WET BATTERIES

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 5, 19 August 1927, Page 13

WET BATTERIES

i v . ? TAKE CARE OF THEM. The storage battery has been developed to a remarkable degree of perfection so that it will function over a long period of time with only a small amount of attention. Such attention consists more than anything else in keeping the battery properly filled with pure distilled water and correctly charged. at all times. The efficiency and the life of the battery will decrease considerably if these two points are not carefully watched. ‘The charging rate should be as close as possible to that recommended by the manufacturer, this information generally being given on the name plate of the battery. Although the state of charge of a battery can be measured with some accuracy by means of a voltmeter if the proper precautions are taken, the readings made in this way are not generally to be relied upon. A better method for use in testing a storage battery is to determine the state of charge by means of a hydrometer. ‘the specific gravity, which is what the hydrometer measures, will be found to increase the reading of the ‘hydrometer as the battery is charged, up to a certain point. The specific gravity reading for full charge is not the same for all batteries. For this reason, an endeavour should be uiade to obtain from the manufacturer of the battery information regarding the hydrometer reading, which should be vbtainéd using his battery when it is fully charged and when it is fully discharged. Frequently, but not always, these same data will be found on the name plate. In the event that this information cannot be obtained, it is a safe rule to charge tlie battery until the hydrometer reading does not change during a period of one hour. When this condition holds true, the battery has absorbed all the charge possible. It will generally be found also that, when this condition of constant specific gravity reading throughont an hour is reached, the electrolyte will also begin to gas or bubble. | Care should be taken in charging the battery to make certain that its positive terminal is connected to the positive terminal of the source being ised for charging purposes If the battery is charged in the opposite direction the plates will be reversed in chemical character, and if the charging is continued for any great length of time, the battery will be destroyed. If a battery has only been charged in the wrong direction for a short length of time it can generally be brought back to normal by charging in the right direction for a very lony time at a low charging rate.