The Automobile Storage Battery: Its Care And Repair

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

29718

Title

The Automobile Storage Battery: Its Care And Repair

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A practical 1922 manual for automobile battery repairmen, this book demystifies lead-acid battery theory, construction, and maintenance. Written in accessible language, it guides technicians through rebuilding, sealing, and diagnosing faults to build a successful repair business.

Summary up to 500 words

Otto A. Witte's *The Automobile Storage Battery: Its Care And Repair* serves as a definitive technical manual for the early 20th-century automotive repairman, distinguishing the unique demands of modern gasoline car batteries from stationary units used in power stations. Witte argues that while the fundamental chemical actions in lead-acid batteries remain consistent, the design, construction, and operational requirements for starting, lighting, radio, and farm lighting batteries are distinct and require specialized knowledge. The text systematically dismantles the mystery surrounding battery technology, guiding the reader from theoretical principles to practical shop-floor application. The book begins by explaining the chemistry of charge and discharge, emphasizing that a storage battery does not merely "store" electricity but actively generates it through chemical reactions. Witte details how specific gravity readings of the electrolyte serve as the primary indicator of a cell's state of charge, providing rigorous instructions on temperature corrections to ensure accuracy. He covers the entire manufacturing lifecycle, from molding plate grids and applying active pastes to assembling jars and sealing covers, offering repairmen a deeper appreciation for the machinery they service. A significant portion of the treatise is dedicated to troubleshooting common failures. Witte provides specific remedies for issues such as sulphation caused by idling or starvation, buckling resulting from over-discharge, shedding of active material due to overheating, and corrosion induced by impurities. He addresses structural failures like jar damage from freezing or rough handling and electrical faults such as corroded terminals and short-circuits. The text also explores the nuances of sealing batteries, detailing the proper use of sealing compounds, the preparation of covers, and techniques for resealing double-cover designs to prevent leaks. Witte modernizes the trade by discarding obsolete methods in favor of new designs and processes, including the use of rectifiers for charging. He expands the scope of the repairman's versatility by including sections on specialized batteries for radio sets and farm lighting plants. By combining theoretical understanding with accumulated experience from top repair shops, Witte aims to transform a mechanic's approach into a profitable and efficient service, ensuring that the repairman is fully equipped to handle the evolving landscape of automotive electrical systems.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29718.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg29718.epub

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Downloaded at

2026-07-08 04:46 UTC

Categories

• Science
• Automobiles