arge in a week or less, as indicated by specific gravity
readings, the following troubles may exist:

(a) Impurities in the cells, due to the use of impure water in the
electrolyte, or in the separators. Some impurities (see page 76) do
not attack the plates, but merely cause self-discharge. The remedy is
to dump out the old electrolyte, rinse the jars with pure water, fill
with new electrolyte of the same gravity as the old and recharge. If
this does not remove impurities, the battery should be opened, the
plates washed, jars cleaned out, new separators put in, and battery
reassembled and charged.

(b) There may be a slow short-circuit, due to defective separators or
excessive amount of sediment. If preliminary treatment in (a) does not
cause battery to hold charge, the opening of battery and subsequent
treatment will remove the cause of the slow short-circuit.

Suggestions

1. Make sure every battery is properly tagged before going on line.

2. Determine as quickly as possible from day to day, those batteries
that will not charge. Call owner and get permission to open up any
such battery and do whatever is necessary to put it in good shape.

3. As soon as a battery charges to 1.280-1.300, the voltage is 2.5-2.7
per cell and the cadmium readings are 2.4 or more for the positives
and -0.15 to -0.20 for the negatives and the gravity voltage and
cadmium readings do not change for five hours, remove it from the line
as finished and replace it with another if possible. Go over your line
at least three times a day and make gravity, temperature, and cadmium
tests.

4. Make a notation, with chalk, of the gravity of each cell each
morning. Do not trust to memory.

5. Remove from the line as soon as possible any battery that has a
leaky cell and neutralize with soda the acid that has leaked out.

6. Batteries that are sloppers, with rotten cases, and without handles
are sick and need a doctor. Go after the owner and get permission to
repair.

7. Keep the bench orderly and clean.

8. Remember that if you have a line only partly full and have other
batteries waiting to be charged you are losing money by not keeping a
full line.

9. Leave the Vent Plugs in When Charging. The atmosphere in many
service stations, where the ventilation is poor, is so filled with
acid fumes that customers object to doing business there.

The owners of these places may not notice these conditions, being used
to it, or rather glory i