Dell Inspiron 8600, Owner'S Manual

Page: 46 / 174

46 Using Batteries and Module Bay Devices
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For more information about QuickSet, right-click the icon in the taskbar and click
Help .
Microsoft Windows Power Meter
The Windows power meter indicates the remaining battery charge. To check the power
meter, double-click the
icon on the taskbar. For more information on the Power Meter
tab, see the Tell Me How help file. To access the help file, see page 94.
If the computer is connected to an electrical outlet, a icon appears.
Charge Gauge
Before you insert a battery, press 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.
Health Gauge
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. To check the battery health, 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 page 132 for more information about the
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, or install a second battery in the
module bay. If the battery runs completely out of power, hibernate mode begins automatically.
A low-battery warning occurs when the battery charge is approximately 90 percent depleted.
The computer beeps once, indicating that minimal battery operating time remains. During
that time, the speaker beeps periodically. If two batteries are installed, the low-battery
warning means that the combined charge of both batteries is approximately 90 percent
depleted. The computer enters hibernate mode when the battery charge is at a critically low
level. For more information on low-battery alarms, see the
Tell Me How help file. To access
the help file, see page 94.