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View Full Version : Anyone experience the "Exploding" batteries on their MacBooks?

Rhinotherunt
28th of August 2009 (Fri), 16:14
Mine just went warpy yesterday. Now I get to plop down $120 for a new battery. Granted it has lasted for about 2 years.
MaxxuM
28th of August 2009 (Fri), 21:01
No.

What do you mean by warpy? Did it bloat/expand?
Rhinotherunt
28th of August 2009 (Fri), 22:12
No.

What do you mean by warpy? Did it bloat/expand?
Yes, it bloated/expanded...
CoquetteRN
28th of August 2009 (Fri), 22:20
thats a complaint to the apple store. They have had issue's with batteries off and on. I would give it a go!
MaxxuM
29th of August 2009 (Sat), 01:37
Yes, it bloated/expanded...

It could be a bad batch of batteries, but more often than not it is a nearly dead or dead battery that has been overcharged. Once a battery has gone below a certain health percentage (say 15 to 20 percent) it can overcharge and then expand. There are other reasons like too much moisture in the cell(s), damage due to shock and faulty circuit that fails to stop trickle charging the battery resulting in again, overcharge.

To check your battery simply put the beginning of the serial number (ex. W8607) into google to see if there is a recall or if other people are having problems with that batch. If there are, start bothering Apple with letters and phone calls until they get tired and ship you a new one :) If not, then I would just take it to a Best Buy or other recycling center and buy a new one. Two years is about the average for a laptop battery unless you know how to manage them really well. Here are some tricks to keep your batteries healthy:

1. Don't leave them charging all the time.
2. Don't let your battery dip below 10% too often.
3. Don't let your battery stay above 90% charge for long periods of time (say a week). Batteries need to be drained from time to time to remain healthy.
4. Despite all methodologies, batteries still only have so many cycles.

Edit: Forgot a biggy. Keep your battery cool. Buy a laptop cooler with a fan (not a pad) and use it even when not on your lap. Heat shortens the life of batteries and laptops have plenty of heat.
mattyb240
29th of August 2009 (Sat), 10:06
It has been reported before over at Macrumors.com
Kronie
29th of August 2009 (Sat), 15:15
Does anyone know if the unibody batteries have started to explode yet? It would be interesting to see what happens there.
MaxxuM
29th of August 2009 (Sat), 17:56
Does anyone know if the unibody batteries have started to explode yet? It would be interesting to see what happens there.

Yet? You know something we don't? lol

The circuitry on the new batteries is excellent - beyond the norm for laptops. If the battery is faulty, damaged or if an overcharge is detected the battery will be cut from power and will register a fail code and will refuse to charge at all or will only charge one or two cells that are OK.
wickerprints
29th of August 2009 (Sat), 18:03
Mine just went warpy yesterday. Now I get to plop down $120 for a new battery. Granted it has lasted for about 2 years.

Even if the battery is old, it should not bloat. I suggest you take it to an Apple Retail Store and tell them about it. I have batteries much older than 2 years and while they no longer hold much charge, they have never bloated.
wlescall
29th of August 2009 (Sat), 22:13
No Problem on my MBP battery.
Kronie
29th of August 2009 (Sat), 22:39
Yet? You know something we don't? lol

I'm sure we will have some exploding batteries eventually.

Hopefully it wont be mine!