HIGHLY EXPLOSIVE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 139, 26 May 1928, Page 14

HIGHLY EXPLOSIVE

In connection with the recent report ot precautions taken by a New Zealand policeman against an explosion Irani the battery of a car alter an accident had occurred—a report that created considerable amusement—it may interest motorists to note tht following paragraph which appeared editorially in a leading motor journal:—

“From a newspaper report we gather that a wireless experimenter did something very foolish the other day with one of his batteries when charging, namely, applied a light to one ot the vents to inspect the acid. There was an explosion, and the acid was violently shot out, some of it on to his face. Had l he known something of the elementary principles of a battery he would not hdve done this, as he would have been aware that the gases liberated, oxygen and hydrogen, form a highly explosive mixture; the conditions are, in fact, rather more dangerous than in the case of applying a light to the opening of a petrol tank, as the mixture in the tank would not necessarily be explosive or even ignitable, but in the case of a battery an explosion would be certain particularly when charging. If the acid level of a battery cannot be seen by daylight, an electric torch or inspection lamp should be used,”