Acer Aspire 1400, User Manual

Page: 46 / 110

Operating on battery power 36
When the computer is in use with the AC adapter plugged in, the computer fully
charges the battery pack in approximately 9 hours.
Note: We suggest that you charge the battery pack before retiring for the day,
letting it charge overnight before traveling. This ensures a fully charged battery
for use the next day.
Checking the battery level
The Windows battery meter indicates the present battery level. Simply rest your
cursor on the battery meter (or AC plug) icon on the taskbar to see the present charge
level of your battery.
Optimizing battery life
This section helps you get the most out of battery operation. Optimizing battery life
prolongs the charge/recharge cycle and improves recharge efficiency. Follow these
suggestions to optimize and maximize battery power:
•
Purchase an extra battery pack.
•
Use the AC adapter whenever possible so that the battery is reserved for on-the-
go computing.
•
Keep the battery pack in the computer powered by the AC adapter. The constant
trickle charge maintains the battery level to eliminate the battery self-discharge
effect. The charge-in-use function also charges the battery pack.
•
Disable the parallel port if no devices are connected to this port. You can do this
through the BIOS Setup Utility. See “Others” on page 69.
•
Eject the PC Card from the slot when it is not in use, since the PC Card draws
extra power. See “Ejecting a card” on page 47.
•
Store the battery pack in a cool, dry place. The recommended storage
temperature for battery packs ranges from 10 to 30 degrees Celsius. The higher
the storage temperature, the faster the battery pack self-discharges.
•
The batteries can be recharged about 400 times when used as directed. Excessive
recharging decreases battery life.
•
Take care of your battery pack and AC adapter. See “Taking care of your
computer” on page viii of the preface.
As1400.book Page 36 Monday, March 11, 2002 11:45 AM