Laptop User Manual

132
Mobile Computing
Taking care of your battery
❖ Do not overcharge or reverse charge a battery. Overcharging
will shorten its life, and reverse charging could damage it.
❖ Avoid touching the metal terminals of the battery with another
metal object. Short-circuiting the battery can cause it to
overheat and may cause damage to the battery or the computer.
❖ Do not incinerate a spent battery, as this could cause it to
explode and release caustic liquid.
❖ If a battery is leaking or damaged, replace it immediately. Use
protective gloves when handling a damaged battery.
❖ To replace the main battery, use an identical battery that you
can purchase through the Toshiba Web site at
accessories.toshiba.com.
❖ A reverse polarity condition should be avoided with all
batteries. The main battery is designed so that it cannot be
installed in reverse polarity.
❖ Charge the battery only in the computer or in a battery charger
designated as an approved option.
❖ When you install the battery pack, you should hear a click
when it is seated properly.
❖ Do not expose the battery pack to fire. The battery pack could
explode.
Maintaining your battery
Fully discharging your battery pack will allow better accuracy of
the battery meter.
To fully discharge your battery pack:
❖ Periodically, disconnect the computer from a power source and
operate it on battery power until the battery pack fully
discharges. Before doing so, follow the steps below:
1 Turn off the computer’s power.
2 Disconnect the AC adaptor and turn on the computer’s
power. If it does not turn on, go to step 4.
3 Operate the computer on battery power for five minutes. If
the battery pack has at least five minutes of operating time,
continue operating until the battery pack is fully
discharged. If the battery light flashes or there is some
other warning to indicate a low battery, go to step 4.