New-York tribune., 1919-05-25
Batteries Will
Thriyeon Some
Regular Care
Suggestions for Attention to
Apart of Automobile Nor
n1ally All Too Much Neg
lected; Getting Results
BY William II. Stewart, Jr.,
President Steacart AUTO School

PreSldent Stelcdrt AUTO School
II is all too true that the average
driver never gives mis- battery a
thought until it balks. He looks after
gasolene, water. OIL gears, brakes and
steering, because the need of such at
tention is impressed upon him every
trip. But if ever thought of the
battery crosses his mind he seems to
believe that the charging plant will
take care of the battery, and if it
doesn't he will find it out soon or later
And all the time the ammeter needle
Is making frantic signals to attract his
attention. Nevertheless, he drives
blissfully on until the battery is dis
charged and possibly ruined.
For the benefit of the inexperienced
motorist | have noted a few things
necessary to get best results from this
essential part of the electric system
These should be posted where they can
be seen several times day, so that the
driver may soon learn to repeat them
forward and backward and do every
thing called for when necessary.
Watch ammeter, to see If battery Is
charging or discharging properly.
Test with hydrometer or voltmeter
at least once week.
Add enough distilled water once
week to keep electrolyte over the
plates.
Never let switch stay on while en-
gine is not running.
Prevent short circuits by watching
for weak places in the insulation and
TAPPING them as soon as discovered
and never lay a tool or other piece of
metal across terminals of battery.
Keep the terminals tight and free
from corrosion (sulphate).
If a greenish substance forms around
terminal clean and dry the parts
thoroughly, replace securely and cover
with cup grease to prevent the acid
climbing up the post and repeating the
trouble.
If acid is needed, never add It
yourself, but consult the battery man
at the service station. If added by
an unskilled person it may do more
harm than good.
Prevent freezing by seeing that bat
terry is always up to full charge. When
discharged battery will freeze
around 20 degrees Fahrenheit. When
fully charged it cannot freeze.
DO not use starter or lights too
much unless you run the car a great
deal during the daytime so as to re-
place the current used.
If battery is losing strength, in
spite of your care, have the charging
plant looked over at the service station,
as there must be something out of
order.
NAnd again let me say-watch the
ammeter, for the greatest of these is
the ammeter. 1t is the pulse of the
whole system, an Indicator which tells
you at glance when affairs are going
right or when they are going wrong.
The foregoing instruction, with one
or two exceptions, should be clear
without further explanation But many
people do not know how to use the
voltmeter or hydrometer. The test
with the latter is to draw up some
Of the electrolyte into the syringe and
20 note the reading. 1850 to 1.175
indicates discharge, while 1926 to
1900 shows a charged condition. To
use the voltmeter turn on the lights
while making the test. Seven volts
for three-cell battery shows full
charge.
Most cars use the battery for three
duties, ignition, starting and lighting.
If the battery fails all three systems
go out of commission at once. Thus
1t will be seen how important it is to
give Intelligent care to that part of
the electric system.