CHAPTER 5: Managing Power
66
Extending battery life
Maximizing battery performance
To get maximum performance from your notebook
battery(ies), we recommend that you initially condition (fully
charge and discharge) your new battery(ies) a few times
during the first several weeks of use, to let them reach their
maximum rated capacity.
Over the long term, use the battery(ies) at least once a month,
even if they were kept in a cool, dry place for storage, but
avoid frequent full discharges because this puts additional
strain on the battery(ies). Several partial discharges with
frequent recharges are better for a lithium-ion battery than
one complete discharge, and recharging a partially charged
lithium-ion battery does not cause harm because there is no
memory.
Conserving battery power
To conserve power while using the battery(ies) to power your
notebook:
• Turn off wireless networking and Bluetooth.
• Dim the display as low as is comfortable.
• Disconnect all external devices, like IEEE 1394 and USB
devices.
• Remove PC Cards when you do not need them. Many
PC Cards use a small amount of power while inserted,
even if they are not being used.
• Select the Power saver power plan to get maximum
power savings.
• Close the LCD panel to turn off the display while you
are not using your notebook. The display stays off until
you open the panel again.
• Use Hibernate mode for maximum power savings while
your notebook is not in use.
• Use the notebook touchpad instead of an external
mouse.
• Decrease or mute speaker volume.
• Turn off all scheduled tasks.
Tip
For more information about using power plans, see “Changing
notebook power settings” on page 69.
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