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AC Adapter and Battery: Dell Latitude C810 User's Guide
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AC Adapter and Battery: Dell Latitude C810 User's Guide
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- You can connect the AC adapter with your computer either turned on or off.
- The AC adapter works with electrical outlets worldwide. However, power connectors vary
among countries. Before you use AC power in a foreign country, you may need to obtain a
new power cable designed for use in that country.
- If the computer is connected to a Dell docking device, you can run the computer on AC power by connecting the
AC adapter to the docking device.
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NOTE: If you are running your computer on AC power
with a battery installed, the AC adapter charges the battery (if needed) and then
maintains the battery's charge.
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NOTICE: To avoid overheating the AC adapter when powering the computer or charging the
battery, use the AC adapter in a ventilated area, such as on a desktop or on the
floor. Do not use the AC adapter in a poorly ventilated environment, such as inside a
carrying case.

- A partially charged lithium-ion battery comes standard in the battery bay, and provides power when an electrical outlet is not available. Dell
recommends that you charge your battery to full capacity before using it to power the
computer. For information on conserving battery power, see "Conserving
Power."
- To increase
battery life, install a second battery in the modular bay.
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CAUTION: Do not puncture,
disassemble, or incinerate the computer's battery. The battery may present a fire or
chemical burn hazard if mistreated. Do not expose the battery to temperatures above 60°
Celsius (C) (140° Fahrenheit [F]). Keep the battery away from children. Handle
damaged or leaking batteries with extreme care. If the battery is damaged, electrolyte may
leak from the cells and cause personal injury. |
- With a single fully charged, 8-cell lithium-ion battery, you can
expect about 24 hours of battery life; with two fully charged lithium-ion batteries,
48 hours of battery life. Actual performance depends on the power management
features and application programs you use.
- When two batteries are installed, the computer draws power from the
battery with the higher capacity until both batteries are at the same charge level. Then
it draws power from both. The AC adapter first charges the battery in the battery
bay.
- The integrated charge gauge lets
you check a batterys charge before you insert it into the computer.
- The batterys self-test capability alerts you to battery
conditions such as low charge.
- The battery has a life span of around 400 discharge/charge cycles,
provided it is charged at normal room temperature.
- When you activate standby mode, the computer can run on a fully-charged battery for
approximately one week.
- If you are going to store the computer, disconnect all
devices and turn off the computer. Remove the battery when you store your computer for an
extended period of time. A battery will drain when not in use during prolonged storage.
After a long storage period, recharge the battery fully before you attempt to run your
computer from the battery.
- Do not dispose lithium ion batteries with common
household waste products. See "Battery Disposal"
for more information.
- Lithium-ion batteries are longer lived than conventional batteries
and do not require replacement as often. You can charge the lithium ion battery whenever you like without fear of reducing its
charge capacity. You do not need to drain a lithium ion battery completely before
recharging it.
NOTICE: If you choose to replace the battery with the computer in standby mode,
you have up to 4 minutes to complete the battery replacement. After 4 minutes,
the computer shuts down and you will lose any unsaved data.
- Ensure that the computer is turned off, suspended in a
power management mode, or connected to an electrical outlet.
- If the computer is docked, undock it.
- Close the display and turn the computer over.
- Slide and hold the battery bay (or module bay) latch
release on the bottom of the computer, and then remove the battery from the
bay.

Slide the battery into the bay until the latch release
clicks.
Press the battery test button next to the lights. The number of lights that appear shows an estimate of
the remaining battery charge.
Battery Charge Gauge and Test Button

