Apple 3400 Series manual Monitoring the battery charge, Responding to low-power messages

In addition, the PowerBook contains a rechargeable backup cell to keep system information such as date and time. The backup cell is automatically recharged whenever the external AC adapter is connected. The backup cell also provides 4 minutes of power during system sleep while you change the main battery. (See “Removing or Replacing the Battery” later in this chapter for more information about changing batteries.)

Monitoring the battery charge

There are four ways you can determine the charge level of your battery:

mLook in the battery monitor portion of the Control Strip.

For information on the battery monitor, see the “Batteries & Power” topic area of Mac OS Guide, available in the Guide (h) menu.

mSee low-power messages on your display.

mLook at the battery level icon next to the clock in the menu bar.

mLook at the battery indicator level lights on the battery, visible when the battery is out of the computer. (These lights are only on the lithium ion battery.)

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Responding to low-power messages

When the battery runs low, the computer displays a series of low-power messages. The work time remaining after you see the first message varies depending on how you are using the computer. It’s a good idea to act promptly.

What you should do

When you see a low-power message, you should do the following:

Plug in the power adapter, or

Save your work and shut down the computer, then

Quickly replace the empty battery with a charged one (within 30 seconds, if possible).

IMPORTANT Always save your work when you see a low-power message.

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