TITLE
    PowerBook G3 Series: Battery FAQ
Article ID:
Created:
Modified: 		24610
9/15/98
6/13/00
TOPIC
DISCUSSION

    Question 1: How long does it take to charge the PowerBook G3 Series batteries?

    Answer : If the system is in shutdown or sleep mode, it takes approximately 2 hours to recharge one battery inside the system. Two batteries charge in about 4 hours. The system charges only one battery at a time, just as it discharges one battery before switching to the other one.

    Question 2: How long do you have to swap in a new battery if the system is in sleep mode?

    Answer : You have approximately 2 minutes to swap a battery in sleep or you may lose data.

    Question 3: How long is the battery life of the system?

    Answer : Battery life with one battery installed, power cycling enabled, and some basic power conservation functions is up to 3.5 hours. With two batteries, you will get up to 7 hours of battery life.

    Question 4: What is the watt-hour rating of the battery?

    Answer : The lithium-ion battery is rated at 49 watt-hours.

    Question 5: Who manufactures the battery?

    Answer : We do not reveal the names of our commodities vendors. However, we work with the key manufacturers in the lithium-ion battery market.

    Question 6: Does the battery charge while in sleep? How long does it take to charge?

    Answer : The battery does receive a charge while the system is in sleep mode. The following table shows the charging time for the battery.

    Machine off - Full Charge, 80% level one battery in around 2 hrs
    Machine in sleep - Full Charge, 80% level one battery in around 2 hrs
    Machine on (no PC Card, two batteries) - 80% level one battery in around 3 hrs
    Machine on (no PC Card, one battery) - 80% level one battery in around 3.5 hrs
    Machine on (has PC Card, one battery) - 80% level one battery in around 4.5 hrs

    Question 7: What is the function of the lights on the side of the battery?

    Answer : The four lights on the outside edge of the battery are the battery charge indicators. By pressing the button next to the lights, you will see how much charge is left in the battery. The battery indicates how much it is charged in one-quarter increments, from 25% to 100%. These lights also illuminate when the system is plugged into AC power and is charging, to let you know how much the battery has charged over a period of time.

    Question 8: Can I charge the battery or power the system with a PowerBook 3400 adapter?

    Answer : You can charge the battery or run the system using AC power with a PowerBook 3400 adapter. However, charging times will vary, especially when you charge while the system is on.

    Question 9: What if I use the PowerBook Duo adapter? The connectors are the same.

    Answer : You can use the PowerBook Duo adapter to charge the system, but it is not as powerful as the PowerBook G3 Series adapter and will therefore take much longer to charge the battery. The Duo adapter will only charge the battery when the PowerBook is sleeping or off. We do not recommend using this adapter. It is always best to use the adapter that came with your system.

    Question 10: Are batteries hot-swappable?

    Answer : If the system is connected to AC power or operating with two batteries, then the batteries can be hot swapped. When using a single battery, the battery should be swapped only when the system is in sleep mode or shut down. Otherwise, the system will crash because you have removed the primary power source.

    Note: Macintosh PowerBook G3 Series computers should not be confused with Macintosh PowerBook G3 computers. Though the names are similar, there are significant differences. For more information differentiating between the computers, read Tech Info Library article 24604: " PowerBook G3, G3 Series: Identifying Different Versions "

Document Information
Product Area: Computers
Category: PowerBook
Sub Category: PowerBook G3 Series

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