🚀 go-pugleaf

iw@ouija.demon.co.uk <iw@ouija.demon.co.uk> wrote:

> Hello,
> How long can you leave a mac switched off for before encountering
> battery problems etc. on restarting?

It depends on the age of the battery, the precise condition of the
battery, and lots of other things.  You can expect a Mac PRAM battery to
last anything from 6 months to 10 years, depending on the condition of
the battery (some are a bit dodgy) and the amount of time the computer's
been left on - a Mac that's been on for its entire life will have placed
no drain on the PRAM battery, so it'll last for its shelf life (about 10
years).  2 to 5 years is a typical life (I gather) for a PRAM battery.

> Any other problems associated with macs being left off for prolonged
> periods of time?

Its possible for connectors to get a bit iffy, especially if the Macs
left in a damp or dusty place.  Having it on does at least avoid the
damp problem, 'cos they get warm inside which drives off any moisture.
Grease and other lubricants might thicken up (especially problematic on
ancient floppy disc drives, although it might affect HDDs too), so you
might have problems with your disc drives - I'm not sure exactly how
much of a problem this might be, though.

Rowland.

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