About The Batteries - Dell Latitude CPx J Series User Manual

Back to Contents Page
Batteries: Dell™ Latitude™ CPx H-Series/J-Series User's Guide

About the Batteries

Charging a Hot Battery
Battery Usage
Installing a Battery in the Battery Bay
Installing a Second Battery
Battery Charge Gauge
First Low-Battery Warning
About the Batteries
Your computer's lithium ion battery provides power when an electrical outlet is not available. A battery in the battery bay
is standard with the computer. Lithium ion batteries are longer lived than conventional batteries and do not require
replacement as often. To double battery life, install a second battery in the modular bay. Lithium ion batteries do not
have the "memory effect" that is exhibited by nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) and nickel-cadmium (NiCD) batteries. You do
not need to drain a lithium ion battery completely before recharging it. A lithium ion battery will not "forget" at which point
it is fully charged. NiMH and NiCD batteries may not charge fully if they are partially drained then recharged.
The lithium ion 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:
You can expect 2.5 to 5 hours of battery life with a single fully charged battery and 6 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.
When two batteries are installed, the AC adapter first charges the battery in the battery bay.
The integrated charge gauge
The battery's self-test capability alerts you to battery conditions such as low charge.
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.
A battery has a life span of up to 500 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:
Second Low-Battery Warning
Charging the Battery
Detecting Battery Problems
Battery Disposal
About Battery Power
Turning the Computer On
lets you check a battery's charge before you insert it into the computer.