Dell Inspiron 8500 - Manual (Page 47)

Using Batteries and Module Bay Devices 47
A low-battery warning occurs when the battery charge is approximately
90 percent depleted. The computer beeps once, indicating that minimal
battery operating time remains. During that time, the speaker beeps
periodically. If two batteries are installed, the low-battery warning means
that the combined charge of both batteries is approximately 90 percent
depleted. The computer enters hibernate mode when the battery charge is
at a critically low level. For more information on low-battery alarms, see the
Tell Me How help file. To access the help file, see page 104.
Charging the Battery
NOTE: The AC adapter
charges a completely
discharged battery in
approximately 1 hour
with the computer turned
off. Charge time is longer
with the computer turned
on. You can leave the
battery in the computer as
long as you like. The
battery internal circuitry
prevents the battery from
overcharging.
When you connect the computer to an electrical outlet or install a battery
while the computer is connected to an electrical outlet, the computer
checks the battery charge and temperature. If necessary, the AC adapter
then charges the battery and maintains the battery charge.
If the battery is hot from being used in your computer or being in a hot
environment, the battery may not charge when you connect the computer
to an electrical outlet.
The battery is too hot to start charging if the light flashes alternately
green and orange. Shut down the computer, disconnect the computer from
the electrical outlet and allow the computer and the battery to cool to room
temperature. Then connect the computer to an electrical outlet to continue
charging the battery.
For more information on resolving problems with a battery, see page 51.
Removing a Battery
For more information about removing the second battery, see page 52.
CAUTION: Before performing these procedures, turn off the
computer, disconnect it from the electrical outlet, and disconnect
the modem from the telephone wall jack.
NOTICE: If you choose to replace the battery with the computer in standby
mode, you have up to 90 seconds to complete the battery replacement before
the computer shuts down and loses any unsaved data.
1 Ensure that the computer is turned off, suspended in a power
management mode, or connected to an electrical outlet.