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The manufacturers of Starting and Lighting Equipment have designed
their generators, cutouts, and current controlling devices so as to
relieve the car owner of as much work as possible in taking care of
batteries. The generators on most cars are automatically connected to
the battery at the proper time, and also disconnected from it as the
engine slows down. The amount of current which the generator delivers
to the battery is automatically prevented from exceeding a certain
maximum value. Under the average conditions of driving, a battery is
kept in a good condition. It is impossible, however, to eliminate
entirely the need of attention on the part of the car owner, and
battery repairman.

The storage battery requires but little attention, and this is the
very reason why many batteries are neglected. Motorists often have the
impression that because their work in caring for a battery is quite
simple, no harm will result if they give the battery no attention
whatever. If the battery fails to turn over the engine when the
starting switch is closed, then instruction books are studied.
Thereafter more attention is paid to the battery. The rules to be
observed in taking care of the battery which is in service on the car
are not difficult to observe. It is while on the car that a battery is
damaged, and the damage may be prevented by intelligent consideration
of the battery's housing and living conditions, just as these
conditions are made as good as possible for human beings.

1. Keep the Interior of the Battery Box Clean and Dry. On many cars
the battery is contained in an iron box, or under the seat or
floorboards. This box must be kept dry, and frequent inspection is
necessary to accomplish this. Moisture condenses easily in a metal
box, and if not removed will cause the box to become rusty. Pieces of
rust may fall on top of the battery and cause corrosion and leakage of
current between terminals.

Occasionally, wash the inside of the box with a rag dipped in ammonia,
or a solution of baking soda, and then wipe it dry. A good plan is to
paint the inside of the box with asphaltum paint. This will prevent
rusting, and at the same time will prevent the iron from being
attacked by electrolyte which may be spilled, or may leak from the
battery.

Some batteries are suspended from the car frame under the floor boards
or seat. The iron parts near such batteries should be kept dry and
free from