The Automobile Storage Battery Part 77

Jar. The hard rubber container holding the element and electrolyte.

Lead Burning. Making a joint by melting together the metal of the parts to be joined.

Lug. The extension from the top frame of each plate, connecting the plate to the strap.

Maximum Gravity. The highest specific gravity which the electrolyte will reach by continued charging, indicating that no acid remains in the plates.

Mud. (See Sediment.)

Negative. The terminal of a source of electrical energy as a cell, battery or generator through which current returns to complete circuit. Generally marked "Neg." or "-".

Ohm. The unit of electrical resistance. The smaller the wire conductor the greater is the resistance. Six hundred and sixty-five feet of No.

14 wire (size used in house lighting circuit) offers I ohm resistance to current flow.

Oil of Vitriol. Commercial name for concentrated sulphuric acid (1.835 specific gravity). This is never used in a battery and would quickly ruin it.

Over-Discharge. The carrying of discharge beyond proper cell voltage; shortens life if carried far enough and done frequently.

Paste. The mixture of lead oxide or spongy lead and other substances which is put into grids.

Plate. The combination of grid and paste properly "formed." Positive$ are reddish brown and negatives slate gray.

Polarity. An electrical condition. The positive terminal (or pole) of a cell or battery or electrical circuit is said to have positive polarity; the negative, negative polarity.

Positive. The terminal of a source of electrical energy as a cell, battery or generator from which the current flows. Generally marked "Pos." or "+".

Post. The portion of the strap extending through the cell cover, by means of which connection is made to the adjoining cell or to the car circuit.

Potential Difference. Abbreviated P. D. Found on test curves.

Synonymous with voltage.

Rate. Number of amperes for charge or discharge. Also used to express time for either.

Rectifier. Apparatus for converting alternating current into direct current.

Resistance. Material (usually lamps or wire) of low conductivity inserted in a circuit to r.e.t.a.r.d the flow of current. By varying the resistance, the amount of current can be regulated. Also the property of an electrical circuit whereby the flow of current is impeded.

Resistance is measured in ohms. a.n.a.logous to the impediment offered by wall of a pipe to flow of water therein.

Rheostat. An electrical appliance used to raise or lower the resistance of a circuit and correspondingly to decrease or increase the current flowing.

Rib. (See Bridge.)

Ribbed. (See Separator.)

Reversal. Reversal of polarity of cell or battery, due to excessive discharge, or charging in the wrong direction.

Rubber Sheets. Thin, perforated hard rubber sheets used in combination with the wood separators in some types of batteries. They are placed between the grooved side of the wood separators and the positive plate.

Sealing. Making tight joints between jar and cover; usually with a black, thick, acid-proof compound.

Sediment. Loosened or worn out particles of active material fallen to the bottom of cells; frequently called "mud."

Sediment s.p.a.ce. That part of jar between bottom and top of bridge.

Separator. An insulator between plates of opposite polarity; usually of wood, rubber or combination of both. Separators are generally corrugated or ribbed to insure proper distance between plates and to avoid too great displacement of electrolyte.

Short Circuit. A metallic connection between the positive and negative plates within a cell. The plates may be in actual contact or material may lodge and bridge across. If the separators are in good condition, a short circuit is unlikely to occur.

s.p.a.cers. Wood strips used in some types to separate the cells in the case, and divided to provide a s.p.a.ce for the tie bolts.

Specific Gravity. The density of the electrolyte compared to water as a standard. It indicates the strength and is measured by the hydrometer.

Spray. Fine particles of electrolyte carried up from the surface by gas bubbles. (See Ga.s.sing.)

Starting Rate. A specified current in amperes at which a discharged battery may be charged at the beginning of a charge. The starting rate is reduced to the finis.h.i.+ng rate when the cells begin to gas. It is also reduced at any time during the charge if the temperature of the electrolyte rises to or above 110 deg. Fahrenheit.

Starvation. The result of giving insufficient charge in relation to the amount of discharge, resulting in poor service and injury to the battery.

Strap. The leaden casting to which the plates of a group are joined.

Sulphate. Common term for lead sulphate. (PbSO4.)

Sulphated. Term used to describe cells in an under-charged condition, from either over-discharging without corresponding long charges or from standing idle some time and being self discharged.

Sulphate Reading. A peculiarity of cell voltage when plates are considerably sulphated, where charging voltage shows abnormally high figures before dropping gradually to normal charging voltage.

Terminal. Part to which outside wires are connected.

Vent, Vent Plug or Vent-Cap. Hard or soft rubber part inserted in cover to retain atmospheric pressure within the cell, while preventing loss of electrolyte from spray. It allows gases formed in the cell to escape, prevents electrolyte from spilling, and keeps dirt out of the cell.

Volt. The commercial unit of pressure in an electric circuit. Voltage is measured by a voltmeter. a.n.a.logous to pressure or head of water flow through pipes. NOTE.--Just as increase of pressure causes more volume of water to flow through a given pipe so increase of voltage (by putting more cells in circuit) will cause more amperes of current to flow in same circuit. Decreasing size of pipes is increasing resistance and decreases flow of water, so also introduction of resistance in an electrical circuit decreases current flow with a given voltage or pressure.

Wall. Jar sides and ends.

Was.h.i.+ng. Removal of sediment from cells after taking out elements; usually accompanied by rinsing of groups, replacement of wood separators and renewal of electrolyte.

Watt. The commercial unit of electrical power, and is the product of voltage of circuit by amperes flowing. One ampere flowing under pressure of one volt represents one watt of power.

Watt Hour. The unit of electrical work. It is the product of power expended by time of expenditure, e.g., 10 amperes flowing under 32 volts pressure for 8 hours gives 2560 watt hours.