Frequently Asked Questions About Dell Laptop Battery

COMPAQ 436281-241 Laptop Battery
TOSHIBA Satellite M50 Series Laptop AC adapter
TOSHIBA SATELLITE PRO L300 SERIES Laptop Battery
TOSHIBA PA3399U-2BRS Laptop Battery
TOSHIBA PA3287U-1BRS Laptop Battery, Li-ion, 8800.00mAh, 10.80V

Some Battery Terms, see the Dell Laptop Battery Glossary

1. How long does a Dell laptop battery last? When should I consider replacing mine?
2. How long am I able to use my Dell laptop on a fully charged battery?
3. How do I charge my Dell laptop battery?
4. How long does it take for a Dell laptop battery to fully recharge?
5. Should I totally discharge, then recharge my Dell laptop battery occasionally to make it last longer?
6. Can a Dell laptop battery be "overcharged"?
7. Does Dell sell external battery chargers?
8. Is it easy to install a battery?.
9. Will Dell laptops accept non-Dell batteries?
10. What is a modular bay battery?
11. If I install a modular bay battery, are my primary and modular bay batteries working at the same time to power my laptop computer?
12. Does it really help to store batteries in the refrigerator?

1. How long does a Dell laptop battery last? When should I consider replacing mine?

   All rechargeable batteries wear out with time and usage. As time and cumulative use increase, the performance will degrade. For the typical user, noticeable reduction in run time generally will be observed after 18 to 24 months. For a power user, reduction in run time generally may be experienced prior to 18 months. We recommend buying a new Dell laptop battery when the run time does not meet your needs.

2. How long am I able to use my Dell laptop on a fully charged battery?

   Many factors affect the amount of time that a portable computer battery can deliver power before it must be recharged. These factors include the configuration (processor, memory, etc.), types of applications being run and display brightness.
   Dell uses industry standard benchmarks for battery run time claims. For more information on battery run times and benchmarks, the white paper, "Understanding Battery Life in Portable Computers" is available.

3. How do I charge my Dell laptop battery?

   The battery charges in the laptop when the laptop is connected to an AC power source via the AC adapter.

4. How long does it take for a Dell laptop battery to fully recharge?

   The charge time varies depending on the system. If the system supports ExpressCharge, the battery typically will have greater than 80% charge after about an hour of charging, and fully charge in about 2 hours with the system off.

5. Should I totally discharge, then recharge my Dell laptop battery occasionally to make it last longer?

   No, discharging and charging does not increase the life of a Lithium Ion technology battery.

6. Can a Dell laptop battery be "overcharged"?

   No, the battery is designed to stop using the charger when it reaches full charge.

7. Does Dell sell external battery chargers?

   Dell offers a Datamation battery charger for large institution customers. The charger has 16 charge bays to charge batteries for Latitude D500/D505/D510/D520/D600/D610 laptop systems. The product can be found at www.exceldigital.org.uk.

8. Is it easy to install a battery?
   

   Yes, very easy. First, make sure all open files are saved. Next, either attach the AC adapter directly to the laptop or set the system to "hibernate" mode or shut off. Release the latch on the current battery, and simply install the replacement battery.

9. Will Dell laptops accept non-Dell batteries?

   Dell has a rigorous qualification process by which all Dell batteries are validated to ensure proper function, performance and safety. Some non-Dell batteries are available in the market with claims of compatibility with Dell systems. Dell cannot verify these claims, nor the safety of using them in a Dell system. Dell strongly encourages our customers to use only Dell laptop batteries advertised as appropriate for their laptop model. Only Dell laptop batteries come with a 1-year warranty, are engineered for optimal safety and performance for Dell systems, and are supported by Dell technical support for the length of the warranty period.

10. What is a modular bay battery?

    In some laptop systems Dell offers a battery that can be used in the optical drive media bay (DVD/CD drive bay). This enables the use of two batteries, potentially extending the available run time.

11. If I install a modular bay battery, are my primary and modular bay batteries working at the same time to power my laptop computer? No, the modular bay battery is used first, then the system automatically switches to the primary battery. This is a deliberate design to allow the most amount of run time to remain in the primary battery in case the modular bay battery is removed and replaced with an optical drive.
    
12. What does Dell recommend for battery storage for a long period of time? When storing for more than 4 days these guidelines can better preserve the life of your battery:
    • Do not store batteries for long periods plugged into or attached to any power source. This includes AC adapters and laptop security carts plugged into an outlet.
    • Laptop batteries, including those stored in laptop systems, should maintain an Operational Storage Temperature of 0° to 35°C (32° to 95°F).
    • Batteries may be stored in the laptop or outside of the laptop.
    • Charge batteries before storing. The recommended charging time should not exceed 1 hour. Typically, this should charge the battery to between 80% and 100%. (Some discharge will take place over time. Stored batteries are expected to discharge 10-15% over a four month period, for your information.)

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