99 lines
4.7 KiB
Plaintext
99 lines
4.7 KiB
Plaintext
=============================================================================
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AST RESEARCH, INC. TECHNICAL BULLETIN #0750 04-01-92
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=============================================================================
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PREMIUM EXEC NI-CAD BATTERY INFORMATION
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PROBLEM: All Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cad) rechargeable batteries have the
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inherent "memory" property that can cause early low voltage
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indications and premature system shutdown.
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CAUSE: When a Ni-Cad battery is put through repeated partial-
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discharge / recharge cycles, and is drained to approximately
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the same level each time - down to half capacity, for example
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- it develops a "memory" of this point in the discharge
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process. Once established, Ni-Cad memory distorts the
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battery's voltage output profile. The battery will produce a
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normal voltage until drained to the memorized location, but
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thereafter its voltage output abruptly sags to a sub-normal
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value, and stays below normal until actual battery depletion.
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The voltage depression can be deep enough to cause the
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Notebook to prematurely issue the low battery warning (audible
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beep and lighted amber LED) or battery fail warning (audible
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beep and blinking amber LED.)
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SOLUTION: The Ni-Cad battery "memory" effect can be corrected by
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"conditioning" the battery, a process which simply consists of
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fully discharging the battery before recharging.
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The battery pack should never be disturbed while the system is
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in use or while the battery is being charged. To remove or
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install a battery, the system should be powered down and the
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AC adapter removed.
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AST recommends conditioning the battery pack monthly to
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promote optimum performance. Conditioning of new, out-of-the-
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box Ni-Cad battery pack is also strongly recommended. Listed
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below are the steps required to correctly condition the
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Premium Exec Ni-Cad battery:
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1. Charge the Ni-Cad battery up to full capacity.
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2. Disconnect the AC adapter.
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3. Configure the Notebook's Setup Menu as shown below.
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IMPORTANT: Note that Suspend must be ENABLED!
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Default Speed: HIGH
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Backlight Timeout: 0
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Hard Disk Timeout: 0
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Suspend: ENABLE
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Software Timeout: 0
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(Exec SX-25 and
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SX-25 color only)
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Turbo Mode: ON AT BOOT
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Speaker: ENABLE
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Other Parameters: Don't care
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This configuration results in a near-maximum load on the battery during the
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first part of the conditioning process. Suspend mode then prevents an
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excessive drain rate as the battery nears depletion.
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4. Store the setup menu setting and exit. The system will
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reboot and the screen will display the DOS prompt.
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5. Keep the Notebook powered up with its LCD display open for
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12 TO 24 HOURS.
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Most will find that overnight conditioning of the battery is the most
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convenient method.
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It is safe to use the Notebook in the normal fashion during the conditioning
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process. However, the following precautions must be observed:
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a. Save your work and exit all applications back to the DOS
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prompt immediately after the first low battery warning.
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Allow the Notebook to remain powered up with the LCD
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display open, however.
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b. A full 12 hours of on-time will insure complete battery
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discharge even with premature suspend activation caused
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by the "memory" effect.
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6. After 12 hours, turn the Notebook off. Recharge the
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battery by attaching the AC adapter. Connect the AC
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adapter to the Notebook before plugging the adapter into
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the AC socket. Connecting the AC adapter in this sequence
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insures that the Notebook battery management system senses
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all signals on the DIN connector appropriately.
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NOTE: After completing a "fast discharge", wait at least 5 minutes before
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connecting the AC Adapter/Charger to recharge the battery. If this is not
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done, the AC Adapter/Charger could switch to Trickle Charge mode instead of
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Fast Charge mode.
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