United States January 3, 2003
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Presario 1200 Series
Models: 1255, 1256, 1260, 1262, 1266, 1267, 1272, 1273, 1274, and 1275
Before You Begin Specifications Parts Catalog
Removal Sequence Troubleshooting Battery Operations
Product Description Pin Assignments Index
Battery Pack Operating Time
This appendix covers the following information concerning battery pack operating time:
● Increasing battery pack operating time
● Conditioning a battery pack
● Disposing of a used battery pack

Increasing Battery Pack Operating Time

Battery pack operating time differs depending on several variables. To avoid
unnecessary replacement, consider the following variables when determining how long a
charged battery pack should last:
● Power management settings
● Hardware configuration
● Software applications
● Installed options
● Display brightness
● Hard drive usage
● Changes in operating temperature
● Type and number of installed PC Cards
NOTE: The power consumption requirements for PC Cards vary widely. Some cards drain
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:
1. Set the power conservation levels in the Power Management utility to Maximum.
2. 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.
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Conditioning a Battery Pack

CAUTION: To avoid a loss of data, ensure that all data is saved before discharging a
battery pack.
To condition a battery pack, complete the following steps:
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.
3. Your battery is re-conditioned.
4. Plug in the AC adapter and begin using the computer.
The table below shows the approximate battery pack charge times.
Approximate Battery Charge Time
Computer On Line Off Line
NiMH Battery Pack 4.0 hours 2:00 hrs
Li ion Battery Pack 4.5 hours 2:50 hrs

Disposing of a Used Battery Pack

In the interest of safeguarding our environment, Compaq Computer Corporation recommends that
nickel metal hydride (NiMH) and lithium ion (Li ion) battery packs be recycled. Battery packs
should be handled in accordance with country, state, province, or local regulations.
CAUTION: Never attempt to open or service a battery pack. Opening a battery pack
not only damages the pack and makes it unusable, but also exposes potentially harmful
battery components.
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