Don's Home Technology Macintosh Tips Battery Charging
Apple says to run your battery down till your MacBook goes to sleep for the initial calibration. Others say to avoid discharging below 40% for the first 10 cycles.
I've got to keep looking to see if I can figure out who's right.

Apple Portables: Calibrating your computer's battery for best performance (support.apple.com/kb/) 12/2013, says

You can calibrate your iBook, PowerBook, MacBook, or MacBook Pro computer's lithium-ion battery for best performance.

The battery has an internal microprocessor that provides an estimate of the amount of energy in the battery as it charges and discharges. The battery needs to be recalibrated from time to time to keep the onscreen battery time and percent display accurate and to keep the battery operating at maximum efficiency. You should perform this procedure when you first use your computer and then every few months after that. If you normally leave your Apple portable computer connected to AC power and very rarely use it on battery power you may want to perform this process once a month. The website www.apple.com/batteries has more helpful information regarding batteries and offers an iCal calendar to remind you to calibrate your battery.

Note: If you're not sure which model your portable computer is, use these links to identify your iBook, PowerBook, MacBook, MacBook Air, or MacBook Pro.

Portables with built-in batteries Current Apple portable computer batteries are pre-calibrated and do not require the calibration procedure outlined in this article. These computers use batteries that should be replaced only by an Apple Authorized Service Provider.

MacBook

MacBook (13-inch, Late 2009) and later
MacBook Air

MacBook Air (all models)
MacBook Pro

MacBook Pro with Retina display (all models)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2009) and later
MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009) and later
MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009) and later

Portables with removable batteries iBooks and PowerBook G4s other than the PowerBook G4 (15-inch Double-Layer SD)

Plug the power adapter in and fully charge your computer's battery until the battery indicator lights turn off and the adapter plug light goes from amber to green, which indicates that the battery is fully charged. Disconnect the power adapter and use your iBook or PowerBook. When your battery gets low, you will see the low battery warning dialog on the screen. Continue to use your computer until it goes to sleep. At that point the battery has been sufficiently drained for calibration.
Connect the power adapter and leave it connected until the battery is fully charged again. You have to fully charge and then discharge your battery only once to calibrate it. After that, you can connect and disconnect the power adapter when the battery is at any charge level.

Tip: When the battery reaches "empty", the computer is forced into sleep mode. The battery actually holds a reserve beyond "empty", to maintain the computer in sleep for a period of time. Once the battery is truly exhausted, the computer is forced to shut down. At this point, any open files could be lost. Therefore, it is important that you find an electrical outlet and connect the adapter before the forced shutdown occurs.

PowerBook G4 (15-inch Double-Layer SD), MacBook (all models), and MacBook Pro (all models)

The battery calibration for the PowerBook G4 (15-inch Double-Layer SD) and any model of MacBook or MacBook Pro has been updated because of a new battery released with this computer. With these computers, follow these steps to calibrate your battery:

Plug in the power adapter and fully charge your PowerBook's battery until the light ring or LED on the power adapter plug changes to green and the onscreen meter in the menu bar indicates that the battery is fully charged.
Allow the battery to rest in the fully charged state for at least two hours. You may use your computer during this time as long as the adapter is plugged in.
Disconnect the power adapter while the computer still on and start running the computer off battery power. You may use your computer during this time. When your battery gets low, the low battery warning dialog appears on the screen.v At this point, save your work. Continue to use your computer; when the battery gets very low, the computer will automatically go to sleep.v Turn off the computer or allow it to sleep for five hours or more.
Connect the power adapter and leave it connected until the battery is fully charged again. Tip: When the battery reaches "empty", the computer is forced into sleep mode. The battery actually keeps back a reserve beyond "empty", to maintain the computer in sleep for a period of time. Once the battery is truly exhausted, the computer is forced to shut down. At this point, with the safe sleep function introduced in the PowerBook G4 (15-inch Double-Layer SD) computers, the computer's memory contents have been saved to the hard drive. When power is restored, the computer returns itself to its pre-sleep state using the safe sleep image on the hard drive.


Mac notebooks: All about batteries - support.apple.com 2013
Macs before 2013 - Apple Hardware Test
After June 2013 - Using Apple Diagnostics
My early 2009 MacBook has 45-watt-hour lithium polymer (LiPo) battery.
How should I charge my MacBook Pro?: Apple Support Communities (discussions.apple.com) Oct., 2013
LiPo (lithium polymer, same as in your macbook) batteries do not need conditioning. However...

LiPo batteries do NOT like to be dropped down to 15% or so often,....key word being "often"

Contrary to what some might say, LIPo batteries have an "ideal" break in period. First ten cycles or so, don't discharge down past 40% of the battery's capacity.

A lot of battery experts call the use of LiPo cells the "80% Rule" ....meaning use 80% of the charge or so,.. then recharge them for longer overall life.


Breaking in new battery: Apple Support Communities (discussions.apple.com) 2010
Scott Billings writes:
There are a lot of people who continue to distribute 10-15 year old battery advice to people, under the mistaken impression it's still relevant.

For the most part, laptop batteries are self-maintaining. They do not require you to take any special actions aside from charging them and replacing them when they are expended.


Apple notebook batteries -...: Apple Support Communities - Apple Support Communities (discussions.apple.com) July 2009
neuroanatomist writes:
Lithium-based batteries function best when used fairly frequently but lightly. Apple states +"An ideal use would be a commuter who uses her MacBook Pro on the train, then plugs it in at the office to charge.

*Do's & Don'ts*

DO use your battery frequently and lightly, ideally completing 1-2 charge cycles per week (minimum one charge cycle per month).

DO properly calibrate your battery when new and approximately every 2-3 months thereafter.

DON'T fully discharge your battery frequently (the infrequent, periodic calibration is an exception).

DON'T store your battery (or your computer) in a high temperature environment, such as the trunk of a car, especially a fully-charged battery.

DON'T run your MacBook or MacBook Pro on AC power with the battery removed.

It is best not to completely discharge your battery, with the exception of calibrating it (see below). It is also not a good idea to run on AC power all the time.

last updated 9 Jan 2014