Storage Battery - Cadillac V-63 1923 Operator's Manual

58
GENERAL CARE
straight out from its socket. To release the reel and return the lamp to its
socket, first push in the switch button to turn off the light and then press
in further on the button until the reel is released, holding it in while the
cord is rewound.
STORAGE BATTERY
General Description
The storage battery consists of three cells. It is carried in a compart-
ment in the left hand dust shield. The cover of this compartment forms a
part of the dust shield and may be removed after turning the nickel-plated
handle to the right. On some cars this handle is fitted with a lock which
must be unlocked by inserting the switch key before the handle can be
turned. Do not attempt to turn the key. Insertion of the key unlocks
the handle.
Fig. 23. Storage Battery, Sectional View.
Caution:—Never run the engine with the storage battery disconnected.
Serious damage to the motor generator may result. Do not remove the motor
generator or attempt any adjustment of the circuit breakers or remove any of
the wires to the circuit breakers, without first disconnecting the storage battery.
GENERAL CARE
59
The battery is designed especially for the Cadillac-Delco electrical
cranking, lighting and ignition system and is unusually rugged and long
lived. It is made by the Electric Storage Battery Co., Philadelphia, Pa.,
whose batteries are known as "Exide" batteries.
The specific gravity of the acid solution in the battery is an indication
of the state of charge. (See under "Hydrometer Syringe," page 60.) In a
fully charged battery the specific gravity should be from 1.270 to 1.290. If
the specific gravity registers from 1.150 to 1.170 it indicates that the battery
is practically discharged. A battery discharged below a specific gravity of
1.150 will not crank the engine nor will it burn the lights to full candle-
power when the engine is not running.
Adding Water to Storage Battery
The acid solution in the battery must always cover the plates and the
level of the acid solution should be kept even with the bottom of the filling
tubes. Water should be added frequently enough to keep the level up to
this point. Do not add acid. Ordinarily water should be added every 500
miles, but it should be added at least every two weeks and more frequently
if found necessary Usually it will require only a teaspoonful or so; in hot
weather it may require more. Be sure to replace and tighten the filling
plugs after adding water.
To remove a filling plug, turn it as far as possible in the counter-clock-
wise direction, then lift it straight up. To replace it, set the plug in place and
turn it in the clockwise direction until tight.
If a plug is left out or is loose, acid solution will escape from the cell,
especially when the battery is being charged. If a plug is lost or broken,
obtain a new one and install it as soon as possible.
If one cell regularly requires more water than the others, thus lowering
the specific gravity of the acid solution in that cell, a leaky jar is indicated.
Even a very slow leak will in time result in the loss of all the acid solution
in the cell. A leaky jar should be replaced immediately by a new one.
Water for filling the battery must be pure. Distilled water, melted arti-
ficial ice or fresh rain water are suitable for this purpose. If rain water is
used, it should not be allowed to come in contact with any metal. It should
not be caught from a metal roof or in a metal receptacle.
Never keep the water in a metal container, such as a metal bucket or
can. It is best to get a bottle of distilled water from a druggist or from an
ice plant. A quart will last a long time. The whole point is to keep metal
particles out of the battery. Spring water, well water or hydrant water