| Lights |
Charge Remaining (%) or Description |
| 5 |
81100 |
| 4 |
6180 |
| 3 |
4160 |
| 2 |
2140 |
| 1 |
120; recharge the battery
before using it |
| 0 |
Completely drained or
permanent failure1 |
| Rapid blinking |
Temporary or recoverable
failure such as overheating2 |
1If you install a failed battery, the
light
flashes amber rapidly. To purchase a new battery, call Dell or go to the Dell website at http://www.dell.com.
Dispose of the old battery properly.
2Allow
a hot battery to cool for several minutes before checking the charge level
again.
NOTICE: When you see a low-battery warning, save your
work immediately. Then replace the battery or connect your computer to an electrical
outlet.
NOTICE: To avoid losing data (and possibly corrupting data areas on your hard-disk
drive), save your work immediately after a second low-battery warning. Then connect your
computer to an electrical outlet, or place the computer in standby mode. If the battery
runs completely out of power, the computer shuts off without properly closing any open
files.
| Warning (If AC adapter
is not attached) |
Light
|
Remaining Battery
Life |
Computer Response |
| First low-battery
|
Blinking amber |
About 15 minutes |
If no further activity occurs, enters hibernate mode and turns off computer. If the computer has no
hibernate file, enters standby mode. |
| Second low-battery |
Steady amber |
About 5 minutes |
If no further activity
occurs, enters hibernate mode. If there is no hibernate file, enters
standby mode.
If already in standby mode when second low-battery
warning occurs, enters hibernate mode immediately. If hibernate mode has been disabled,
reenters standby mode.
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Charging the Battery
- Each time you connect the computer to an electrical outlet or
install a battery in a computer that is connected to an electrical outlet, the computer
checks the battery's charge. If needed, the computer uses Dell ExpressCharge technology to charge the
battery.
- If the computer is off and connected to an electrical
outlet, ExpressCharge technology charges a fully discharged battery in about
one hour. Otherwise, charge times depend on which
devices you are using and which programs you are running.
- The
light remains steady green
during charging.
- The
light starts blinking when the charge cycle is
complete. While the light is blinking, the AC adapter provides a trickle charge to
bring the battery to full capacity. The light continues to blink until you remove
the battery or disconnect the computer from its electrical outlet.
- If two batteries are installed in the computer, the AC adapter first charges the
battery in the battery bay, then the battery in the modular bay.
NOTICE: If the battery is hot from being used in your computer or being in a hot
environment, follow these precautions:
- A hot battery will not charge when you connect the AC adapter to
the computer. This feature is important because charging a hot battery shortens the
batterys life span and may damage the battery and the computer.
- The battery is too hot to start charging if the
light
flashes alternately green and amber. If this occurs while the computer is connected to an
electrical outlet, disconnect the computer from the outlet and allow the computer and the
battery to return to room temperature. Then reconnect the computer to its electrical
outlet and continue charging the battery.
- If the computer is not allowed to return to room temperature, the
battery stops charging before it reaches full capacity.
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NOTE: You can leave the battery in the computer as
long as you like. The battery's integrated circuitry prevents the battery from
overcharging. |
Detecting Battery Problems
To avoid installing a defective battery in your computer, check the battery's charge by
pressing the battery test button.
The battery gauge light will not light if the battery is completely drained.
A battery problem may prevent the battery from being charged to its full potential and
can lead to unpredictable operation.
Light
After Installing a Battery |
Problem |
Action |
| Alternately green and amber |
Battery too hot to charge |
Turn off the
computer, and let the battery and computer cool to room temperature.
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Amber for 4 seconds after:
- connecting or disconnecting AC adapter
or
- pressing the power button
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Defective battery |
Replace the battery. Call
Dell or go to the Dell website at http://www.dell.com.
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| Rapidly amber |
Defective battery |
Replace the battery. Call
Dell or go to the Dell website at http://www.dell.com
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Battery Disposal
When your battery no longer holds a charge, call your local waste
disposal agency or environmental agency for advice on disposing of it. To purchase a new
battery, call Dell or go to the Dell website at
http://www.dell.com.
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CAUTION: If your battery is damaged, or if it no longer
holds a charge, dispose of it promptly and properly. Do not dispose of it along with
household waste. Call your local waste disposal agency or environmental agency for advice
on disposing of the battery. |
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