Looking After Your Battery - Toshiba Tecra 500CS User Manual

000-book.bk : 06-road.fm5 Page 162 Thursday, May 16, 1996 2:07 PM
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Taking Your Computer on the Road

Looking After Your Battery

Looking After Your Battery
It doesn't take much effort, but by treating your battery right you
can make sure it provides maximum power storage for a long
time. The following sections offer tips on how to take care of your
battery.
Safety Precautions
Never try to disassemble a battery pack.
Don't overcharge or reverse charge a battery. Overcharging
will shorten it life and reverse charging could destroy it, caus-
ing the release of toxic fumes.
Never incinerate a spend battery as this will cause it to explode
releasing toxic materials.
If a battery is leaking or damaged, replace it immediately. Use
protective gloves when handling a damaged battery.
When you need to replace the main battery, use an identical
battery from the same manufacturer.
Five Steps to a Happy Battery
Don't leave the computer plugged in and unused for more than
a week at a time. If you're not going to use the computer for a
long period, disconnect the power cord and let the battery dis-
charge completely.
Alternate between batteries if you have a spare.
Don't touch the metal terminals on the battery with another
metal object.
Always turn your computer off when you're replacing the
battery pack
Store spare battery packs in a cool dry place out of direct
sunlight.
Part I: Getting to Know Your Computer