Using a Battery. Dell Inspiron 1420

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Using a Battery

Battery Performance

NOTE:

For information about the Dell warranty for your computer, see the

Product Information Guide or separate paper warranty document that shipped with your computer.

For optimal computer performance and to help preserve BIOS settings, operate your Dell™ portable computer with the main battery installed at all times. One battery is supplied as standard equipment in the battery bay.

NOTE:

Because the battery may not be fully charged, use the AC adapter to connect your new computer to an electrical outlet the first time you use the computer. For best results, operate the computer with the AC adapter until the battery is fully charged. To view battery charge status, place the mouse cursor over the battery icon in the Windows notification area.

NOTE:

Battery operating time (the time the battery can hold a charge) decreases over time. Depending on how often the battery is used and the conditions under which it is used, you may need to purchase a new battery during the life of your computer.

NOTE:

It is recommended that you connect your computer to an electrical outlet when writing to media.

Battery operating time varies depending on operating conditions. Operating time is significantly reduced when you perform operations including, but not limited to, the following:

• Using optical drives.

• Using wireless communications devices, ExpressCards, media memory cards, or USB devices.

• Using high-brightness display settings, 3D screen savers, or other powerintensive programs such as complex 3D graphics applications.

•

Running the computer in maximum performance mode (see "Configuring

Power Management Settings" on page 48 for information about accessing

Windows Power Options Properties, which you can use to configure power management settings).

Using a Battery

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 battery is designed to work with your Dell computer. Do not use batteries 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 "Battery Disposal" in the

Product Information Guide ).

CAUTION:

Misuse of the battery may increase the risk of fire or chemical burn.

Do not puncture, incinerate, disassemble, or expose the battery to temperatures above 65°C (149°F). Keep the battery away from children. Handle damaged or leaking batteries with extreme care. Damaged batteries may leak and cause personal injury or equipment damage.

Checking the Battery Charge

You can check the battery charge on your computer using any one of the following methods:

• Dell QuickSet Battery Meter

• Microsoft Windows battery meter icon located in the notification area

• Battery charge/health gauge located on the battery

• Low-battery warning pop-up window

Dell QuickSet Battery Meter

To view the Dell QuickSet Battery Meter:

• Double-click the Dell QuickSet icon in the taskbar, and then click

Battery Meter or

• Press <Fn><F3>

The Battery Meter displays the status, battery health, charge level, and charge completion time for the battery in your computer.

For more information about QuickSet, right-click the QuickSet icon, and then click Help .

Using a Battery

Microsoft

Windows

Battery Meter

The battery meter indicates the remaining battery charge. To check the battery meter, double-click the icon in the notification area.

Charge Gauge

By either pressing once or pressing and holding the status button on the battery charge gauge, you can check:

• Battery charge (check by pressing and releasing the status button)

• Battery health (check by pressing and holding the status button)

The battery operating time is largely determined by the number of times it is charged. After hundreds of charge and discharge cycles, batteries lose some charge capacity—or battery health. Therefore, a battery can show a status of charged, but maintain a reduced charge capacity (health).

Check the Battery Charge

To check the battery charge, press and release the status button on the battery charge gauge to illuminate the charge indicator lights. Each light represents approximately 20 percent of the total battery charge. For example, if the battery has 80 percent of its charge remaining, four of the lights are on. If no lights are on, the battery has no charge.

Check the Battery Health

NOTE:

You can check battery health in one of two ways: by using the charge gauge on the battery, as described below, and by using the Battery Meter in Dell QuickSet.

For information about QuickSet, right-click the QuickSet icon in the notification area, and then click Help .

To check the battery health using the charge gauge, press and hold the status button on the battery charge gauge for at least 3 seconds to illuminate the health indicator lights. Each light represents incremental degradation. If no lights appear, the battery is in good condition, and more than 80 percent of its original charge capacity remains. If five lights appear, less than 60 percent of the charge capacity remains, and you should consider replacing the battery (see

"Battery" on page 172 for more information about the battery operating time).

Using a Battery

Low-Battery Warning

NOTICE:

To avoid losing or corrupting data, save your work immediately after a low-battery warning, then connect the computer to an electrical outlet. If the battery runs completely out of power, Sleep state begins automatically.

A pop-up window warns you when the battery charge is approximately 90 percent depleted. The computer enters Sleep state when the battery charge is at a critically low level.

You can change the settings for the battery alarms in Dell QuickSet or the

Power Options

window (see "Configuring Power Management Settings" on page 48).

Conserving Battery Power

To conserve battery power on your portable computer, do any of the following:

• Connect the computer to an electrical outlet when possible; battery life is largely determined by the number of times the battery is used and recharged.

• Configure the power management settings using Microsoft Windows

Power Options to optimize your computer’s power usage (see "Configuring

Power Management Settings" on page 48).

• Use the Sleep power state when you leave the computer unattended for

long periods of time (see "Using the Sleep Power State" on page 49).

Configuring Power Management Settings

You can use Windows Power Options to configure the power management settings on your computer.

To use Windows Power Options, do one of the following:

• Click Start → Control Panel → Hardware and Sound → Power Options , and then select a power plan in the Select a power plan window.

• Click the icon in the notification area , click Power Options , and then select a plan in the Select a power plan window.

Using a Battery

Using the Sleep Power State

Rather than shutting down your portable computer, use the Sleep power state to conserve power. Sleep automatically saves your work to your hard drive, and then returns you to your previous work session without restarting your computer.

NOTICE:

If your computer loses AC and battery power while in Sleep state, it may lose data.

To enter Sleep state:

• Click the Start , click , and then click Sleep .

• Depending on how you set the power management options in the

Windows Power Options, use one of the following methods:

• Press the power button.

• Close the display.

• Press <Fn><Esc>.

To exit Sleep state, press the power button.

Charging the Battery

NOTE:

Charge time is longer with the computer turned on. You can leave the battery in the computer for as long as you like. The battery’s internal circuitry prevents the battery from overcharging.

When you connect the computer to an electrical outlet or install a battery while the computer is connected to an electrical outlet, the computer checks the battery charge and temperature. If necessary, the AC adapter then charges the battery and maintains the battery charge.

If the battery is hot from being used in your computer or being in a hot environment, the battery may not charge when you connect the computer to an electrical outlet.

The battery is too hot to start charging if the battery light flashes alternately blue and amber. Disconnect the computer from the electrical outlet and allow the computer and the battery to cool to room temperature, then connect the computer to an electrical outlet to continue charging the battery.

For more information about resolving problems with a battery, see "Power

Problems" on page 114.

Using a Battery

Replacing the Battery

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 battery is designed to work with your Dell computer. Do not use batteries from other computers with your computer.

CAUTION:

Before performing these procedures, turn off the computer, disconnect the AC adapter from the electrical outlet and the computer, disconnect the modem from the wall connector and the computer, and remove any other external cables from the computer.

NOTICE:

You must remove all external cables from the computer to avoid possible connector damage.

NOTICE:

If you choose to replace the battery with the computer in Sleep state, you have up to 1 minute to complete the battery replacement before the computer shuts down and loses any unsaved data.

To remove the battery:

1 Ensure that the computer is turned off.

2 Turn the computer over.

3 Slide and click the battery release latches to keep them open.

4 Slide the battery out of the bay.

1 2

1 battery 2 battery release latches (2)

To replace the battery, follow the removal procedure in reverse order.