Compaq Presario 1246 Maintenance & Service Manual page 30

"Compaq.com - Compaq Presario Series Maintenance and Service Guide - Models: 1246, 1277, 1278, and 1279
The power consumption requirements for PC Cards vary widely. Some cards drain
NOTE:
the battery pack very rapidly.
Battery pack operating time can be increased by as much as 50 percent by controlling the energy
required by the computer and the energy stored in the battery pack.
Minimizing the Energy Required
To minimize the energy required by the computer, follow these steps:
Set the power conservation levels in the Power Management utility to Maximum.
Customize the timeout value to work more efficiently with the applications.
The amount of battery life depends on the values selected.
Maximizing the Energy Stored
To maximize the energy stored in the battery pack, follow these guidelines:
Condition the battery pack at least every 30 days to improve overall battery
performance.
Keep a battery pack in the computer when using it with AC power to supply the
battery pack with a constant trickle charge.
Store the battery pack in a cool, dry place when not in use.
Conditioning a Battery Pack
CAUTION: To avoid a loss of data, ensure that all data is saved before discharging a
CAUTION.
battery pack.
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(182
To condition a battery pack, complete the following steps:
bytes)
1. Plug in the AC adapter and allow the battery to charge until the LED light on the display
stops blinking. Your battery gauge may read 100 percent for a period of time before LED
light on the display stops blinking. Do not unplug the AC adapter until the arrow
disappears.
2. Unplug the AC adapter and allow the battery to drain until the computer reaches
hibernation and turns itself off. Do not plug in the AC adapter during this process or
you will need to restart with Step No. 1. You may use the computer while the battery
is draining.
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