and MacBook Pro computers — a properly maintained battery is designed to retain up to 80% of its original capacity at 300 full charge and discharge cycles. You may choose to replace your battery when it no longer holds sufficient charge to meet your needs.

So, from that I'd take your battery has a problem.

-t

Radioflyer · Oct 19, 2009, 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by EndlessMac

How long did you let it sleep for and how much battery power did you have left when doing so?

Maybe three weeks, maybe a month, not sure. The battery might have had a full to 3/4 charge. Thanks for the link to Apple's battery care, a lot of good information there.

acoustix · Oct 19, 2009, 10:25 PM

There were a bunch of defective batteries from around that time. I ran mine flat once and that was it, the computer showed an "X" like there was no battery in it, got it replaced free of charge on a battery replacement program.

Eriamjh · Oct 22, 2009, 05:03 PM

Download XBattery and you can see some battery info.

EndlessMac · Oct 22, 2009, 05:40 PM

Originally Posted by Radioflyer

Maybe three weeks, maybe a month, not sure. The battery might have had a full to 3/4 charge. Thanks for the link to Apple's battery care, a lot of good information there.

If you left it in sleep mode then that would have drained the battery and then leaving the battery drained for days probably was what killed it. It's either that or your battery was bad from the start. Rechargeable batteries seem to like being used so if you are not using them for an extended period of time be sure to store them properly at 50% charge and the right temperatures. It's also recommended that you take out the batteries too. That's why I've heard that you should check how long a new battery has been sitting on the shelf before buying.

AnnoyedWithApple · Nov 7, 2009, 09:52 AM

Hi
I've got the exact same problem. I closed the lid on my MacBook and left it for about a week and a few days, and now it won't charge at all. Mine's done 177 cycles.
I phone apple and they said it was a "duff battery" and to go to and apple store - so I did.
I've been to see an apple "genius" at the apple store in blue water (UK). He told me the battery was dead (thanks genius) and that I could buy a new battery for £97 or go away. It's not really what I'd call great customer support considering how much I paid for the computer. My friend left his dell in standby for over a month and his works fine. Why does an apple battery fail when a dell is fine? (plus they're the same kind of battery - lithium ion)

It's obviously not just me - if you google around, loads of people have the exact same problem it's even posted as a review on apple's website... What I'm most annoyed about is that apple concluded it was my fault and got rid of me, without even really listening to what caused the problem.

I don't think I'll buy another apple product again - it's not worth the money... Really I expected better.

RevEvs · Nov 7, 2009, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by AnnoyedWithApple

Hi
I've got the exact same problem. I closed the lid on my MacBook and left it for about a week and a few days, and now it won't charge at all. Mine's done 177 cycles.
I phone apple and they said it was a "duff battery" and to go to and apple store - so I did.
I've been to see an apple "genius" at the apple store in blue water (UK). He told me the battery was dead (thanks genius) and that I could buy a new battery for £97 or go away. It's not really what I'd call great customer support considering how much I paid for the computer. My friend left his dell in standby for over a month and his works fine. Why does an apple battery fail when a dell is fine? (plus they're the same kind of battery - lithium ion)

It's obviously not just me - if you google around, loads of people have the exact same problem it's even posted as a review on apple's website... What I'm most annoyed about is that apple concluded it was my fault and got rid of me, without even really listening to what caused the problem.

I don't think I'll buy another apple product again - it's not worth the money... Really I expected better.

If you have under 300 cycles Apple usually just give you a new battery for free. I'd try giving apple care a ring or trying a different 'genius'. They are usually pretty good - for me they swapped my battery with no questions asked, i was on around 200+ cycles. for my brother they have given him 2 new iPhones no questions asked, even out of warranty. so i'm voting for a bad 'genius'.

AKcrab · Nov 7, 2009, 02:12 PM

There is a test that service providers run that gives one of 3 results:
Good
Consumed
Failed

If your battery is "consumed" you will be asked to buy a new one, regardless of warranty status.
If your battery is "failed", it will be replaced if under warranty, or you will be asked to buy a new one if out of warranty.

amazing · Nov 7, 2009, 07:33 PM

Yes, that seems like a low cycle count.

