I let the trial run out while in charge limiting mode. Do I have to buy the app just to turn it off?
- No, just open the app and ignore the "Free Trial Ended" message, there's still a button that will turn regular charging back on and then you can delete the app and move on.
Why this app? What does it do better than the alternative third-party apps?
- Number one, it's cheaper than the other full-featured graphical apps: just $2.99 for a license.
- BatteryThrottle has two features that nobody else offers:
- It lets you set a slow charge rate when you're not in a hurry, because rapid charging is handy but it ages your battery.
- You can set two charge limits. One for long term usage and a second (higher) level for just before you head out.
- BatteryThrottle is the only app that includes recommended settings designed by a professor of battery chemistry.
I heard Apple will include a charge-limit setting in future releases of macOS, do I still need an app to control the charge level?
- Apple is testing this feature and will hopefully roll it out soon. That's a GREAT thing.
- However, Apple's method is less powerful and kind of annoying to use. BatteryThrottle instead gives you a simple one-click operation from the menu bar. It's easier so you don't forget to do it.
- BatteryThrottle also lets you set TWO charge limits: one for long sessions at your desk and one for top ups before you head out on the road.
- BatteryThrottle also lets you ease up on super fast charging that can age your battery, and Apple is unlikely to include this mode any time soon.
Where do I go for the app? Is it on GitHub or on Polar.sh?
- The app is freely downloadable as a two-week free trial app on GitHub.
- If you decide to keep using it, you don't have to download a new binary, just buy a license key securely via Polar.sh (link inside app).
How do I set a battery charging rate on my MacBook?
- BatteryThrottle is the only way to set a charge rate on MacBooks. Just open the Configuration panel (gear button) and set the charging target time to a long time and your laptop will charge slowly.
I set the app to a "4 hour" gentle charge target, but it keeps finishing before that. What gives?
- The timing target is for a full 0% to 100% charge. With charge limiting on, you probably only went from 25% to 65% in 45 minutes or something like that.
- Note: it's set up this way so as to be a universal value that doesn't depend on start/end time, and also because this is how we describe charge rates in battery research and the battery industry.
Why does the app suggest that I only use the discharge mode sparingly?
- I've set the app to indicate an optimum charge level based on recent literature results. But discharging to a lower level just to charge up again later on also ages the cells. So unless it's going to be a long time, you're usually better off to just remain at whatever sub-90% level that your travels happened to land you at. It's nice that it happens to be easier to do that too: you just set the padlock to a good level once and then stop worrying about it or even thinking about it.