BATTERY CARE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19150, 5 November 1927, Page 6

BATTERY CARE.

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 the 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 does harm in several ways. The lowering, the electrolyte level by excessive decomposition will, unless mado good, uncover the upper portion of the places and increase the current density on the covered portion of tbe plates, resulting in overheating and abnormal depreciation. In certain batteries in which the plates are not protected by a. complete diaphragm or separator particles of lead or lead sulphate carried np by the circulating electrolyte will form spongy lead on the upper edges or on projecting ledges, and in time bridge across and short-circuit the plates. These also suffer material damage,, the active material of the negative plates contracting and the 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 iucrcased depreciation.