Checking battery status
The Power Manager battery gauge on the taskbar displays the percentage of battery power remaining.
The rate at which you use battery power will determine how long you can use the battery of your computer between charges. Because each computer user has different habits and needs, it is difficult to predict how long a battery charge will last. There are two main factors:
•How much energy is stored in the battery when you begin to work.
•The way you use your computer: how often you access the hard disk drive, how bright you make the computer display.
Using the ac power adapter
The power to run your computer can come either from the
The ac power adapter that comes with your computer has two basic components:
•The transformer pack that converts ac power adapter for use with the computer.
•The power cord that plugs into the ac outlet and into the transformer pack.
Attention: Using an improper power cord could cause severe damage to your computer.
Connecting the ac power adapter
To use the ac power adapter, do the following. Be sure to take these steps in the order in which they are given here.
1.Connect the ac power adapter to the power jack of the computer.
2.Connect the power cord to the transformer pack.
3.Plug the power cord into an electrical outlet.
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.
•Before you charge the battery, make sure that its temperature is at least 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit).
•You can charge the battery when the ac power adapter is connected to the computer and the battery is installed. You need to charge it in any of the following conditions:
–When you purchase a new battery
–If the battery meter at the bottom of your display shows the battery charge is low
–If the battery has not been used for a long time
Charging the battery
When you check battery status and find that the percentage of power remaining is low or when the power alarm alerts you that the remaining power is low, you need to charge your battery or replace it with a charged battery.
If an ac outlet is convenient, plug the ac power adapter into it, and then insert the jack into the computer. The battery will charge in about 3 to 6 hours. This is affected by the battery size and the physical environment.
Chapter 2. Using your computer 35
