Dell Inspiron 3700 Reference Manual page 98

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.
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.
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
battery that has been completely discharged. 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.
NOTE: You can leave the battery in the computer as long as you like. The battery's integrated circuitry prevents the
battery from overcharging.
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:
To avoid installing a defective battery in your computer, first check the battery's charge, indicated by the battery charge-level indicators on the
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battery itself, by pressing the battery test button
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.
If, after you insert the battery in the computer, the computer's battery status indicator
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battery is too hot to charge. Turn off the computer, and let the battery and computer cool to room temperature.
If, after you insert the battery in the computer, the computer's battery status indicator
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connect or disconnect the AC adapter or when you press the power button, you need to replace the battery.
If, after you insert the battery in the computer, the computer's battery status indicator
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defective and needs to be replaced.
Battery Disposal
When your battery no longer holds a charge, call your local waste disposal agency or environmental agency for advice on disposal of the
computer's lithium-ion battery.
CAUTION: Do not puncture or incinerate the battery.
NOTES: This computer is supplied with a lithium-ion battery, which is significantly less hazardous to the environment than
the lithium metal technology used in some other batteries (such as watch batteries).
Lithium-ion batteries are longer lived than conventional batteries and do not require replacement as often. Spent
batteries should not be placed in common household waste products. Contact local authorities for the location of a
chemical waste collection program nearest you. To purchase a new battery, call Dell or access the Dell World Wide Web
site at http://www.dell.com.
About Battery Power
You automatically conserve battery power each time you attach the computer to an electrical outlet. The battery is even being recharged when you
use AC power. The battery's life expectancy is largely determined by the number of charges it receives, so use an electrical outlet to run the
computer whenever possible.
You can customize power management by individually controlling the computer's power conservation features. These features reduce power
consumption by monitoring application programs and computer devices for inactivity and slowing down or stopping some of the computer's
internal devices.
NOTES: When you use power conservation features, you often trade some of the performance of the computer for
increased battery operating time. For example, if you turn off the hard-disk drive, you may experience a delay the next
time the computer tries to access the hard-disk drive.
(see Figure 4).
(see Figure 5) flashes alternately green and amber, the
(see Figure 5) flashes amber for 4 seconds when you
(see Figure 5) flashes rapidly amber, the battery is