LAID-UP CARS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 3, 14 January 1942, Page 5

LAID-UP CARS

PROTECTION OF BATTERY Iu these days Avhen cars may have to be laid up for "the duration.'* precautions are needed if the battery is to be serviceable when it is put into- commission again. Some useful advice for the owners of 1 aidup cars is offered by an expert, who points out that no battery can escape deterioration after more that* three months' disuse, unless special steps are taken to keep it in condition. It is recommended that owners of laid-up cars—unless they have charging facilities at home —should arrange for the nearest depot or agent to collect their batteries and store them. The batteries can then bet given a monthly conditioning charge and the acid level regularly checked and maintained. This arrangement will ensure that the batteries are always in good condition and are serviceable at any time.

Attentively, if it is not conven-iep-Kto adopt this procedure, the following method of storing the batteries can be used: — First, have the batteries fully? charged, after which the acid must be poured away, and the cells washed out two or three times with cleans distilled water. When the cells have* been thoroughly cleaned by waslw ing, the battery should be placed in an inverted position to drain. The cells must then be filled with, distilled water, sufficient to cover the separators. The vent holes in. the top of the cells must be fitted with well-fitting rubber bungs or corks, since, even when the sulphuric acid has been completely used up* atmospheric oxygen can cause a progressive discharge if this is not done. In order to return the batteries? to service after storing in this wayit Avill be necessary to- empty, fill* with acid of the correct specific gravity, re-charge, and finally adjust the specific gravity of t he Q lec * trolyte to the correct reading.