MacBook Battery Question and Help...

[Brighty18]

HELP! I have an older MacBook2,1 (OS X version 10.5.8) with the following info:
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.16 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 4 MB
Memory: 1 GB
Bus Speed: 667 MHz
Boot ROM Version: MB21.00A5.B07
SMC Version (system): 1.17f0

I have had nothing but issues with power adapters, and I almost never use my machine unplugged. Still, I'm on my fourth power adapter, and I replaced the battery about two years ago. In fact, I just got a brand new power adapter. My old one needed to be taped to my machine to make it work and half the time it would not really charge the MacBook, but merely functioned as a power source without increasing the percentage or capacity. Note: When the power adapter was failing I tried the one for my husband's MacBookPro (which, yes, I DO know is dangerous to use) and it seemed to charge just fine, so I assumed that the main problem was with the power adapter and bought a new one.

Although my new power adapter connects just fine, my machine claims that the battery is fully charged (or not charging) but is only at 98% capacity. Here is my info. I'm hoping someone can give me advice or help me figure out if there is a problem:


Battery Information:
Model Information:
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): 4858
Fully charged: Yes
Charging: No
Full charge capacity (mAh): 4953
Health Information:
Cycle count: 195
Condition: Good
Battery Installed: Yes
Amperage (mA): -2173
Voltage (mV): 12158

System Power Settings:
AC Power:
System Sleep Timer (Minutes): 15
Disk Sleep Timer (Minutes): 10
Display Sleep Timer (Minutes): 5
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): 5
Disk Sleep Timer (Minutes): 10
Display Sleep Timer (Minutes): 1
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

Is this normal? Why is the amperage negative? Why is there a difference between the Charge Remaining and the Full Charge Capacity? Are both those numbers low? Is there anything that might indicate why I am only getting 98% battery capacity? Do I need a new battery?

Thanks!

[NaOH]

If the battery level is anywhere above 95% but below 100% it won't charge. While I am unable to explain the technical details, this is normal and is a means to preserving the battery over the long term. If you'd like to assure yourself that the battery can be charged to 100%, use the machine on battery power until it is below 95% charged, then plug it in until it returns to 100% charged.

[Brighty18]

Thanks! That makes me feel better.

So basically, the rest is normal, then?

[DeltaMac]

Yes, your battery info looks quite normal
The amperage is negative because the battery is not charging. If the battery would be charging, the amperage would show positive numbers.
Your battery - at that moment - is at more than 95% of full charge, so your battery is not charging, even though it is not fully charged. If you want the battery to begin charging, unplug your power adapter until the battery charge is less than 95%. Plug your power adapter back in, and the battery will begin to charge. The charge rate will often be quite low, because it's almost fully charged, and the charging circuitry doesn't allow a high current when the battery is mostly charged.
The numbers are not low. You aren't at 100%, because the battery is not fully charged.

Here's how you can decide if your battery is no good, and needs to be replaced:
Do you get less than 1 hour of battery life on one charge?
Is your Full Charge capacity very low? Low would likely mean less than 2000 mAh.
Do you have a high number for Cycle Count (more than 300)?
All of those work together to tell you that your battery is worn out (exhausted), and should be replaced.
Right now - your battery is working fine, and you don't need to be concerned.

Here's some info from Apple about extending your battery usage:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1446
Try the calibration procedure that Apple recommends: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1490
That can help your MacBook to display the battery level more accurately.

[trevor]

Quote: Originally Posted by Brighty18 I have had nothing but issues with power adapters, and I almost never use my machine unplugged. Still, I'm on my fourth power adapter, and I replaced the battery about two years ago. In fact, I just got a brand new power adapter. My old one needed to be taped to my machine to make it work and half the time it would not really charge the MacBook, but merely functioned as a power source without increasing the percentage or capacity.

You should try to separate problems with your battery and problems with your power adapter. Not to say that failure to hold charge could not be the fault of the power adapter, because it could, but the most common reason that a battery would be unable to charge is that the battery is having a problem.

You mention that you almost never use your machine unplugged. That is one way to make your battery die more quickly. Lithium Ion batteries like the one in your MacBook last longer if they are allowed to be used at least once a month. If you could remember to unplug the power adapter from your MacBook once a month, you'll have batteries with better longevity.

You also mention that one problem you had with your adapter was that you needed to tape it to the computer. I'm assuming that this is a MagSafe adapter? So why does it need to be taped to the computer? Did the magnet fall off?

Quote: Originally Posted by Brighty18 Note: When the power adapter was failing I tried the one for my husband's MacBookPro (which, yes, I DO know is dangerous to use) and it seemed to charge just fine, so I assumed that the main problem was with the power adapter and bought a new one.

It's good to try other adapters and other batteries to try to narrow down the problem to the adapter or the battery. Can you explain why you say that the battery seemed to charge just fine, implying that you aren't sure? What exactly did you see with the MacBook Pro adapter, and exactly how is that different from what you see with the MacBook (non-Pro) adapter? The more detail you can give us the better.

Quote: Originally Posted by Brighty18 Although my new power adapter connects just fine, my machine claims that the battery is fully charged (or not charging) but is only at 98% capacity.

This question was covered by other people above.

Trevor

[Brighty18]

Thanks for all of your help, everyone.

I let my batter run down and re-charged it to 100% and it seems to be working fine.

[christinaporter]

Quote: Originally Posted by trevor You mention that you almost never use your machine unplugged. That is one way to make your battery die more quickly. Lithium Ion batteries like the one in your MacBook last longer if they are allowed to be used at least once a month. If you could remember to unplug the power adapter from your MacBook once a month, you'll have batteries with better longevity.

One of the technicians in an apple store told me about this one, we should unplugged our laptop when we are not using it, for continues plugging might affect the battery's life.

hey guys! please help me out.
i have one of the old white macbooks. until now there was no problem with my battery or anything but now the energy saver is set for power adapter and i can't change it to battery. i mean i can but when i close the system preferences window it suddenly goes back to power adapter selection so i think basically i can't save my selection. help me please, i'm freaking out.
by the way my computer's battery is 0% and it says ''battery is not charging'' so i can't unplug it from the power adapter. thanks

[DeltaMac]

If you go to your System Profiler, and click the Power tab, you can look at more info about your battery. There's several posts above in this thread that tell you what data to look for.

Quote: Is your Full Charge capacity very low? Low would likely mean less than 2000 mAh. Do you have a high number for Cycle Count (more than 300)? All of those work together to tell you that your battery is worn out (exhausted), and should be replaced.

If your battery is bad, then the Energy Saver prefs may not work properly until you have a good battery.