THE BATTERY

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 37, 12 August 1927, Page 14

THE BATTERY

The question whether ' overcharging does or does not injure a battery is one which closely concerns the ownerdriver, who often wants,to know, whether he should always keep tho battery on charge whatever its condition The question was recently dealt with by the chief engineer of a'well-known battery manufacturing concern, who pointed out that overcharging docs harm in several ways. The lowering of the electrolyte level by excessive decomposition will, unless made good, un-

••Til i;u iv;;\i- the .iirivi,' d< nniiy on l'lu.cnwri'i! portion <•!' flic plalc.-i, iVsnliipir in ovurlir.-iliii;: ;; mi Jiljiionn:;! <limm c-Jin" tion. In certain liaUorios in "which tiic pint"* arc nut protfcti-d by a i-om-plt'tr diaphragm or xcpnrstjr, parli'•lcm of load or Irad sulpliato carried up by tiic circulating electrolyte will form

spiMioy lead on She upper nifjes or „n projecting lodge:* :n;d in ti;ne 1iii,1..-<j :ici-<j;i.s :ind short circuit the plat's. Tlii'^c also suffer material damage, (he active material of the negative platen contracting and (he grids of the positives becoming oxidised, and furthermore the active material of the positive plates suffers from mechanical and chemical effects. Overcharging, therefore, does cause increased depreciation.