subject: Tips When Connecting To External Ac Power Adapter [print this page] Plug the power cord into an AC outlet that is easily accessible at all times. Always plug your notebooks power supply into a grounded outlet. If you do not use a grounded outlet, you may notice an electrical tingling sensation where the palms of your hands touch the notebook during use. Check if adapter is placed in an area (under cabinets, near exhaust fans or heaters, etc) or covered by objects (ie. phone book, blankets, clothes) where the ambient temperature can reach greater than 35 degrees Celsius and prevent natural convection cooling. The AC adapter can become hot and go into thermal protection mode. Allow the AC adapter to cool for approximately 5 minutes before using again. Disconnect power from the computer by unplugging the power cord from the AC outlet (not by unplugging the power cord from the computer). Use only the AC adapter provided with the computer, or a replacement AC adapter which is 100% compatible . You should connect to external AC power when charging or calibrating a battery, installing or modifying system software (such as drivers and updates), and when youre writing information to an optical disc, such as a CD or DVD. When connected to external AC power, the battery will charge, and the battery meter icon in the system tray, near the clock, will change appearance. When disconnected from external AC power, the computer will draw on the batterys charge to function, and the display brightness will automatically dim to save battery life. To increase brightness, press Fn+ or reconnect the AC adapter. If you use external AC all the time, it is a wise precaution to calibrate your battery routinely, or, once it has charged fully, remove it entirely before continuing to work on external AC. Continuously charging the battery without allowing it to expend its charge can degrade battery performance and shorten battery life. If provided with a 3-pin attachment plug on the power cord, plug the cord into a grounded 3-pin outlet. Do not disable the power cord grounding pin, for example, by attaching a 2-pin adapter. The grounding pin is an important safety feature. Unplug the power adapter cord, mouse, and other peripheral devices when moving a notebook. Do not leave accessories or power adapters connected to a notebook while moving it. Pulling, twisting, or jamming these cords can break the connectors. Gather the power cord loosely in a bundle when packing it away for storage or transport. Use a figure 8 pattern when bundling the cord. This allows for easy storage of the cord, prevents unintentional breaks in the wires, and keeps it from getting tangled.
Do not wrap the power cord around the power adapter or any other object as this could inadvertently break the cords internal copper wires. Broken wires can short circuit both the power adapter and your notebooks internal power supply. Broken wires can shock anyone who touches the cord and may also present a fire hazard.
Use the power adapter on a hard, flat surface. When a high number of applications are running or when the battery is recharging, the power adapter may be warm to the touch when it reaches its power limit. Connect the power adapter to a good quality surge protector if your local power supply is unstable. All power adapter certification tests for HP notebook PCs are performed using a grounded power adapter. Damage can occur if an ungrounded power adapter is subjected to power surges or electrostatic discharge.
