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. That is, 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-level 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

appear, 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

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. If no lights appear,

the battery is in good condition, and more than 80 percent of its original charge capacity remains. Each light represents incremental degradation. If five lights

appear, less than 60 percent of the charge capacity remains, and you should consider replacing the battery. See Battery

battery operating time.

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, hibernate mode begins automatically.

A pop-up window warns you when the battery charge is approximately 90 percent depleted. The computer enters hibernate mode when the battery charge is

at a critically low level.

You can change the settings for the battery alarms in QuickSet or the Power Options Properties window. See

information about accessing QuickSet or the Power Options Properties window.

Charging the Battery

NOTE:

When the computer is turned off, the AC adapter charges a completely discharged battery to 80 percent in about 90 minutes. Full battery charge

time will be longer. 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

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

Conserving Battery Power

Perform the following actions to conserve battery power:

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

recharged.

Place the computer in standby mode or hibernate mode when you leave the computer unattended for long periods of time. See

Modes.