The Automobile Storage Battery Part 13

Equipment Which is Absolutely Necessary

1. Charging Outfit, such as a motor-generator set, rectifier, or charging resistance where direct current is available.

2. Charging Bench and Accessories. With the charging bench must go the following:

1. A syringe-hydrometer for measuring specific gravity of electrolyte, for drawing off electrolyte and for adding water to cells.

2. A special battery thermometer for measuring temperature of electrolyte.

3. A voltmeter to measure cell, battery, and cadmium voltages.

4. An ammeter to measure charging current.

5. A gla.s.s bottle for distilled water. Also one for electrolyte.

6. A number of eighteen inch lengths of No. 12 flexible wire fitted with lead coated test clips, for connecting batteries in series while on charge.

3. Work bench with vise.

4. Sink or wash tank and water supply.

5. Lead-burning outfit. (This should properly be called a lead welding outfit, since it is used to melt lead parts so that they will be welded together.)

6. For handling sealing compound, the following are necessary.

1. Stove.

2. Pot in which compound is melted.

3. An iron ladle for dipping up the melted compound.

4. One or two old coffee pots for pouring compound.

7. Shelving or racks for batteries waiting to be repaired, batteries which have been repaired, rental batteries, new batteries, battery boxes, battery jars, battery plates, etc.

8. Bins for battery parts, such as covers, inter-cell connectors, plate straps, terminals, handles, vent plugs, hold down bolts, separator hold-downs, and so on.

Equipment Needed In Opening Batteries

9. A battery steamer for softening sealing-compound and making covers limp, for softening compound around defective jars which are to be removed, for softening jars which are to be set in a battery box, and so on.

10. Putty knife to remove softened scaling compound.

11. One ratchet brace with set of wood bits or square shank drills of the following sizes: 3/8, 5/8, 3/4, 13/16, and 7/8 inch, for drilling off terminals and inter-cell connectors. A power drill press, or a portable electric drill will save time and labor in drilling off the terminals and connectors.

12. Center punch for marking terminals and connectors before drilling.

13. Ten inch screwdriver for prying off connectors and terminals which have been drilled. The screwdriver may, of course, be used on various other kinds of work also.

14. A ten-inch length of 3/4 inch angle iron to protect upper edge of case when prying off the connectors and terminals which have been drilled.

15. Two pairs of standard combination pliers for lifting elements out of jars. A pair of six or eight inch gas pliers will also do for this work.

16. Machinist hammer. This is, of course, also used for other purposes.

17. Terminal tongs for removing taper lugs from terminals.

18. Pair of long, fiat nosed pliers for pulling out separators and jars.

19. Open-end wrench for use in removing taper lugs from terminals.

Equipment for Lead Burning (Welding)

In addition to the lead burning-outfit, the following tools are needed:

20. A plate burning rack for setting up plates which are to be burned to a plate strap.

21. A plumber's or tinner's triangular sc.r.a.per for cleaning surfaces which are to be welded together. A pocketknife will do in a pinch.

22. Steel wire brush for cleaning surfaces which are to be welded together. This may also be used for general cleaning of lead parts.

23. Coa.r.s.e files, vixen, round, and flat, for filing lead parts.

24. Set of burning, collars to be used in burning inter-cell connectors to posts.

25. Moulds for casting sticks of burning lead. A pot for melting lead is needed with the mould, and mould compound is also needed.

26. Set of post builders-moulds used for building up posts which have been drilled short in removing terminals and intercell connectors.

27. Pair of blue or smoked gla.s.ses to be worn when using lead burning outfit.

Equipment for General Work on Cell Connectors and Terminals

28. Set of moulds for casting inter-cell connectors, terminals, terminal screws, taper lugs, plate straps and posts, etc.

29. Set of reamers to ream holes in terminals and connectors.

30. Set of hollow reamers for reducing posts.

Equipment for Work on Cases

31. Cans of asphaltum paint for painting cases. May also be used for acid-proofing work benches, floor, shelves, charging bench, and so on.

32. Paint brushes, one wide and several narrow.

33. Battery turntable.

34. Several wood chisels of different sizes.