Dell Inspiron 3800 - Manual (Page 33)

The lithium-ion and nickel-metal hydride 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.
Keep the following information in mind when you are running your computer from the battery:
l You can expect 2.5 to 5 hours of battery life with a single fully charged battery and 5 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 used.
l
When two batteries are installed, the computer draws power first from the battery in the media bay. The AC adapter first charges the battery
in the battery bay.
l The integrated charge gauge lets you check a battery ’s charge before you insert it into the computer.
l The battery ’s self-test capability alerts you to battery conditions such as low charge.
l 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.
l A battery has a life span of up to 400 full charges and 2000 partial charges, provided it is charged at normal room temperature.
Charging a Hot Battery
If your battery is hot from being used in your computer or being in a hot environment, take note of the following precautions:
l 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.
l The battery is too hot to start charging if the battery indicator flashes alternately green and amber. If this occurs, disconnect the computer
from its electrical outlet and allow it and the battery to return to room temperature. Reconnect the computer to the electrical outlet and
continue charging the battery.
l
If the computer is not allowed to return to room temperature, the battery stops charging before it reaches its full capacity.
Battery Usage
The battery is partially charged when you receive it. Dell recommends that you charge your battery to full capacity before using it to power the
computer.
If you are powering the computer from a battery, try to conserve battery power. A number of factors affect battery operating time:
l Power conservation features that you use
l Type of display and microprocessor your computer has
l Use of the CD-ROM drive, DVD-ROM drive, or SuperDisk LS-120 drive module
l Number and type of PC Cards and other external devices you use
l Kinds of application programs you run
l
Capacity of the memory modules you install (the higher the capacity, the more power used)
l
Use of the infrared port
When you activate standby mode, the computer can run on battery power for approximately one week (if the battery was fully charged before
activating standby mode).
If you are going to store the computer, disconnect all peripheral devices and turn off the computer. Remove the battery when you store your
computer for an extended period of time. A battery will drain when not in use during prolonged storage. After a long storage period, recharge the
battery fully before you attempt to run your computer from battery power.
Installing a Battery in the Battery Bay
To install a battery in the battery bay, perform the following steps (see Figure 2 ).
NOTICE: To avoid data loss, do not replace a battery while the computer is turned on unless the computer is
connected to an electrical outlet or a second battery is installed.
NOTES: You can also install a battery in the media bay.
If necessary, print these instructions for reference before proceeding.