Toshiba Tecra A5 - Manual (Page 111)

TOSHIBA A5 6-9
Power and Power-Up Modes
Monitoring battery capacity
Remaining battery power can be monitored by the TOSHIBA Power Saver.
Refer to
Utilities in Chapter 1, TOSHIBA A5 Features .
Maximizing battery operating time
A battery's usefulness depends on how long it can supply power on a single
charge.
How long the charge lasts in a battery depends on:
■ How you configure the computer (for example, whether you enable
battery power saving options). The computer provides a battery save
mode to conserve battery power. This mode has the following options:
■ Display auto off
■ Hard Disk Drive auto off
■ System auto off
■
LCD brightness
■
How often and how long you use the hard disk, optical media drive and
the diskette drive (if one is connected).
■ How much charge the battery contained to begin with.
■ How you use optional devices, such as a PC Card, to which the battery
supplies power.
■ Enabling Standby Mode or Hibernation Mode conserves battery power
if you are frequently turning the computer off and on.
■ Where you store your programs and data.
■
Closing the display when you are not using the keyboard saves power.
■
Operating time decreases at low temperatures.
■
The condition of the battery terminals. Make sure the battery terminals
stay clean by wiping them with a clean dry cloth before installing the
battery pack.
Leaving the AC adapter connected will shorten battery life. At least once a
week, run the computer on battery power until the battery is fully discharged,
then recharge the battery.
■ Wait for a moment after turning on the computer before trying to monitor
the remaining operating time. The computer needs this time to check
the battery's remaining capacity.
■ With repeated discharges and recharges, the battery's capacity will
gradually decrease. Therefore, an often used, older battery will not
operate for as long as a new battery even when both are fully charged.