Is leaving the iBook plugged in all the time bad for the battery?
- Thread starter smolz
- Start date
Arden
Where mah "any" keys at?
I don't think it's really bad for it to leave it plugged in all the time; I know that draining the battery a little bit, instead of letting it die, and then charging it isn't as good as charging it when it's completely dead (and that applies to any device, not just laptops). But I don't think the computer uses the battery when it's plugged in, except to charge it when it's under 100%.
If it's a problem, simply take it out until you plan to go mobile with it.
If it's a problem, simply take it out until you plan to go mobile with it.
andychrist
devil's plaything
Isn't it more important to always bring your battery all the way back up to full when charging, than to it drain all the way before charging?
Anyway: "Apple does not recommend leaving your portable plugged in all the time."
http://www.apple.com/batteries/notebooks.html
Anyway: "Apple does not recommend leaving your portable plugged in all the time."
http://www.apple.com/batteries/notebooks.html
Leaving your laptop plugged in when not in use will not harm the battery significantly. Further iBooks (and most any other laptop) use Lithium Ion batteries not NiCD. Nickel based batteries are the only rechargables that suffer from memory effect. Further Lithium Ions batteries prefer not to be discharged all the way, this shortens the lifespan of the battery. It does help for keeping the charge gauge calibrated on the battery though.
In general you should unplug and let the iBook run from battery occasionally. While not a scientific recommendation, completely discharge the battery once every 3-4 months and run it off battery for an hour or two (down to around 40%) every couple weeks. The main reason for this though is not to preserve battery life but to keep the charge gauge accurate. For really long term storage the battery should be stored at 40% charge in a cool location.
So the short answer is leaving it plugged in is fine, but do let the iBook run from batteries occasionally.
... decided that rather than just my rambling advice provide backup:
http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-34.htm
http://www.dansdata.com/gz011.htm
http://www.apple.com.au/batteries/
NOTE: Apple recommends discharging the battery at least once a month. This IMHO is more than necessary and was chosen simply because it is easy to remember. There is little scientific logic behind their advice.
EDIT I see I was beaten to the link to Apple (need to write shorter messages) but again the advice is not technically accurate, merely easy to remember.
In general you should unplug and let the iBook run from battery occasionally. While not a scientific recommendation, completely discharge the battery once every 3-4 months and run it off battery for an hour or two (down to around 40%) every couple weeks. The main reason for this though is not to preserve battery life but to keep the charge gauge accurate. For really long term storage the battery should be stored at 40% charge in a cool location.
So the short answer is leaving it plugged in is fine, but do let the iBook run from batteries occasionally.
... decided that rather than just my rambling advice provide backup:
http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-34.htm
http://www.dansdata.com/gz011.htm
http://www.apple.com.au/batteries/
NOTE: Apple recommends discharging the battery at least once a month. This IMHO is more than necessary and was chosen simply because it is easy to remember. There is little scientific logic behind their advice.
EDIT I see I was beaten to the link to Apple (need to write shorter messages) but again the advice is not technically accurate, merely easy to remember.