INTRODUCTION THE greatly increasing field of usefulness for the storage battery and the improvements that have been made in its construction are but little appreciated by the average electrician and mechanic. Its use as a source of power for electric automobiles is, of course, well known, but one seldom considers the enormous number of batteries of this type used on the gasoline automobiles. The storage battery is one of the most important parts of the electrical system which includes engine starting and ignition, as well as car lighting of practically every gasoline automobile now manufactured. It is evident that a practical working knowledge of the operating principles and care of the various types of storage batteries now available is desirable. The industrial uses of storage batteries are also increasing, so the student who desires to keep well posted on current engineering development will find much of interest in this treatise. The writer wishes to acknowledge his indebtedness to the following storage battery makers for valuable information and permission to reproduce extracts and illustrations from their literature: Gould Storage Battery Company, Electric Storage Battery Company, Willard Storage Battery Company, U. S. Light and Heat Corporation, and Edison Storage Battery Company. Naturally such co-operation makes a more authoritative and valuable treatise than would otherwise be available. As the experience of these leading authorities on all phases of storage battery engineering is condensed and digested, all the information that the average reader needs may be obtained without consulting a mass of literature. Emphasis is placed on the fact that this work is not intended as a technical treatise but a practical discussion of storage battery operating principles, their maintenance, charging, and chief industrial applications. April, 1917. THE AUTHOR. TABLE OF CONTENTS Discovery of Reversible Chemical Action-Chemical Producers of Electricity-Action of Simple Primary Battery-The Dry Cell- Methods of Connecting Dry Cells-Secondary Batteries-Simple How Batteries Differ in Construction-Batteries Using Other Than Lead Plates-Details of Planté Process-Advantages of the Faure Process-Lead Plate Construction-Gould Plates-Exide Plates- PAGES Storage Battery Defects-Sediment in Cells-Sulphation, Cause and Cure Cadmium Readings-Making Electrolyte-Features of Edi- son Cells-Tools and Supplies-Taking Down Exide Battery- Taking Down Gould Sealed Cells-Disassembling Willard Battery Battery Charging Methods-Currents and Voltages-Electrolytic Rectifiers-Vibrator Rectifiers-Mercury Arc Rectifier-Rotary Converters-Rheostats-Lamp Bank Resistance-Charging Pre- Uses of Storage Batteries-Internal Combustion Engine Ignition— Automobile Starting and Lighting Systems-Shifting Gears- Electric Pleasure and Commercial Automobiles-Isolated Lighting Plants-Train Lighting-Mine Locomotives and Street Cars- Electric Launches-Submarine Boats-Miscellaneous Marine Ap- plications Railway Switch and Signal Service-Stand-by and |