Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1929)

October 5, 1929 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD 35 W SOUND PICTURES Cleaning Battery Tops An ANSWER to Question No. 16 Authoritative COMMENT The BLUEBOOK School QUESTION NO. 20— What must and ivill be the result if there is dust in the atmosphere of the projection room, and what fault is set up by minute scratches in the emulsion caused by dust from the air? By F. H. RICHARDSON ANSWER TO QUESTION No. 16: The Question: "What solutions are recommended for cleaning battery tops ; what precaution is necessary when they are used? What would you do if you accidentally spilled some electrolyte on a battery top? What would you do were some of the solution to be accidentally spilled into one of the battery cells?" THIS question seems to have met with favor, if I may judge by the number of answers received. The following have sent acceptable answers, up to this time: Frank Dudiak, W. C. Budge, Karl Freidrich, Harlan B. Fox, Roy O. Hayes, Thomas Alexander, G. L. Doe, F. D. Orenbacher, Walter J. Lathrop, H. M. Johnson, "Bill" Doe, M. D. Peters, John Christensen, A. T. Hancock, William Turner, M. D. Thompson, N. Roth, Louis Styles, Arthur D. Peters, John R. Malley, Chas. Hall, J. L. Hayes, Edward Gibney, Birk T. Dugan, T. R. Lamb, Robert Edlemann and A. D. Henley. Many of the answers were excellent. I have selected that of G. L. Doe, Chicago, as perhaps best for publication, though it was almost a draw between it and some others. Doe says: "What may be best for cleaning battery tops may depend upon the nature of what they be soiled with. For myself, once each day I use a hand bellows of ample proportions and blow off all dust, if anv there be. If the tops are wet or damp with electrolyte, which may be the case from either of two or three causes, I dampen a clean cloth thoroughly with a solution of household ammonia and water, mixed half and half and kept in a one gallon glass jug. With this cloth I wipe off the electrolyte, which is, by the ammonia, neutralized. Then I wipe the tops dry and, as our editor says, that is that. "Another solution equally efficient for this purpose is water in which as much bicarbonate of soda as possible has been dissolved. The soda may be had from any grocery store. It is cheap and efficient, but I like the ammonia better because you have only to fill a gallon glass jug half full of water, add two quarts of household ammonia, and it is all ready for use. No bother at all. "If electrolyte be accidentally spilled on a battery cell top, I proceed as above. When using such solutions it is important that all cell vent caps be in place, since should any of the solution get into a cell it would operate to the injury of the electrolyte. "Should some of the solution (ammonia or bicarbonate) accidentally get spilled into the cell (I cannot imagine such a thing being done, but of course all things are possible) I would disconnect that cell immediately, connecting the other cells by means of a jumper, and immediately take out all the electrolyte from the cell. The battery would work temporarily without the cell. I would then, using water suitable for use in battery, fill the cell and remove it two or three times, permitting it to stand in the cell the last time for say an hour. After the hour is up I would remove the water and refill the cell with fresh electrolyte, a supply of which is always kept on hand. "In the foregoing I am presuming the amount of solution entering the cell to be relatively small. In fact, I believe it would be a practical impossibility to spill in any large amount of it, hence that condition need not be considered, except to say that if it happened I would secure a substitute cell, immediately empty the injured one and wash it out three or four times, fill it with battery water — not electrolyte but water — and ship it back to the manufacturer, or take it to the nearest battery service station for examination and reconditioning." There, I believe that is a very satisfactory answer, though I am not so certain as to the method of cleaning the cell. READ THIS COMMENT! GL. DOE'S answer to Question No. 16 • was sent to the Electric Storage Battery Company for examination and comment. Here it is: "We have no comment to make down to the line beginning, "Should some of the solution (ammonia or bicarbonate) accidentally get spilled into a cell," etc. Down to this point the answer is handled very satisfactorily. "From there on we agree with Mr. Doe that the amount of ammonia or bicarbonate solution which might accidentally get into a cell would be very small, hence would have little effect unless the cell be practically empty of electrolyte, in which case it would need attention for other reasons than the ammonia or bicarbonate solution getting into the cell. "Assuming that the cell contains the normal amount of electrolyte, we are quite sure the drastic action recommended by Mr. Doe is unnecessary. The effect of the ammonia or bicarbonate is entirely and wholly on the electrolyte. It would not injure the plates or separators in any manner, because of the fact that it is neutralized the instant it comes into contact with the electrolyte. There is, therefore, no need for removing the cell from the circuit. "The amount of solution which could get into a cell if the vent plugs be in place {Continued on next page) The Difference Between FAILURE AND SUCCESS Is Doing Things NEARLY RIGHT and Doing Them EXACTLY RIGHT