In article 1178449302.448504.314090@redacted.invalid, "no-spam2@redacted.invalid" no-spam2@redacted.invalid wrote:
My Powerbook G4 (1.67GHz/dual-layer Superdrive model) stays on a desk 99% of the time, powered by the AC adaptor. I'm concerned about the battery. Will it last longer if I physically remove it, then insert it whenever I bring the Powerbook with me somewhere else, or doesn't it make any difference?
I've been using my iBook G4 the same way for over 3 years. I installed Battery Health Monitor (from www.sonoragraphics.com) and it shows that I have a full charge and 88% capacity remaining. So I think the batter will probably outlast my plans to keep using this particular machine.
In article 1178449302.448504.314090@redacted.invalid, "no-spam2@redacted.invalid" no-spam2@redacted.invalid wrote:
My Powerbook G4 (1.67GHz/dual-layer Superdrive model) stays on a desk 99% of the time, powered by the AC adaptor. I'm concerned about the battery. Will it last longer if I physically remove it, then insert it whenever I bring the Powerbook with me somewhere else, or doesn't it make any difference?
It may* last longer, but if you're going to be using the PB on wall-current most of the time until you replace it, why spend the effort?
"May" means something like "you can avoid conditions that wear the battery by removing it." It's not clear to me that the increase in battery life would be noticeable to most users. In any case, I mostly stick to Apple's suggestions. I've posted them here before, and they're available on Apple's website (support section, look for articles about batteries).
On May 6, 4:31 pm, Barry Margolin bar...@redacted.invalid wrote:
In article 1178449302.448504.314...@redacted.invalid,
"no-sp...@redacted.invalid" no-sp...@redacted.invalid wrote:
My Powerbook G4 (1.67GHz/dual-layer Superdrive model) stays on a desk 99% of the time, powered by the AC adaptor. I'm concerned about the battery.
I've been using my iBook G4 the same way for over 3 years. I installed Battery Health Monitor (fromwww.sonoragraphics.com) and it shows that I have a full charge and 88% capacity remaining. So I think the batter will probably outlast my plans to keep using this particular machine.
I tried the above program but I get an error message saying "Unable to read battery status data".
no-spam2@redacted.invalid no-spam2@redacted.invalid wrote:
My Powerbook G4 (1.67GHz/dual-layer Superdrive model) stays on a desk 99% of the time, powered by the AC adaptor. I'm concerned about the battery. Will it last longer if I physically remove it, then insert it whenever I bring the Powerbook with me somewhere else, or doesn't it make any difference?
I want an answer too. I think my batteries are dying for the lack of use. I am on my 2nd battery in 5 years and I hardly ever used the PB w/o AC power. /PaulN
P.S. I have a UPS so I could remove the battery if I am allowed to do that.
no-spam2@redacted.invalid no-spam2@redacted.invalid wrote:
My Powerbook G4 (1.67GHz/dual-layer Superdrive model) stays on a desk 99% of the time, powered by the AC adaptor. I'm concerned about the battery. Will it last longer if I physically remove it, then insert it whenever I bring the Powerbook with me somewhere else, or doesn't it make any difference?
I found this about MacBooks. What about PowerBooks?
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=305336
/PaulN
In article f1nfs6$rnt$1@redacted.invalid, Paul Nevai nevai@redacted.invalid wrote:
no-spam2@redacted.invalid no-spam2@redacted.invalid wrote:
My Powerbook G4 (1.67GHz/dual-layer Superdrive model) stays on a desk 99% of the time, powered by the AC adaptor. I'm concerned about the battery. Will it last longer if I physically remove it, then insert it whenever I bring the Powerbook with me somewhere else, or doesn't it make any difference?
I found this about MacBooks. What about PowerBooks?
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=305336
/PaulN
Try this: http://www.apple.com/batteries/notebooks.html
and this: http://www.apple.com/batteries/
In article f1nfc5$rlb$1@redacted.invalid, Paul Nevai nevai@redacted.invalid wrote:
no-spam2@redacted.invalid no-spam2@redacted.invalid wrote:
My Powerbook G4 (1.67GHz/dual-layer Superdrive model) stays on a desk 99% of the time, powered by the AC adaptor. I'm concerned about the battery. Will it last longer if I physically remove it, then insert it whenever I bring the Powerbook with me somewhere else, or doesn't it make any difference?
I want an answer too. I think my batteries are dying for the lack of use. I am on my 2nd battery in 5 years and I hardly ever used the PB w/o AC power. /PaulN
P.S. I have a UPS so I could remove the battery if I am allowed to do that.
I've posted the links to Apple's information in another message, so won't repost them. Read those. Mind, if you head over to the archives of sci.chem.electrochem.battery you'll find out far more than you ever wanted to know about batteries of all sorts. There used to be (I stopped reading it some years back, so they might still be there) some seriously smart people hanging out over there.
Your battery would be dead in 5 years even if you removed it and stored it under optimum conditions, because Lithium-ion batteries degrade over time whether used or not. Typically manufacturers cite 2 years shelf-life before the battery hits 1/2 capacity. That is, in 2 years under optimal storage conditions, the battery will lose 1/2 of its capacity, and you can't get it back.
For most users, a new battery every 3 years is probably about right, I'd say. Of course, it also depends on your tolerance for low battery capacity; the less battery life you actually need, the longer you can go without buying a new battery because the old one doesn't last long enough for you.
In article 1178449302.448504.314090@redacted.invalid, "no-spam2@redacted.invalid" no-spam2@redacted.invalid wrote:
My Powerbook G4 (1.67GHz/dual-layer Superdrive model) stays on a desk 99% of the time, powered by the AC adaptor. I'm concerned about the battery. Will it last longer if I physically remove it, then insert it whenever I bring the Powerbook with me somewhere else, or doesn't it make any difference?
Lithium Polymer batteries last about 3 years after manufacturing date, not very dependent on useage pattern. After that, capacity declines.
Recommendations for storage (if they are not used) are usually at 50%, recharging to that level after a few months. And probably cooler is better, but not frozen.
This is markedly different from other types of batteries that are more dependent on useage patterns.
HTH
Marc