Dell 8500 manual Using a Battery, Battery Performance

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NOTE: Batteries for portable computers are covered only during the initial one-year period of the limited warranty for your computer (see page 163).

NOTE: The module bay in your computer supports a second battery. The Dell D/Bay does not support a second battery.

NOTE: It is recommended that you connect your computer to an electrical outlet when writing to a CD.

NOTE: You can conserve battery life by setting the

Maximum Power Savings option for your graphics card. For more information, see the documentation that came with your graphics card.

Using a Battery

Battery Performance

Use a battery to power the computer when it is not connected to an electrical outlet. One battery is supplied as standard equipment in the battery bay.

Battery operating time varies depending on operating conditions. With average usage, you may expect from 3 to 4 hours from a single fully charged battery. You can install an optional second battery in the module bay to significantly increase operating time. For more information about the second battery, see page 52.

Operating time is significantly reduced when you perform operations including, but not limited to, the following:

•Using optical drives, especially DVD and CD-RW drives

•Using wireless communications devices, PC Cards, or USB devices

•Using high-brightness display settings, 3D screen savers, or other power-intensive programs such as 3D games

•Running the computer in maximum performance mode

You can check the battery charge before you insert the battery into the computer. You can also set power management options to alert you when the battery charge is low.

CAUTION: Using an incompatible battery may increase the risk of

fire or explosion. Replace the battery only with a compatible battery purchased from Dell. The lithium-ion battery is designed to work with your Dell™ computer. Do not use a battery from other computers with your computer.

CAUTION: Do not dispose of batteries with household waste. When your battery no longer holds a charge, call your local waste disposal or environmental agency for advice on disposing of a lithium-ion battery. See page 17.

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Using Batteries and Module Bay Devices