Dell Inspiron 7500, System Reference Manual

Page: 98 / 165

1.
Connect the computer to the AC adapter.
2. Install the main battery and/or a second battery in the computer.
The battery starts charging immediately. The battery light-emitting diode (LED) on the front of the computer appears as a solid green light
while the battery is charging.
If you remove a battery from the computer while the battery is charging, the indicator lights on the battery will
stay lit for a few minutes.
Checking a Battery's Charge Level
If you are using the Microsoft ® Windows ® 98 operating system, click the Start button, point to Settings , and then click Control Panel . Double-
click the Power Management icon to open the Power Management Properties window. For more information, check the documentation that
came with your operating system.
You can also use the power meter, the charge gauge, and the low-battery warning for information about the status of the battery's charge.
Power Meter
The Windows 98 power meter displays a battery icon that indicates the amount of battery charge remaining. If an AC adapter is connected to the
computer, the power meter displays a plug icon. The power meter icons are visible in the taskbar at the bottom of the desktop.
To access the power meter, place the cursor over the battery or plug icon.
Alternatively, click the Start button, point to Settings , and then click Control Panel . Double-click the Power Management icon to open the
Power Management Properties window.
For more information about the power meter, see your Windows 98 documentation.
Charge Gauge
The battery has a charge gauge with five charge-level indicator lights (see Figures 3 and 4) that show how much battery charge remains. Check
the battery charge level before you insert the battery into your computer. Press the status button to the right of the lights to check the charge level.
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 none of the lights are on, the battery has no charge left. After you insert the battery, you cannot see the charge gauge.
NOTICE: If only one or none of the charge-level indicator lights are lit, the battery's charge is critically low. Do not use the battery
unless the computer is connected to an electrical outlet or unless you install a second charged battery.
Figure 3. Charge-Level Indicator Lights
Figure 4. Close-Up of Charge-Level Indicator Lights
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1 Status button
2 Indicator lights