MODERN BATTERY.

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 154, 20 September 1927, Page 6

MODERN BATTERY.

WHAT IS ITS LIFE? HOW LONG SHOULD IT LAST? The increase of life of the presentday battery with which the motor-car is equipped is, for the purpose of comparison, no less remarkable than the increase of the life of tyres which has come about as the main result of greatly-improved methods of manufacture and the use of improved material* In each case it is an interesting fact that the original basic principals have not been departed from. A tyre and a battery arq very simple arrangements —a favourable and important factor—and the life of each can be greatly extended by giving to it a due measure of attention.

The conditions under which a car battery has to operate are, one would think about as unfavourable to its life and efficiency as could be devised. It has to withstand continual and severe vibration, and intermittent charging and discharging, and also short period discharges for starting which are practically equivalent to short-circuiting it. The trouble with the earlier types of battery came about owing to buckling of the plates and disintegration of the positives when in normal use, probably often accelerated by sulphating, as the result of neglect. Its usual life in these would not exceed 18 months; this meant that after two seasons it became so troublesome and unreliable as to be regarded as a nuisance. Garagemen would state that it was “worn out.” Nevertheless, there were many instances even of the old types of batteries lasting from three to five years, and special Instances are recorded of a battery giving a full 10 years of service, which longevity may be attributed to some particular feature in its construction, coupled with regular attention as to charging and the condition of the acid. The construction of the modern automobile battery is so far in advance of the earlier types that it is safe to say that even a battery which makes no special claims as to its durability will last a minimum of three years, as compared with the 18 months of the old types, and used under the same conditions, and, given a measure of extra care as to charging, it is reasonable to expect a battery to last five years.

Assuming, however, that replacement is necessary after three years, taking into account the very moderate cost of stardardised batteries to-day, it means that the upkeep per 1000 miles of service is quite small—considerably less than 10/-.

Most of the leading makers, through their agents, now run first-cla3s service stations, where their products can be given expert attention should it be reauired.