NURSING THE ACCUMULATOR.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 September 1925, Page 1

NURSING THE ACCUMULATOR.

Although manufacturers ol wireless apparatus are turning their attention to those sets that wink without batteries, running straight off the electric light current, that fly in the broadcasting ointment. the accumulator, must he endured for some time yet. Accumulators are usiialK a source ol anxiety to the mn ice listener-in. Choice of the wrong tvjic is often tlocalise ol Hurries.

Think carefully in advance what, .size of hat lory you are wanting for yi,ii]' set. .Most accumulators of standard make haw what is rail.',l a ' ia I - iug,” which is only known to mosi perilile as a series of perplexing figures written on the In hoi. .Most of lhem have a ratine of 20 hours, ami there is written on them either “ Canocity 20 at the ‘-’lt hour rate, - ’ or " Actual capacity 21) amp. hours.” This nie-ans that to obtain the slated capacity the battery must he discharged in 211 hours ot use. In the ease of the 20 ampere hours battery the proper discharge rate is I ampere. Discharge rate is calculated by divinir the rapacity (in this ease 20 nic.p.) by the hours (in this case 2(0. sriirimse resfets. |tu 1 accumulators have what is ealli,d a " eliaraeteristie.‘’ In other words thev will only yield what tin* maker foretells they should yield if you dis- , ha rue t.hem in the time reeoiinneuded. Take the ease of the 20 ampere hours battery again.

1 1 gives one ampere tor 20 hours, hut <lo not think that it will therefore give two amperes lor 10 hours. Its charge will not last as long as you think it will, because of this “cliaracteristie.” If you discharge it at the rate of aniuere you might expeel ill first sight -ft) hours ol discharge. \on should, however, get considerably more. Most of the people who are always complaining of the inetlieionry ot their accumulators are using batteries far too small for their sets. They have tried to understand the complicated directions on accumulator labels, have done title sums, and have crftlited the batteries with much longer service per charge than they ever will yield in praet ice. For the bright -emitter type of valve it is usually safest to use a battery ot 211 aninere hours for one valve. <*l 10 for two valves, and so on. As tar as dull-cm it tors are concerned, ilm makers' advice as to current should he followed .

See that your charging station is one that looks at each accumulator before charging it. Some proprietors would continue to charge a battery that was not worth it. As far as batteries are concerned, the user should always he prepared to ask the advice, if necessary direct from the manufacturer or his agents, who quite expect to he called upon in such events.