e Amateur - 

 Electrician 



^And Wireless Operator 



Charging Storage Batteries 

 With Direct Current 



CONNECT six no- volt, 32-candlepower, 

 100-watt carbon lamps parallel with 

 each other and in series with the battery to 

 be charged. This combination will ap- 

 proximately give the proper charging rate 

 of 6 amperes. If the charging rate is to be 

 increased, add lamps. If decreased take off 

 lamps. To fully charge* an empty battery 

 leave it connected until each cell of battery 

 gasses freely. Each cell should show a 

 specific gravity ranging from 1,275 to 

 1,300. — Edwin Jasper. 



Simple Method of Making Storage 

 Battery Cells 



AN old type of storage cell reconstructed 

 in an original and efficient manner 

 is shown in the illustrations. 



The battery plates are formed of strip 

 lead and are separated by thin strips of 

 rubber cut from a 10-cent sponge, which 

 are held to the lead plates by small elastic 

 bands. The plates are "formed" by the 

 Plante process. 



One of the illustrations in the next 

 column shows very clearly how the 



A detailed view showing how the lead plates are 

 cut from one strip and separated by rubber 



plates are assembled, while below it in the 

 same picture is shown the celluloid jar or 

 container, made from a 10-cent hair or 

 puff box. The domed top of this box is 

 slotted at opposite ends to permit the lugs 

 to protrude. 



A finished cell is shown in the upper 

 right-hand corner of the picture, encased 

 in a light aluminum cup. This view shows 

 the rubber filler cap, in the center of the 



The lead strips are 

 made into a coil 

 and set into a cir- 

 cular box, the 

 domed top of which 

 is slotted to permit 

 the ends to protrude 



celluloid cover, which is partly concealed 

 under the ring of pitch that effectually seals 

 the battery. 



The first detailed view shows how the 

 lead plates are cut from one strip of ma- 

 terial about 3 by 30 in. It also gives a 

 clear idea of how the sponge separators are 

 attached. 



The capacity of this little cell, which 

 varies with the amount of active lead 

 surface exposed, is very high for a given 

 unit of weight, owing to the extreme light- 

 ness of the case, container, and separators 

 employed in its construction. By leaving 

 off the aluminum case, and at the same 

 time perforating the lead plates throughout 

 their entire surface, a very satisfactory high 

 capacity cell of unusual lightness will 

 result. — R. U. Clark, 3rd. 



947 



