Dell Latitude CPi A - Manual (Page 57)

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Batteries: Dell
™
Latitude
™
CPi A-Series System User's Guide
About the Batteries | Charging a Hot Battery | Battery Usage | Installing a Battery | Battery Charge Gauge |
First Low-Battery Warning | Second Low-Battery Warning | Charging the Battery | Detecting Battery
Problems | Battery Disposal | About Battery Power
About the Batteries
Your computer’s lithium ion battery provides power when an AC power source is not available. A battery in
the battery bay is standard with the computer. Lithium ion batteries are longer lived than conventional
batteries and do not require replacement as often. To double battery life, install a second battery in the
modular bay.
The lithium ion technology used in your computer’s battery is significantly less hazardous to the environment
than the lithium metal technology used in some other batteries (such as watch batteries). Spent batteries
should not be placed with common household waste products. Contact local authorities for the location of a
chemical waste collection program nearest you.
You can expect 3 to 5 hours of battery life with a single fully charged battery and 6 to 10 hours of
battery life with two fully charged batteries. Actual performance varies, depending on which power
management features are enabled and which application programs are being using.
When two batteries are installed, the computer draws power first from the battery in the modular bay.
The AC adapter first charges the battery in the battery bay.
The 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.
There is no battery memory effect with lithium ion batteries—you can charge the battery whenever you
like without fear of reducing its charge capacity.
A battery has a life span of up to 500 full charges and 2000 partial charges, provided it is charged at
normal room temperature.
NOTE: The battery is designed to work with Dell Latitude CP Series computers only. Do not use the
battery with other computers, and do not use batteries from other computers with the Dell Latitude CP
Series.
Charging a Hot Battery
A hot battery will not charge when you connect the AC adapter to the computer. This safety feature is
important because charging a hot battery shortens the battery’s life span and may damage the
battery and the computer.
The battery is too hot to start charging if the battery indicator flashes green and amber alternately. If
this occurs, disconnect the computer from AC power and allow it and the battery to return to room
temperature. Reconnect the computer to AC power and continue charging the battery.
If the computer is not allowed to return to room temperature, the battery stops charging before it
reaches its full capacity.