Battery Performance Removing and Installing a Reserve Battery
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NOTE: Batteries for portable computers are covered under warranty only during the initial 1-year period of the limited warranty for the computer. For more information about the Dell warranty for the computer, see the System Information Guide or separate paper warranty document that shipped with your computer. |
For optimal computer performance and to help preserve BIOS settings, operate your Dell™ portable computer with the main battery installed at all times. Use a battery to run the computer when the computer is not connected to an electrical outlet. One battery is supplied as standard equipment in the battery bay.
Battery operating time varies depending on operating conditions. Operating time is significantly reduced when you perform operations including, but not limited to, the following:
You can check the battery charge on the bottom of the computer. You can also set power management options to alert you when the battery charge is low.
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NOTE: For more information on maximizing battery operating time, see "Power Management." |
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NOTE: It is recommended that you connect your computer to an electrical outlet when writing to a CD. |
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CAUTION: Using an incompatible battery may increase the risk of fire or explosion. Replace the battery only with a compatible battery purchased from Dell. The lithium-ion battery is designed to work with your Dell™ computer. Do not use a battery from other computers with your computer. |
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CAUTION: Do not dispose of batteries with household waste. When your battery no longer holds a charge, call your local waste disposal or environmental agency for advice on disposing of a lithium-ion battery. See the battery disposal instructions in your System Information Guide. |
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CAUTION: Misuse of the battery may increase the risk of fire or chemical burn. Do not puncture, incinerate, disassemble, or expose the battery to temperatures above 65°C (149°F). Keep the battery away from children. Handle damaged or leaking batteries with extreme care. Damaged batteries may leak and cause personal injury or equipment damage. |
The Dell QuickSet battery meter, Microsoft® Windows® power meter window and 
icon, the battery charge gauge and health gauge, and the low-battery warning provide information on the battery charge.
For more information about checking the charge on the second battery, see "Using the Module Bay."
Press <Fn><F3> to display the QuickSet Battery Meter.
The Battery Meter screen displays status, charge level, and charge completion time for the primary and secondary batteries in your computer.
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NOTE: You can use your docking device to charge a computer battery. However, a battery in a docking device does not power the docking device or computer. |
In addition, when your computer is connected to a docking device (docked), the Battery Meter screen includes a Dock Battery tab, which displays the charge level and current status of the docking device battery.
The following icons appear in the Battery Meter screen:
For more information about QuickSet, right-click the 
icon in the taskbar, and click Help.
The Windows power meter indicates the remaining battery charge. To check the power meter, double-click the 
icon on the taskbar. For more information on the Power Meter tab, see "Power Management."
If the computer is connected to an electrical outlet, a 
icon appears.
Press the status button on the battery charge gauge to illuminate the charge-level lights. Each light represents approximately 20 percent of the total battery charge. For example, if the battery has 80 percent of its charge remaining, four of the lights are on. If no lights appear, the battery has no charge.
The battery operating time is largely determined by the number of times it is charged. After hundreds of charge and discharge cycles, batteries lose some charge capacity, or battery health. To check the battery health, press and hold the status button on the battery charge gauge for at least 3 seconds. If no lights appear, the battery is in good condition, and more than 80 percent of its original charge capacity remains. Each light represents incremental degradation. If five lights appear, less than 60 percent of the charge capacity remains, and you should consider replacing the battery. See "Specifications" for more information about the battery operating time.
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NOTICE: To avoid losing or corrupting data, save your work immediately after a low-battery warning. Then connect the computer to an electrical outlet, or install a second battery in the module bay. If the battery runs completely out of power, hibernate mode begins automatically. |
A low-battery warning occurs when the battery charge is approximately 90 percent depleted. The computer beeps once, indicating that minimal battery operating time remains. During that time, the speaker beeps periodically. If two batteries are installed, the low-battery warning means that the combined charge of both batteries is approximately 90 percent depleted. The computer enters hibernate mode when the battery charge is at a critically low level. For more information on low-battery alarms, see "Power Management."
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NOTE: The AC adapter charges a discharged battery in approximately 1 hour with the computer turned off. Charge time is longer with the computer turned on. You can leave the battery in the computer as long as you like. The battery internal circuitry prevents the battery from overcharging. |
When you connect the computer to an electrical outlet or install a battery while the computer is connected to an electrical outlet, the computer checks the battery charge and temperature. If necessary, the AC adapter then charges the battery and maintains the battery charge.
If the battery is hot from being used in your computer or being in a hot environment, the battery may not charge when you connect the computer to an electrical outlet until the battery is allowed to cool.
For more information on resolving problems with a battery, see "Power Problems."
For more information about removing the second battery, see "Using the Module Bay."
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CAUTION: Before performing these procedures, turn off the computer, disconnect it from the electrical outlet, and disconnect the modem from the telephone wall jack. |
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CAUTION: Before performing any of the following procedures computer, read and follow the safety instructions in your System Information Guide. |
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NOTICE: If you choose to replace the battery with the computer in standby mode, you have up to 90 seconds to complete the battery replacement before the computer shuts down and loses any unsaved data. |
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CAUTION: Before performing any of the following procedures computer, read and follow the safety instructions in your System Information Guide. |
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reserve battery cable |
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connector |
3 |
reserve battery |
Slide the battery into the bay until the latch release clicks.
For more information about installing the second battery, see "Using the Module Bay."
Remove the battery when you store your computer for an extended period of time. A battery discharges during prolonged storage. After a long storage period, recharge the battery fully before you use it.
