Dell Inspiron 3800 - Manual (Page 37)

If you have set the computer to enter S2D mode after a certain amount of time with no I/O activity, the computer enters S2D mode before the final
low-battery warning. Once S2D mode is activated, no further power is consumed.
Second Low-Battery Warning
The second low-battery warning —a steady amber battery status indicator—occurs when you have about 5 minutes of battery life left under current
conditions and the computer is not connected to an electrical outlet.
After the second low-battery warning, if no further I/O activity occurs within 15 seconds, the computer activates S2D mode. If there is no S2D
partition, the computer enters standby mode. The computer can preserve data for several hours in standby mode.
If the computer is already in standby mode when a final low-battery warning occurs, the computer activates S2D mode immediately. If S2D mode
has been disabled, the computer reenters standby mode.
Charging the Battery
Each time you connect the computer to an electrical outlet or install a battery in a computer that is connected to an electrical outlet, the computer
checks the battery's charge. The AC adapter charges the battery (if needed) and then maintains the battery's charge.
If two batteries are installed in the computer, the AC adapter first charges the battery in the battery bay and then the battery in the media bay. When
you charge two lithium-ion batteries, one battery partially charges, then the second battery partially charges, then both batteries completely charge.
When you charge two nickel-metal hydride batteries, one battery will fully charge and then the second battery will fully charge.
When installed in a computer connected to an electrical outlet, the battery immediately starts charging. The green power indicator remains steady
while the AC adapter charges the battery. The indicator starts blinking when the express charge cycle is complete. While the indicator is blinking,
the AC adapter provides a trickle charge to bring the battery to full capacity. The indicator continues to blink until you remove the battery or
disconnect the computer from its electrical outlet.
If the computer is turned off and connected to an electrical outlet through the AC adapter, it takes the AC adapter about 1 hour to fully charge a
lithium-ion battery that has been completely discharged, and 2.5 hours to fully charge a nickel-metal hydride battery. If the computer determines that
the battery is near full capacity, the AC adapter skips the express-charging process and starts trickle-charging the battery. If the computer is on, it
takes up to 2.5 hours to charge a fully discharged battery, depending on which devices you are using and which programs you are running.
Detecting Battery Problems
A battery problem may prevent the battery from being charged to its full potential and can lead to unpredictable operation. To obtain a new battery,
call Dell or access the Dell World Wide Web site at http://www.dell.com.
Dell suggests you follow these precautions when using the battery:
l To avoid installing a defective battery in your computer, first check the battery's charge, indicated by the battery charge-level indicators on the
battery itself, by pressing the battery test button (
see Figure 4 ).
l If, after you insert the battery into the computer, the computer's battery status indicator ( see Figure 5 ) flashes alternately green and amber,
the battery is too hot to charge. Turn off the computer, and let the battery and computer cool to room temperature.
NOTICE: Never turn off the computer while the drive access indicator is on. Doing so could cause data loss. Instead,
close all of your application programs before you turn off the computer.
NOTICE: If your computer uses a nickel-metal hydride battery and you ignore the first low-battery warning, the
computer may activate S2D mode before displaying a second low-battery warning.
NOTICE: To avoid losing data (and possibly corrupting data areas on your hard-disk drive), save your work
immediately after a second low-battery warning. Then connect your computer to an electrical outlet, or place the
computer in standby mode. If the battery runs completely out of power, the computer shuts off without properly
closing any open files.
NOTE: For maximum battery performance, charge the battery only at normal room temperature.
NOTE: When charging a nickel-metal hydride battery, you may see a sudden rise in the reported charging percentage
from partially charged to fully charged.
NOTICE: If the battery status indicator flashes alternately green and amber while the computer is connected to an
electrical outlet, disconnect the computer from the outlet and allow the computer and the battery to return to room
temperature. Then reconnect the computer to its electrical outlet and continue charging the battery. If the computer is
not allowed to return to room temperature, the battery stops charging before it reaches full capacity.
NOTE: You can leave the battery in the computer as long as you like. The battery's integrated circuitry prevents the
battery from overcharging.
NOTE: If the battery has a 0 (zero) percent charge, you cannot use the battery test button to check the battery's capacity.
The battery gauge indicator will not light if the battery is completely drained.