LOOK TO YOUR BATTERY.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 320, 24 December 1929, Page 7

LOOK TO YOUR BATTERY.

ATTENTION WELL REPAID. Just because the battery is out of sight is no reason why it should be forgotten, is the opinion of a wellknown expert, who calls attention to the fact that if tyres are not pumped up their deflated condition is apparent at once. Every car-owner knows that the tyres will be ruined if they are not kept inflated. Accordingly, everyone knows that the car engine will not run without oil. What happens, then, if the storage battery is not kept in its proper condition? The solution is logical and obvious. Adding water is about the only thing the owner needs to do to keep his battery in condition. The addition of water regularly, so that the plates are always covered to a halfinch above their tops, will prevent many battery troubles. A leaky cell is detected by the fact that the liquid in the cell will drop downward much more rapidly than in the other cells. Such a leak will not only cause the acid to heat the battery box, but will also result in dry plates in that particular cell. A cracked battery jaw is generally due to travelling over a rough road with the battery not firmly clamped down.

In filling the battery, damage can be done by having it too full, because the solution will then overflow, going down into the battery box and rotting whatever susceptible material it comes into contact with. One of the most serious mistakes often made by car-owners is adding acid to the battery in order to bring the specific gravity reading on the hydrometer up to normal. Never add acid yourself unless you are far away from a battery station, for it takes a battery expert to know when acid is needed.

Too strong a solution will ruin the plates and separators and destroy the insulation and break down the entire battery. What you can do is to keep your electrical system in good condition, and avoid short circuit by keeping the wiring in shape.