So, if you're close to an Apple Store, or if you're going on vacation over the upcoming holidays to a city that has an Apple Store, take the laptop in, with the defective battery, and see what the Genius says--it may well be that you'll get a replacement battery. Also, did you buy the additional Applecare? If so, you could try calling the 800-number...

It's worth a try!

Simon · Nov 8, 2009, 03:09 AM

Batteries are explicitly exempt from Apple Care.

However, with that low cycle count it's evident your battery has failed. Within the original 12-month warranty Apple will replace it for free. Call them or go to an Apple Store and give them your date of purchase, the cycle count, and the remaining full charge capacity (can be found in System Profiler).

turtle777 · Nov 8, 2009, 04:26 AM

Originally Posted by AnnoyedWithApple

Hi
I've got the exact same problem. I closed the lid on my MacBook and left it for about a week and a few days, and now it won't charge at all. Mine's done 177 cycles.

How did you pay for the MB ? I hope you used a credit card.

If so, call them. Most cards have a free purchase protection plan that would cover these kind of items.

-t

AnnoyedWithApple · Nov 8, 2009, 07:56 AM

I think I did pay by card.

The trouble seems to be that it's out of warranty and I didn't get apple care. I'm going to try emailing customer support or visiting a different apple store. Maybe I'll get some where ...

other than that I'll try the credit card idea or if that fails I'll just buy a new battery. Thanks for the advice.

I you think of anything else... I'm listening

Thanks. Appreciated

JoshuaZ · Nov 11, 2009, 12:15 AM

Originally Posted by AKcrab

There is a test that service providers run that gives one of 3 results:
Good
Consumed
Failed

If your battery is "consumed" you will be asked to buy a new one, regardless of warranty status.
If your battery is "failed", it will be replaced if under warranty, or you will be asked to buy a new one if out of warranty.

I had that happen to me twice, battery failed.

I went to the Apple Store in my city. Twice. Got new batteries and the second time I got a new charger.

Very nice.

amazing · Nov 11, 2009, 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by JoshuaZ

I had that happen to me twice, battery failed.

I went to the Apple Store in my city. Twice. Got new batteries and the second time I got a new charger.

Very nice.

Yes, batteries are consumables and not covered by Applecare, but WOW! isn't it wonderful when some compassionate Genius replaces a battery for free! Not once, but twice, plus a new charger!

Hurrah, Apple Geniuses!

JoshuaZ · Nov 11, 2009, 08:04 PM

Well my story goes like so.

Just shy of one year after I got my computer it dies. It doesn't lose a bit of charge, it dies. When it got down to 70% power the computer would shut off. This with only 30 cycles. So while back in Milwaukee I went to one of the apple stores. The first guy gave me the run around and told me to come back in a week. So I did, and the second guy took all of 30 seconds to decide to give me a new battery. Awesome.

Well... one year later the EXACT same thing was happening. Again, with under 40 cycles. So I go to the Apple Store in Milwaukee (a different one from before). They run a test on the battery and it comes up "BAD" in the red. So they give me a new battery and a new charger, just to be on the safe side.

Good old Applecare combined with a one year warranty on batteries. Just remember, if your battery is under a year old and is actually "bad" then have it checked at Apple. The worst they could say is "no" and the best that could happen is you get a new battery. Always a bonus.

macfix · Nov 14, 2009, 04:04 PM

If you aren't able to get yours replaced like JoshuaZ, I have a brand new Apple macbook white battery still in sealed packaging. It's Model A1185.
Compatible with 13" white or black macbook. (but it's white in color)
From Apple, it's $129.
This is genuine Apple product, not a knock-off.
$95 shipped

Eriamjh · Nov 14, 2009, 04:08 PM

When a battery has some high percentage of charge and then suddenly dies, that means one internal cell or more is dead. The voltage drop is instantaneous and so the computer shuts down. No amount of calibration can account for this problem. The battery is defective and should be replaced.

It's always a good idea to use your batteries as much as you can because you never know when they will die. No one has been able to tell me if dead cells occur because of too much use, age, or both.