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I'm still hanging on to the swollen battery I took out of my MacBook, even though I know it's a fire risk. Buying a real battery for a 2014 MacBook Pro 15" A13
by peterburkimsher 6y ago
I'm still hanging on to the swollen battery I took out of my MacBook, even though I know it's a fire risk.
Buying a real battery for a 2014 MacBook Pro 15" A1398 isn't possible, because Apple says they're obsolete. (long live laptops with USB-A and HDMI!).
I bought a third-party battery, labelled Simplo but apparently made by someone else. It idles at 12V. The original Apple battery idles at 2V, and "wakes up". The third-party battery killed my logic board about a month after I fitted it, when lifted the lid to wake from sleep while outside.
I tried moving the Compeq PCB from the official battery to the new cells, but in the process, got an undervoltage on the TI controller chip BQ20Z45, which set the PF flag (permanent failure). To clear the PF flag, I need an "unseal" password, which isn't the same as the one that Charlie Miller discovered. I wrote a fuzzer, but it'll take 340 days to run. Be2Works haven't answered their email.
So in conclusion: even when your batteries are swollen, they're still better than the fakes. Trying to fix them can make it worse. Don't throw out your Smart Battery control boards.
- Stratoscope 6y ago> Buying a real battery for a 2014 MacBook Pro 15" A1398 isn't possible, because Apple says they're obsolete. Are you f------ kidding me? You have just ruined my night. Figuratively speaking, of course. I won't shoot the messenger! But I have an A1398 sitting here that's been idle for a few years, ever since the battery started puffing up every time it warmed up and pushed out the center of the bottom case so far that the rubber feet at the four corners were lifted off the table and it would start to twirl as you type. The machine is in perfect shape otherwise, and even if I'm not using it any more, I'd hoped I could have a new battery put in and give it to someone who would get many more years use out of it. If there is a solution that would get a safe and reliable new battery into it without futzing with chips, I would be all ears!
- csense 6y ago> I'd hoped I could have a new battery put in Then you should have bought a PC with a battery you can take out, instead of Apple's garbage. Apple makes their stuff specifically non-disassemblable by third parties. If you buy Apple hardware, you get a repair if Apple wants to give you one, and you pay the price Apple wants you to pay. I'm proud to say I've never bought a piece of Apple hardware in my life. This is one of the many reasons behind that decision. Caveat emptor.
- Stratoscope 6y agoOh, believe me, that's what I do. This MacBook was a one-off when I needed to do some Apple work. My personal machines and other work machines are all ThinkPads, and I always download and review Lenovo's Hardware Maintenance Manual for each machine before I buy it.
- pronoiac 6y agoI've had good experiences with iPhone batteries from iFixit, and they also have decent directions. I'd recommend them. Looking for that Macbook model, it looks like a 1 or 2 hour process.
- MandieD 6y agoGlad to hear that, because I bought an iFixit battery kit for the 2013 MBP I inherited, but have held off putting in because the process is rather involved (“detach everything from the motherboard, remove it, then carefully pour in this liquid to dissolve the adhesive,” basically)
- peterburkimsher 6y agoI did that process. The liquid is just acetone, also known as nail polish remover. It took about 6 hours for me to do it carefully.
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- peterburkimsher 6y agoI'd like to, but they don't ship to New Zealand :( Lithium batteries aren't easy to transport.