The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-03-09
sentative Gillette a.

current for ignition The generator
is now producing just q little 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 driver
fault, or it may not. If he uses the
starter too much or leaves the lights
burning too long without running the
engine, the battery will be run down.
A car which runs days, as well as
night and does not stand too long
with lights burning, but engine stop
ped, viii keep dts battery charged
Use Starter sparinsIy.
The starter makes q very heavy
drain on nthe battery, far more than
the lights, and so must be used spar
ingly. This Is why 1t is advisable to
test with the hydrometer once q
week. It notifies you If your use OF
the system is properly handled, tells
you If you are taking more out OF the
battery than you are putting into It..
II one has been abusing the battery
as explained above, then the fault Is
In some part Of the system. The gem
orator may not be producing current
at the proper rate. The commutator
may be dirty, the brushes may not
fit properly. There may be a loose
connection, or the sediment in the
battery may be discharging the
plates. These troubles can be cor
rected only at a service station. Run
the engine and note If the ammeter
shows the usual charging rate. Speed
It up and note If rate increases. Turn
on all the lights and see If ammeter
still indicates a slight charge. II not
the system is in need Of expert at
tention
II neglected, the battery will be
discharged or run 50 low that 1t must
inevitably be sulphated-a condition
bordering on ruin. II taken in time,
a stipulated battery can be saved, but
it means extra expense, and there Is
always the danger Of decreased ca
pacity, II not actual ruin. But the
skilled driver knows that his battery
is growing weaker without testing 1t
with a hydrometer. His starter does
not turn the engine quite so rapidly,
his lights do not burn quite so bright
ly and the lights brighten up as en-
CINE speeds up and grow slightly dim
as the 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 rap
idly. This is due to a break or loose
connection in the circuit, and is in
dependent.
AS soon as any Of the above indi-
cations Of weak battery are noted, the
careful driver takes immediate steps
to correct them. He must use his
starter and lights more carefully, and
let his engine run at times when he
would ordinarily stop IL. Thus, IL he
drives up to the curb, intending TO
stop but a short time, he does not
stop the engine and use the starter to
start it again, but let's It run on and
so charge the battery.
So watch for the indications Of
weak battery and be warned by them.
II starter refuses to work or cTanks
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 the
starter is used, and IL electric horn is
less powerful than usual, the battery
needs attention-the sooner the bet
ter. Besides the danger Of sulpha-
ton, discharged battery is more
readily frozen. So watch for the
above symptoms OF trouble, and ap-
ply the remedy immediately-NeW
York Post.