San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-27

Dry cells or dry batteries, as the,
are more commonly called, are uset
. for great many purposes the mor'
important of which are telephone, ga
engine, ignition, burglar alarms, fir,
alarms, door bells, lanterns, flash
lights and last but not least radio
There are more than 200.000,000 dry
cells used in the United States in one
year. These can be grouped in five oil
I. SIX classes with battery of special
construction for each class. Their,
are twenty or more chemicals and ma
terials used in making dry cells de-
pending on the purpose for which they
are TO be used.
There is no secret about a formula
for a dry cell. That information can
be secured from an encyclopedia
There is, however. some secret TO max
ing a certain kind of dry cell for a
certain purpose. Most important in
connection with the manufacture of
dry cells is experience and an organi-
cation of chemists and engineers that
knows how to select and test the char
acter and quality of all the material
used In a dry cell. to know the char
acter and the strength of the differ
emit kinds of materials and TO mix
them in proportion TO their qualities
to develop the cell for a definite serv-
ice.
The manufacturers endeavor is to
make a dry cell which will give the
best service for certain purpose and
make it uniform. With the experience,
the proper organization. and with nu-
merous tests of material and the fin
ished prdouct. the manufacturer can
make product that is very uniform.
With the experience the manufacturer
has had in making batteries for other
purposes it has been possible to de-
velop, within a comparatively short
time, batteries for radio.
Three Kinds of Batteries.
There are three kinds of batteries
"a" "B" and &C" batteries. The
storage battery has been very largely
used as the a. battery. Storage
battery tubes were developed for WIRE
less and used in a commercial way.
DR.. DeForest discovered a method of
carrying sounds over wireless waves
which resulted in broadcasting and
what is commonly known as radio.
Tubes already developed for wireless
were used for radio receiving sets. all
of which were storage battery tubes.
Within the last two years tubes
have been developed for use with the
dry cell "A" battery. Some manu-
facturers are making sets for use
with either the storage battery tubes
or the dry cell tubes. Some or The
largest manufacturers are making
their receiving sets to be equipped
with the dry cell tube exclusively be-
cause of the portability of the dry cell.
\ Purpose of the "A" Battery.
The purpose of the "A" battery in
the receiving set is to heat the fila
ment of the tube to a temperature at
which its electron emission is most
suitable for the action of the tube. In
order to establish and maintain this
temperature in the tube filament the
"A" battery must be capable of fore
ing an even flow Of current through
the tube filament Proper grading and
proportioning of the depolarizing and
conducting materials in the dry cell
enable it to supply the right amount
of current with the regularity neres-
sary for maintaining this temperature.
A dry cell has an initial voltage of |
one and one-half volts. As the cell |
is used in service the voltage will |
gradually be reduced. When the cell |
IS reduced 10 one volt It's service value |
is Mt an end and it should be replaced. !
There are two types of dry cell
tubes: The one known as WD-11. |
WD-12 and C-12 operate on from one |
and half to one volt. The rheostat |
mskes the voltage adjustment for the
tube. Not less than one cell should |
be used for each tube. Where more
than one of this type tube is used con-
rect the cells in multiple. that is, con-
meet together all Of the center or car
bon terminals to the plus "A" of the |
receiving set; connect together all the !
outside or zinc terminals to the minus |
"A of the receiving set
The other type of dry cell tube |
known as the UV-199 and the C-290 |
operates on from four and one-half to |
three volts. This tube is marked for |
three volts which represents the mini !