The Washington herald., 1922-04-26
Storage Battery
For Radio Studied


Yesterdays announcement of the
application Of lighting circuits TO
do away with the necessity, for A
batteries in the radio set. makes
timely 4 review Of facts concerning
A or storage batteries. These win
continue % be used for . consid-
cradle period.
The storage lceli or battery is q
secondary source of electromotive
force. That IL such electric charac-
teristics ~ 1t Possesses were FIRST
obtained from an outside direct
current source.
There are several makes OF ttor-
age cells on the market. Two Of
these are most used today. the lead
or Exide battery and the Edison or
nickei-iron battery. The lead cell
consists essentially of two lead
plates immersed in sulphuric acid.
When the positive plate is con-
nected to the positive terminal Of
an outside direct scurrent source AZ
q direct current generator. current
flows from lead plate to lead plate.
through the sulphuric acid. Chem
ical action takes place. One lead
plate becomes coated with lead per-
oxide, the other taken on a spongy
appearance. This difference of the
two plates makes II possible to dis
connect the cell from the outside
source and use II to supply curreny
to other sources. the plate covered
with lead peroxide being the posi-
tive terminal.
When so used the battery dis
charges. Reverse chemical action
takes place. that IL, lead sulphate
accumuiates at both the positive and
negative terminals. AS the plates
approach the same condition in this
respect, the battery is said to be
sulphated. or dead. Before this
condition comes about, the battery
must be recharged, thus driving The
acid back into solution. The
strength of the acid is in no way
impaired. and may be used over
and over again. The correct time
to recharge Is judged by q hydro
meter. q glass instrument immersed
in the acid of the battery. which
rises or falls depending on the con-
centration or specific gravity of the
acid. This figure is usually I.2os
or 1.2s0. and is indicated on q
marked scale.
During hot weather this figure
should be somewhat lower. For
lighting the flament of the radio
phone tubes the lead acid cell IA a
preferable type because when the
set is In operation the battery Is
dischsrging and there is no voltag
drop.
A storage battery is usually rated
as good for SO many ampere hours
for a definite rate of discharge.
Thus. II the man charging your
battery states It Is good for 200
ampere hours at the four-hour rate,
II means the battery will deliver SO
| amperes Of current for four hours.
II hard or continuous usage Is given
a storage battery II will discharge
much more rapidly. The tempera-
ture and rate OF discharge marked
on the name plate must be observed
The voltage of storage cells, which
remains nearly constant, IL usually
IL to so. Current, however, Is
most desired. and ranges from s to
200 amperes, although as explained.
the rating Is given in ampere hours
The Edison or nickel-iron bat
teries have steel grids for plates.
and a solution of potassium
hydroxide for electroiytes. Such a
cell IL not tested with a hydro
meter. but with an ampere-hour
meter. From this instrument Is
read directly the state of the bat
terry.
Care of all storage batteries in
cludes protection from excessive
heat or cold, care In the case of
the lead cell battery that the acid
is not leaking or spilled on clothes
1t is best always to have a storage
battery man care for your battery.
Keep all parts Of the cell free from
corrosion.
The Importance Of storage bat
teries is very great. In the radio
phone set the storage or A battery
supplies current for lighting the
| filaments Of the tubes. The filament
current and the plate voltage (sup-
piled by B battery are the most
essential factors of the vaeuum tube
operation.
All transmitting stations are fully
equipped with rows OF storage cells
fully charged and ready for imme-
| date use. This Is to avoid discon-
tinuance Of service should the gen.
orators or power line supplies sud
denly be cut of. Ships are required
to have a storage battery supply
suficient to permit transmission
| over a distance of 100 miles in case
the ships generators are put out
of commission. In cities power
plants are equipped with these huge
storers Of electric energy to avoid
| inconvenience to persons when
usual power supplies have failed.