Ques. How should the cells be arranged?
Ans. They should be so placed that the battery attendant can see the edges of the plates and consequently the spaces between them at the same time.
Ques. Describe the method of connecting the cells.
Ans. This is accomplished by means of solder, bolts and nuts, or clamps, according to circumstances. The use of solder is not essential if there be a good surface of the lead strip of one cell in contact with that of the next, and provided these contact surfaces have been well cleaned. Usually, the ends of the lead strips are turned up so that the junction of two cells takes the form of an inverted T as shown in [fig. 1,162].
Fig. 1,162.—Two storage cells; view showing the inverted T form of connection.
Ques. What precaution should be taken in joining the terminals of the cells?
Ans. The contact at the junctions should be very thorough, otherwise they will become heated when a current is flowing, and it is desirable that the connections should include as little lead strip in the circuit as possible, thereby reducing the amount of useless resistance.
Brass or gun metal clamps may be kept clean by brushing them over with melted paraffin after they have been screwed up tightly. When thus treated they serve to indicate points of bad contact by heat, generated at such points, when the current is flowing, softening the paraffin and changing its normal color. Vaseline and different kinds of anti-sulphuric acid varnishes, or preparations that are not attacked by the electrolyte, may also be used for this purpose. It is a good plan to color the varnish with vermillion or lamp black and paint the positive connections red and the negative connections black, and also other parts of the installation for distinguishing the polarities.