General Dynamics Itronix | 72-0136-005
GD6000 User Guide
Operating with Battery Power
Entering Low-Power States
From the
Start Menu
, select
Shut Down
to display a dialog that
allows you to manually enter any of these low-power states.
Battery Tips
Tip 1. Avoid excessive heat and cold
Your battery will last longer during the day if it is used, charged
and stored between 50°F and 86°F (10°C and 30°C).
Charge the battery nightly where the temperature will remain
around 68°F (20°C). Your battery may not last as long through the
day if you charge it at higher or lower temperatures.
Allow unrestricted airflow while the computer is connected to
external power. Make sure that the fan inlet and outlet are unob-
structed.
Avoid exposing batteries to hot or cold temperatures for long
periods.
How your battery behaves in warm conditions
To prevent possible damage to the battery, the system may not
allow a charge if the battery temperature is above 122°F (50°C),
such as in a closed, unattended vehicle during the summer. In
this case, the Battery Power Indicator may indicate that the com-
puter has stopped charging your battery; however, your battery
may not be fully charged
If possible, turn off or suspend your computer while the battery
is charging in a warm environment to avoid over-heating
In warmer temperatures, your battery may take much longer to
fully charge
How your battery behaves in cold conditions
When using a battery in cold conditions, the battery capacity
may drain significantly faster
To prevent possible damage to the battery, the system will not al-
low a charge if the battery temperature is below 41°F (5°C), such
as in a closed, unattended vehicle during the winter. In this case,
the Battery Power Indicator may indicate that the computer has
stopped charging your battery; however, your battery may not be
fully charged
In cooler temperatures, your battery can take much longer to
fully charge
Tip 2. Prevent wasted power
Manually turn off or suspend your computer whenever you are
not using it.
Reduce the screen brightness. Decrease brightness by pressing
Fn+F6
. Increase it by pressing
Fn+F7
.
Use the AC adapter or vehicle adapter whenever possible.
Use the General Dynamics Itronix
Power Saver
utility (XP) or
DynaPower
utility (Vista/.Windows 7). These utilities provide
several ways to configure your computer for optimal power sav-
ings, including the ability to turn off unused devices and set the
CPU Speed Limit
(XP) or
Maximum Processor State
(Vista/
Windows 7).
Remove PC Cards. Unplug peripherals when you are not using
them. They may draw power from the system even when not in
use.
Avoid operating the fax/modem, or audio and video applications
when using battery power. Operating a fax/modem, video, or
audio equipment increases the computer’s power requirements.
Don’t use screen savers as they draw excessive current, espe-
cially “3D” screen savers.
Turn off the Wireless LAN when not using it. Turning on the Wire-
less LAN increases the computer’s power requirements.
Avoid or minimize using applications that keep the CPU busy a
large percentage of the time. The following will help you deter-
mine if your system is running such applications:
Identifying power wasting programs
To determine if applications or processes are keeping the CPU
busy:
1.
Start the
Task Manager
utility. To open
Windows Task Man-
ager
, right-click an empty space on the taskbar, and then select
Task Manager
.
2.
Select the
Performance
tab to view running applications, and
the Process tab to view running processes.
3.
Watch the
CPU Usage
. It is okay if the processor usage is oc-
casionally 100 %, but if it is 100% most of the time, this may
indicate a problem.
What to do if applications are keeping the CPU busy
If possible, close any applications that keep the CPU busy when
you are not using them
Turn off or suspend your computer whenever you are not using
it. This will help to conserve power
Tip 3. Calibrate your battery
Over time, the accuracy of the Windows battery gas gauge
may be affected by repeated charging and discharging of the
battery. Calibrating the battery every three or four months
helps to keep the gas gauge accurate. Refer to
Battery Calibra-
tion
for more information.
Tip 4. Get a good charge
Your computer will charge more quickly if it is turned off or
suspended.
In warmer or cooler temperatures, your battery can take much
longer to fully charge.
