New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-23

generator is now producing just niue
more current than needed, and this
serves TO keep the battery up to full
charge If. however. the hydrometer
reading is below 1875 it may be the
drivers fault, or it may not. II ne
uses the starter too much or leaves the
lights burning too long, without run
ming the engine, the battery will be run
down. A car which runs days, as well
as nights. and does not stand too long
with lights burning but engine stopped,
will keep its battery charged.
The starter makes very heavy drain
on the battery far more than the lights,
and so must be used sparingly. This
is why it is advisable to test with the
hydrometer once a week. 1t notl1es
YOU if your use of the system is prop
erly balanced-tells you if you are
taking more out of the battery than
you are putting into It,
If you have not been abusing the bat
terry, as explained above, then the fault
is in some part of the system. The
generator may not be producing current
at the proper rate. The commutator
may be dirty, the brushes may not Mt
properly. There may be loose con-
nection, or the sediment in the battery
may be discharging the plates. These
troubles can be corrected only at SER
vice station. Run the engine and note
if the ammeter shows the usual charg-
ing rate. Speed it up and note If rate
increases. Turn on all the lights and
see if ammeter still indicates a slight
charge. If not. the system is in need
OF expert attention.
ranIac+aI tho har-ery- will he III
charged or run 80 low that it must in
evltably be sulphated-a condition Dor
dering on ruin. II taken in time,
sulphated battery can be saved, but it
means extra expense, and there is al
ways the danger of decreased capacity,
if not actual ruin.
But the skilled driver knows that his
battery is growing weaker without test
ing il with hydrometer. His starter
does not turn the engine quite so rap
idly, his lights do not burn quite so
brightly, and the lights brighten up as
engine speeds up and grow slightly
dim as engine slows down. This shows
that the battery cannot quite keep the
lamps up to full brilliancy and that the
generator is carrying the load. Do not
confuse this symptom with what is
called Pickering, where the lamps grow
bright and dim rapidly. This is due to
a break or loose connection in the cir
cult and is independent of engine speed.
As soon as any of the above indica-
tions of weak battery are noted the
careful driver takes immediate steps to
correct them. He uses his starter and
lights more carefully, and he lets his
engine run at times when he usually
stops IT, Thus. if he drives up to the
curb, intending to stop but short
time, ne does not stop the engine and
use the starter to start it again, but
let's it run on and so charge the bat
terry.
So watch for the indications Of weak
battery and be warned by them. If
starter refuses to work or cranks the
engine slowly; if lights are bright when
first turned on and then grow dim: if
they burn dimly, or are bright at first
and grow too dim when starter is used.
and if electric horn is less powerful
than usual, the battery needs attention
the sooner the better. Besides the
danger of sulphation, discharged bat
terry is more readily frozen. SO watch
for the above symptoms OF trouble and
apply the remedy Immediately.