MOTOR CAR BATTERIES

Evening Star, Issue 24918, 16 July 1943, Page 4

MOTOR CAR BATTERIES

PROBLEM OF DETERIORATION Now that so little private motoring is being done, many car owners, particularly those .distant from battery recharging facilities, are facing the problem of Ikeeping their battery sufficiently charged to start up the engine. Restricted use of private cars is resulting in a very large number of batteries being so run down that they no longer have sufficient power to function effectively. In thus connection, says the ' Duiilop 'Bulletin,' it is not generally known to motorists that onoe a battery has run down, the older it is the longer it takes the car's generator to recharge it; nor are many owners aware of the number of hours of car running it takes to enahle the gene-, rator to restore full power to o battery when it has been standing idle for some considerable time. A well-known manufacturer of batteries has issued recently the following figures as a guide to motor owners in respect of the vehicle running hours it usually takes to recharge batteries of various ages after they have been idle for a month. A six-months-old _ battery usually loses 25 per cent, of its available starting power through idleness for four weeks. To replace this loss requires that the vehicle be driven at over 25 m.p.h. for 2£ hours. A 12-months-old battery generally loses 50 per cent, of its power, and the ear or truck calls for about four hours' running at over 25 m.p.h. An 18-months-old. battery, loses about 75 per cent, of its power after a month's idleness, and the automobile needs 5i hours' running at over 25 m.p.h. A 24-motith-old battery also loses about 75 per cent, of its power, but to replace the loss calls for Oi hours' running at oyer 25 'm.p.h. Idle batteries deteriorate, and if they cannot be recharged by running the vehicle or at a service station, it is better to remove the battery from a car that is to remain idle for a long period and loan it to a friend whose automobile is kept in regular service, failing which it is better to sell the battery.