NOTE.—Peroxide of lead, pure oxide or plumbic dioxide is the true active material in all forms of lead storage cell. This lead salt is found native as the mineral plattnerite. It is a heavy lead ore, forming black, lustrous, six sided prisms. It may be prepared from the red oxide by boiling it in fine powder, with nitric acid diluted with five parts of water, or by treating the carbonate when suspended in water with a stream of chlorine gas, and then thoroughly washing and drying it. It is reduced to a lower oxide on heating or by exposure to bright sunlight. This salt readily imparts oxygen to other substances; it becomes heated to redness when thrown into sulphuric dioxide, and takes fire when triturated with sulphur—hence this oxide is a common ingredient in lucifer match composition. When used in primary or secondary batteries it readily imparts its oxygen to nascent hydrogen, forming water, and thus it acts as a powerful depolarizer. When robbed of its oxygen, it readily becomes reoxidized, if subjected to the action of nascent oxygen liberated by the electrolytic decomposition of water.

If the trouble cannot be located by the eye, connect the battery in series, and discharge it at the normal rate, through suitable resistance. If a suitable rheostat be not available, a water resistance may be used.

This consists of a receptacle (which must not be of metal) filled with very weak acid solution or salt water in which are suspended two metal plates, which are connected, by wires through an ammeter.

Electrical Data on "Autex" Cells
(Light weight plates; size, 5¾" × 8⅝")
Number of Plates791113151719212325
Discharge in Amperes for 5 hours15¾2126¼31½36¾4247¼52½57¾63
Outside Measurements Rubber Jars in in.{Length129/3227/16331/323½41/3249/1653/325⅜65/32611/16
{Width6⅛6⅛6⅛6⅛6⅛6⅛6⅛6⅛6⅛6⅛
{Height12⅜12⅜12⅜12⅜12⅜12⅜12⅜12⅜12⅜12⅜
Weight in Pounds{Element11½14¾1821¼24½27¾3134¼37¼40½
{Electrolyte2¼2½33¾4¼4¼5½66¾7¼
{Comp. Cell15¾2024¼28½33¼384246¼51½56

The current may be regulated by altering the distance between the plates or by varying the strength of the solution. As the discharge progresses, the voltage will gradually decrease and it should be frequently read at the battery terminals. When it shows a sudden drop, the voltage of each cell should be read with a low reading voltmeter.

While the readings are being taken, the discharge rate should be kept constant and the discharge continued until the majority of the cells read 1.70 volts; those reading less should be noted. The discharge should be followed by a charge until the cells which read 1.70 volts are up; then the low cells should be cut out, examined and the trouble remedied.

NOTE.—How to prevent lead poisoning. Workmen employed in the manufacture of lead or lead salts are always liable to lead poisoning, both by inhaling the dust and by contact of the materials with the hands. Various preventives for this have been employed, and of these, the most simple seems to be a careful washing of the hands in petroleum. It is said that three washings a day are sufficient to prevent all serious danger of poisoning. The benzole in the petroleum appears to scour the skin and remove the loose lead dust, and the fatty substance in the oil fills up the pores of the skin and prevents the absorption of the deleterious salts. The employment of petroleum has given such good results that it has been proposed to use this material as a guard against poisoning in other industries where the salts of copper or mercury are employed.

Ques. What causes low specific gravity when there are no short circuits?

Ans. 1, sloppage or a leaky jar (the loss having been replaced with water alone), 2, insufficient charge, 3, over discharge, or 4, a combination of these abuses. Any of these mean that there is acid in combination with the plates.

In this case the acid should be brought out into the electrolyte by a long charge at a quarter of the normal discharge rate.