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United States January 3, 2003
Presario 1600 Series
Models: 1683, 1685, 1687, 1688, 1690, 1692, 1693, and 1694
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:
● Increase battery pack operating time
● Conditioning a battery pack
● Disposal 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.
Minimizing the Energy Required
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.
To minimize the energy required by the computer, follow these steps:
● Set the power conservation levels in the Power Management utility to
Maximum.
● 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.
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 premature termination 2:00 hrs
Li ion Battery Pack 4.5 hours premature termination 2:50 hrs
Disposal 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 expose
potentially harmful battery components.
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