Appendices
50
Appendix B – LabQuest Maintenance
LabQuest Battery
LabQuest uses a high-quality lithium-ion battery. This is the same chemistry used in premium
laptop and cell phone batteries, and you can expect similar performance. There is never a need to
condition the battery by regular full discharge/charge cycles.
Use only the supplied AC adapter or optional Charging Station (order code
LQ2-CRG, sold separately) to charge the LabQuest battery. A replacement adapter can be
purchased from our website (order code LQ-PS).
The battery takes about 12 hours to completely charge. It is safe to leave the battery charging
indefinitely, and there is no need to fully discharge the battery before charging. Battery life will
depend on the sensors used, but in most cases you can obtain six or more hours of use before
recharging. We recommend charging LabQuest overnight to start the next day with a full charge.
For use with a computer, either the battery must be charged or LabQuest must be connected to
AC power. LabQuest cannot operate on USB power alone.
When using LabQuest as a standalone device, the screen will dim after a few minutes of no use,
even during data collection. However, LabQuest will not turn itself off until the battery is almost
discharged. Data loss due to a loss of power is minimized through periodic saving of a backup
file.
Battery life depends on the sensors and features used. To optimize day-to-day battery life, set the
screen brightness to the minimum acceptable level, and turn off LabQuest when it is not in use.
Also disconnect any sensors you are not actively using. To access power-saving options, tap
Preferences on the Home Screen, then tap Light & Power.
The long-term life of the battery will vary, but you can expect about three hundred to four
hundred full charge/discharge cycles before the battery will need to be replaced. In this count, a
charge from half-way to a full charge would count as half of a charge cycle. In typical school
use, the battery can last three years or more. Exposure to temperatures over 35°C will
significantly reduce battery life.
As a battery reaches the end of its useful life, the run time will become shorter and shorter and
the battery will begin to swell. Eventually the run time will be too short for your application, and
you will want to replace the battery. Rechargeable batteries are considered a consumable, and as
such, are warranted for one year. A replacement battery
can be ordered from our website
(order code LQ2-BAT). Recycling information is available at www.call2recycle.org.
LabQuest Case and Screen
LabQuest is water and shock resistant. Do not submerge LabQuest in liquids or allow liquids to
sit on the screen for any extended time. Wipe it clean with a damp cloth only; do not use any
solvents including ammonia or glass cleaners.
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