Dell Inspiron 3500 - Manual (Page 146)

You can expect 2 to 3 hours of battery life with a single fully charged battery and 4 to 6 hours of battery life with two fully charged batteries. A built-in
charge gauge lets you check a battery's charge before you insert it into the computer. The battery's self-test capability alerts you to battery
conditions such as low charge.
A number of factors affect battery operating time :
l
The power conservation features used
l The number and type of PC Cards used
l The kinds of application programs run
l The capacity of the optional memory module installed (the higher the capacity, the more power used)
l The use of an internal Zip drive, CD-ROM drive, or DVD-ROM drive, which use more power than a hard-disk drive or a diskette drive
NOTICE: The battery is designed to work with Dell Inspiron 3500 series computers only. Do not use the battery with other
computers, and do not use batteries from other computers in your computer.
See also Power Conservation.
Removing and Installing the Main Battery
To remove and install the main battery, perform the following steps:
1. Save any files you have open and exit all application programs.
2. If your computer is operating on battery power, preserve your data by connecting the AC adapter and plugging it into an electrical outlet or by
shutting down your computer from the Start menu.
3. Remove the main battery .
Using your index finger, pull the battery bay latch (located on the side of the computer next to the battery bay) toward you. With your thumb,
gently push the latch out and back until the battery pops out. Grasp the battery firmly and slide it out of the battery bay.
4. Install the new battery.
With the battery bay latch released, slide the new battery into the battery bay until it is flush with the computer casing. You cannot fully insert
the battery into the computer unless the battery bay latch is released. Close the battery bay latch by using your index finger to push it toward
the front of the computer until it is flush with the computer casing. Using your thumb, push the battery bay latch in.
5. Turn on the computer.
Removing and Installing a Second Battery
To remove and install the second battery, perform the following steps:
1. Save any files you have open and exit all application programs.
2. If your computer is operating on battery power, preserve your data by connecting the AC adapter and plugging it into an electrical outlet or by
shutting down your computer from the Start menu.
3. Remove the main battery .
Using your index finger, pull the media bay latch (located on the side of the computer next to the media bay) toward you. With your thumb,
gently push the latch out and back until the battery pops out. Grasp the battery firmly and slide it out of the media bay.
4. Install the new battery.
With the media bay latch released, slide the new battery into the media bay until it is flush with the computer casing. You cannot fully insert the
battery into the computer unless the media bay latch is released. Close the media bay latch by using your index finger to push it toward the
front of the computer until it is flush with the computer casing. Using your thumb, push the media bay latch in.
5. Turn on the computer.
Charging the Battery
Each time you connect the computer to AC power or install a battery in a computer that is connected to AC power, the computer checks the
battery's charge and temperature. The AC adapter then charges the battery (if necessary) and maintains the battery's charge.
If two batteries are installed in the computer, the AC adapter charges the battery in the battery bay first, and then charges the second battery in the
media bay. (The second battery is discharged first.)
The battery LED, located to the right of the display latch, appears as a blinking green light while the battery is charging.
The AC adapter needs from 2 to 3 hours (depending on whether the system is on or off) to fully charge a battery that has been completely
discharged.
Checking a Battery's Charge Level
Use one of the following methods to check the battery's charge level:
l Check the battery charge level before you insert the battery into your computer. Once the battery is inserted into the computer, you cannot
see the charge gauge. The battery has a charge gauge with five charge-level indicator lights that show how much battery charge remains.
Press the battery tester (a textured square on the back of the battery) to check the charge level. Each light represents approximately 20% of
the total battery charge. For example, if the battery has 80% of its charge remaining, four of the lights come on during testing. If none of the
lights come on when you press the battery tester, the battery has no charge left.
NOTICE: If only one or none of the charge-level indicator lights are lit, it indicates a critically low battery state. Do not use the
NOTE: You can leave the battery in the computer as long as you like. The battery's built-in circuitry prevents the battery from
overcharging.