Big Claims for Alkaline Battery
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A NEW type of nickel-iron battery .CA using an alkaline electrolyte, has been produced by the Alkaline Battery Corporation, whose export address is 520 Fifth Avenue, New York 36, N.Y. If the claims made for this are substantiated, it should do much to solve some of the present -difficulties which have prevented this type of battery being employed more extensively on commercial and other types of motor vehicle. Not only is it completely unlike •the ordinary acid-lead type, but it differs radically from other makes of alkaline battery.
Of alksteel construction, it uses a potash electrolyte, which is a preservative of steel, and the container is welded. Internally, laminated construction is employed and the active materials are placed under great hydraulic pressure during construction so that it is impossible for them to be shed. The plates are assembled in stack form. also 'under hydraulic pressure, 'and positively held -by end plates and locking rings. This obviates buckling if the battery be 58
short-circuited or subjected to other forms,of ill-treatment.
Remarkably low internal resistance permits normal charging within one hour without excessive rise of temperature or the possibility of damage. No harm can be done by over or under charging and the battery may stand idle for indefinite periods and still hold its charge. An important point is that the makers have succeeded in constructing the new product in a form small and light enough to fit in the rack of an ordinary ear.
Thorough Tests Tests have been carried out for years on the ABC battery, as it is called. It. is claimed that one series, consisting of a cycle of full charge at normal rate and full discharge at 10 times the ordinary rate, shows that after 1000 cycles, the five-hour-rate capacity was only 8.7 per cent, below the original. In a test to simulate use in a motor vehicle, another ABC battery was run on an accelerated life test at 5 sec. dis charge at 300 amp., 31 min, idle, and 6 inM. 25 sec. charge at 10 amp. This test was carried out for 24 hours a day and interrupted for capacity tests at intervals of 5,000 cycles. After 127,000 -cycles, the average capacity was said to have fallen only 20 per cent. The work done in this way was estimated to be equal to 25 years' use in a motor vehicle.
At normal rate the average charge voltage is 1.58 per cell and the average discharge voltage 1.30 per cell: Another interesting claim is that, taking an Edison cell of a given size, complete in container, this comprises 820 parts, whereas the equivalent ABC battery is Claimed to have a total of merely 200 parts.
A prototype made in 1946 was given a laboratory accelerated test equivalent to five years' use. It was then put into a 'motor vehicle and has been in five years' continuous service in this, following which it is said to be over 90 per cent, effective, despite deliberate abuse, such as being run dry, discharged completely and deliberately overcharged.