Fig. 1,158.—Charging "Champion" battery with charging plug. Where direct lighting current is available, recharging may be done by means of the charging plug. First insert the plug in a regular socket. Then screw a 50 c.p. lamp into the plug and turn on. To tell the positive from the negative, lay both wires on a small piece of red litmus or test paper moistened. The negative wire makes a mark on the paper. This wire must go to the negative post of battery. This will fully charge the "6-25-G" battery in 15 to 20 hours.
Ques. What precautions should be taken in unpacking cells?
Ans. The plates should be handled carefully. When they are sent out from the factory already built into sections, they should be unpacked without disturbing a single plate. In all cases, every particle of packing, straw, hay and any chips and bits of parts should be carefully removed, and all the dust should be blown out of the spaces between the plates by means of a bellows or other similar device.
NOTE.—Champion directions for repairs. To replace broken jars in a battery remove the lid and lift out elements bodily. Empty the good jars with a syringe or by tilting the battery over. Never put the acid in any vessel except glass, stone or lead. Put new jars in place same as others and run melted paraffine around the edges. The wax must be broken off the elements that are to go into new jars and be poured on again. Fill the jars with acid to ¾" from tops. Melt the broken wax in a tin ladle and pour over the acid about ½" thick. Do not fill with wax to tops of jars. When the wax gets cold it will be found to have shrunk away from the edges of the jars. Fill up the opening with a little melted paraffine wax by means of a squirt can. Cut a small hole in the middle of the wax seal for a vent. Smear the brass posts and terminals and inside of case with vaseline to prevent creeping of the acid. The "6-25-G" requires one-half gallon of acid and the "6-50-G" one gallon.
Although such particles are good non-conductors, the action of the sulphuric acid electrolyte carbonizes them, giving them conducting properties which tend to produce leakage.
Figs. 1,159 to 1,161.—"Champion" electric light equipment designed especially for use on launches, yachts, and country residences. The outfit consists of three essential parts: 1, a dynamo run by belt from main engine; 2, a storage battery, and 3, a switchboard to regulate, measure and control the current.
Ques. How should the cells be assembled?
Ans. In placing the plates or plate sections in the containing jars or tanks, care should be taken to see that the supporting frame of paraffined wood bears evenly on the bottom of the jar. If they do not, wedges of paraffined wood should be placed under the frame, so as to distribute the weight of the section equally. Each section should be lowered gently into the jar until it rests fairly upon the frame, and care should be taken to see that none of the plates have shifted, and that the section is situated centrally in the jar, with a small clear space all around.