## BATTERY Care and Feeding for DECtalk Express.

The Dectalk Express is provided with a Ni-Cad rechargeable battery. You can expect to get 6-8 hours of operation per full charge and a reasonable life if you follow the following simple guidelines.

BREAK IN NEW BATTERIES.

New batteries are shipped uncharged. In order to break in a new battery we suggest charging and then discharging the battery 2 to 4 times so they can reach their full rated capacity. You can discharge the the DECtalk Express by unplugging the AC adapter and leaving it turned on overnight.

ELIMINATE MEMORY EFFECTS.

NiCad batteries suffer from an affliction known as the "memory effect". The battery will only charge to the level at which the battery was last discharged due to an accumulation of gas bubbles on cell plates. If a battery is discharged to 30% and then recharged, the battery will only charge to 30% of its capacity thus shrinking the battery's gas tank and decreasing the battery operating time.

BURP YOUR BATTERY.

The best way to eliminate memory and remove the accumulated gas bubbles on the cell plates is to "burp", or condition it. This means draining the battery until the DECtalk Express no longer speaks, and then recharging it.

WORK 'EM OUT.

To increase the life of your batteries don't leave them dormant for extended periods of time. Even if you use AC power most of the time, use the battery periodically to keep it fresh and healthy.

STORING.

If you plan to not use the DECtalk Express for an extended period of time make sure that it is fully charged before doing so. Store the DECtalk Express in a cool, dry place away from heat and metal objects. Batteries left idle for extended periods of time will self-discharge. Be sure the unit is fully discharged (it doesn't speak) and recharge it again before use.

TIME TO REPLACE.

If you have followed the above guidelines for discharging fully and recharging, and the battery used to last 4 hours and now only lasts 30 minutes it's probably time for a new battery. NiCad batteries last approximately 700 charge/discharge cycles, or about one and a half years of daily battery-only use on average.

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