ELECTRICITY ON CARS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 55, 28 November 1930, Page 7

ELECTRICITY ON CARS

Upkeep of Systems Electricity plays an enormous part on the modern motor-car. It starts the engine, keeps it running, and supplies the light, while in addition it may be called in to clean the windscreen or to warm the interior of the closed coachwvork. Coil und accumulator ignition is becoming increasingly popular, though the magneto will always remain with a large following. Modern coil ignition is extremely simple and gives but little trouble. It must always be remembered, however, that the success of the system depends entirely on the life ofthe battery. A faulty battery will render the best coil ignition inoperative. A little attention should therefore always be given to the battery of the car, and many garages and service stations make a speciality of this kind of work. / Starters and dynamos are essentially simple units, hut, like all delicate mechanism, they require a certain amount of attention. The dynamo commutator should, for instance, be cleaned occasionally. This cleaning will remove any carbon dust which may adhere to the surface of the commutator or tend to lodge between the segments. New sets of carbon brushes may occasionally be required, but only after many thousands of miles have been run. The general condition of a dynamo can be judged from the reading on the ammater fitted to the instrument board of most cars. Electrical starters are very robust, and their brushes and commutators undergo very little wear, as the device is only in operation for very short periods at a time. No matter how carefully one looks after the general electrical equipment, however, it must be remembered that the battery is an essential thing. No starter can be expected to function if the battery is run down. To maintain a battery in efficient condition a small hydrometer should be used. This will test the specific gravity of the acid and give him a very good i idea of the condition of this unit.