Using The Battery - ThinkPad P50 User Manual

Tips on using the ac power adapter
• When the ac power adapter is not in use, disconnect it from the electrical outlet.
• Do not bind the power cord tightly around the ac power adapter transformer pack when it is connected to
the transformer.

Using the battery

When you use your computer away from electrical outlets, you depend on battery power to keep your
computer running. Different computer components consume power at different rates. The more you use the
power-intensive components, the faster you consume battery power.
Spend more time unplugged with ThinkPad batteries. Mobility has revolutionized business by enabling you to
take your work wherever you go. With ThinkPad batteries, you are able to work longer without being tied to
an electrical outlet.
Checking the battery status
Move your pointer to the battery-status icon in the Windows notification area to check the battery status. The
battery-status icon displays the percentage of battery power remaining and how long you can use your
computer before you must charge the battery.
The rate at which you use battery power determines how long you can use the battery of your computer
between charges. Because every computer user has individual habits and needs, it is difficult to predict how
long a battery charge lasts. There are two main factors:
• How much energy is stored in the battery when you begin to work
• The way you use your computer, for example:
– How often you access the storage drive
– How bright you make the computer display
– How often you use the wireless feature
Enabling the battery alarm on the Windows 7 operating system
For the Windows 7 operating system, you can configure your computer so that when the battery power falls
below a certain level, three events occur: the alarm goes off, a message is displayed, and the computer
display is turned off.
To enable the battery alarm, do the following:
1. Start the Power Manager program. See "Accessing Lenovo programs" on page 14.
2. Click the Global Power Settings tab.
3. For Low battery alarm or Critically low battery alarm, set the percentage of the power level and set
the action.
Note: If your computer enters sleep or hibernation mode when the battery power is low without the alarm
message, the message is displayed when the computer resumes. To resume normal operation, click OK
when the message is displayed.
Charging the battery
When you find that the remaining battery power is low, charge your battery or replace the battery with a
charged battery.
If an ac outlet is convenient, connect the computer to ac power. The battery is fully charged in about four to
eight hours. The actual charging time depends on the battery size, the physical environment, and whether
.
Chapter 2 Using your computer
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