Just bought PB 540 Battery and need help!

Can anybody point me toward suitable instructions/directions on charging/using this battery.
David E. Edwards wrote on :

I have just received a new Battery for my 540c Powerbook. It has a switch on it and I remember reading on the 'web about this switch but cannot remember the source of the information.

I am a "new" apple user and want to make sure that I use this new battery correctly.

Can anybody point me toward suitable instructions/directions on charging/using this battery. The old battery in the laptop did not have any switches on it.

I have also just received a PRAM battery kit and have yet to build enough courage to install the battery (:->) - how easy is this task - anything to be cautious of??

Thanks for any and all replies.

Dave E.

Cathy Stevenson replied on :

In article bkhfkv$hc0$1@redacted.invalid, David E. Edwards dedwards@redacted.invalid wrote:

I have just received a new Battery for my 540c Powerbook. It has a switch on it and I remember reading on the 'web about this switch but cannot remember the source of the information.

I am a "new" apple user and want to make sure that I use this new battery correctly.

Can anybody point me toward suitable instructions/directions on charging/using this battery. The old battery in the laptop did not have any switches on it.

I have also just received a PRAM battery kit and have yet to build enough courage to install the battery (:->) - how easy is this task - anything to be cautious of??

Thanks for any and all replies.

Dave E.

Check the Mac PRAM battery page:

http://www.academ.com/info/macintosh/

There is a link to a powerbook battery page.

Cathy

Kevin replied on :

David E. Edwards dedwards@redacted.invalid wrote:

I have just received a new Battery for my 540c Powerbook. It has a switch on it and I remember reading on the 'web about this switch but cannot remember the source of the information.

The switch does nothing. It's there for you if you need a way to differentiate between "good" and "empty" batteries.

Uli Wienands replied on :

In article bkhfkv$hc0$1@redacted.invalid, "David E. Edwards" dedwards@redacted.invalid wrote:

I have just received a new Battery for my 540c Powerbook. It has a switch on it and I remember reading on the 'web about this switch but cannot remember the source of the information.

I am a "new" apple user and want to make sure that I use this new battery correctly.

Can anybody point me toward suitable instructions/directions on charging/using this battery. The old battery in the laptop did not have any switches on it.

I have also just received a PRAM battery kit and have yet to build enough courage to install the battery (:->) - how easy is this task - anything to be cautious of??

Thanks for any and all replies.

Dave E.

Dave,

Some batteries have a switch to turn off the power manager (the "brain" of the "intelligent" battery). Those need to be turned on, else the batt. won't be recognized. Others come with an indicator which does nothing, just serves as a flag you can set. If your batt. is recognized by the 540 you are fine. Do get a copy of Lind BU 500, sooner or later your bat. will lose its marbles & will need to be reset.

Installing the PRAM battery is actually quite hard; you'll need to disassemble the Pb almost completely. I strongly suggest you get the Service manual (pdf) before attempting this. Check on Gamba's website for the latest links. If you always have >= 1 batt. in the Pb the PAM battery is not so important, the main batt. will keep PRAM alive.

Uli