CARE OF THE BATTERY

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 107, 2 November 1926, Page 16

CARE OF THE BATTERY

Eattery repairs are expensive, and although the New Zealand winter is not severe, the cast of replacing a "dead" battery is considerable, and slight neglect proves more costly than, the same oversight on the part of the British or American motorist. It will be found that the'acid level falls very rapidly as the weather gets warmer. This is due to the fact that the battery is receiving an adequate charge, and heavy gassing is taking place. If the battery is being charged faster than current ' is used the gassing may become too rapid and the evaporation may warrant a switch being installed to cut out the cells. - A number of modern electric systems are fitted with this convenience, and on a long tour it saves the battery from the effects of overcharging., • The objection to the regular battery is that it cannot be taken apart by the owner without special tools. While some battery repairs require delicate handling, there are operations which the average motorist could perform without expense if he could only take the cells apart. The dissembling of the ordinary battery necessitates the use of a brazing and pitch sealing outfit. Even the washing out of sediment is beyond the capabilities of the motor-j ist. In response to a wide demand for a battery, which can be taken apart withan ordinary spanner a British inventor has evolved a battery known as the Tungstone., All the connections are secured with lead-coated lock nuts and the lids are acid tight without sealing compound.. A battery of this type can be taken apart at the roadside in a few minutes and defective plates can be removed without calling on the services of an expert. Half the^batteries taken in for repair possess faults that could readily be put r.ight by the owner. One of the, first essentials to maintain a battery m an efficient condition is to keep the liquid at a height of about half inch above the tops of the plates in the cells. This is done by the addition of distilled water. The solution must not be allowed to fall Jbclow the top of the plates, and it is well worth while examining the cells once a week. Only distilled water should bo used. Water from an ordinary source or sulphuric'acid should not be added. ■ The specific gravity of each cell should regularly be tested with a hydrometer. , The reading on the hydrometer for each cell should be approximately 1. 75, indicating a full charge. A reading below 1.150 indicates complete discharge, and in such case the battery should at once be attended to by a skilled repairer. A reading' about 1.290 represents an overcharge, and, to correct this, the lights should be switched on and kept on until the reading falls below 1.290. This does not apply to Tungstone batteries, which employ a somewhat higher specific gravity. The danger of overcharging occurs, mostly in summer, When the lights are less frequently used. If th/ 3 reading on any. one cell varies more than 50 points from that of another cell, it is proof that the' cell is out of order. When the battery is removed for repair, and if another.is not available for replacement, the. generator must be "earthed," as it will be seriously injurell if allowed to run disconnected after removal of the battery.