1. Torch Cells
When I was a boy there were torches made by Eveready Company, which worked on
three or four cells. The cells too were made by the same company. It was a
practice to either reverse one cell or keep the torch not in the reaching place
of children since it was a fancy to press the button and light the torch.
Fearing the cells will drain and front glass cover will break by falling;
torches were kept out of reach by children. The replacement of cells were made
when the torch become dim. Unless replacement was not done immediately the cells
used to leak- some sort of smelly liquid, which will corrode the springs, and
inside.
It was very rare the torch used permanently lighted though provision was there,
unless so much necessity was there. Normally the press button was used to flash
the torch. In my recollection the doctors used to light the torch to examine
mouth, ear, eye etc.
I have used the term � cell. BATTERY IS AN ASSEMBLY OF CELLS. When cells are
connected together it is called battery. Some members may be recollecting the
answering of question in their 8th standards- what is the difference between
battery and cell or What is the difference between primary and dry cell or of
the sort.
On those days there was only one size of cells for common man's use. This size
is called normal cell now. I will be writing of bigger cells specially made for
other purposes in this posting later.
2. Appearance of leak proof cells.
By about 1970's the same size of cell with metal body started appear. The cost
difference was more than 70% more for these type of cells. The merchant will
give only ordinary type, unless we ask for leak proof. Other than Eveready,
Toshiba anand and Jeep came to cell manufacturing field. Both these are not
today. Toshiba anand cells with its gold and green colour was very attractive to
see. Today we cannot get an ordinary type. Production has stopped at least 10
years before I think.
In fact these are also not 100 % absolute leak proof. In the normal course they
are very much felt leak proof comparing to the old type. If with out use kept
in equipments weak cells, they still leak as well as corrode on top, corroding
the equipment terminals also. ( Or even brand new cells after expiry date)
3. Different type of leak proof cells.
Probably with the appearance of Quartz clocks, different type of leak proof
cells started to appear. These were smaller in diameter and length. Today three
smaller sizes are commonly available- one slightly smaller than the ordinary
cells. It is used in some toys mostly and some times in smaller torches. We
will call it A2
The still smaller one find maximum application- In most of the toys and clocks.
This type is designated as AA by Nippo now. Today most of the small transistor
radios, walkman etc uses this type. We will call it A3 for simplicity.
There is another miniature size, which is most wanting, and we may search shops
and shops to get it- This type we will call as A4. Imagined their use?
{Friends � I tried my best to get their designation. Nippo designate one type as
AA, which is most common in use in wall clocks. Eveready do not designate.
Earlier designation was there, I do recollect like A1, A2, A3, and A4}
4. Mini leak proof cell
The mini leak proof cell is finding its application in many of the TV remotes,
Blood pressure meter, and AC remotes. Earlier these were costly comparing to
others, but now a day most of the sizes are almost same in price.
When medium cells of A3 and A2 we were getting around Rs 10-00, this miniature
was about Rs 35-00!!
5 Pen torch cells
Special types of torches called pen torch cells came to the market and once they
were very popular in 1980's. They had the provision of two cells combined in
the outer as single unit. They were specially made for those torches or
similar equiments. But both torch and cell lost popularity soon.
6. Watch cells and Blood sugar meter.
These type of cells called dry cells, we cannot use in quartz watches , blood
sugar meter etc. For this small round cells flat in size of nickel cadmium is
used of about one inch in diameter and 0.5 cm maximum in thickness . The
identification of the getting exhausted of the cell is noted by watch not
working properly, getting struck up, blood sugar meter work occasionally,
digital diary going dim etc. These cells are available in electronic shops and
not in provision shops today.
7. Voltage of the cell.
What ever is the size of cell, the voltage is maximum 2 volts on production. As
the cell is got used in equipments, the voltage will get reduced. Checking
voltage is very easy by connecting a multi meter across the terminals.(Setting
the meter) While voltage reduces by one point for an easy understanding current
output reduce by 3 points. This mean while the voltage is even at 1. 8 the
current output can be very less.
8. Do we have to throw the cells?
These cells though called Dry cells. they are only 90-95% dry inside. The toys
may be requiring high currents. But the quartz clocks requirement is very less.
A cell, which will not operate a toy, may operate a quartz clock for another
three months!!!.
Hence though these cells are use and through cells used in high current toys
can very well be useful in smaller current requiring equipments like wall clocks
at least for emergency. Normally many throw away some times with out much
thinking of it.
9. Special cells
When I joined the telecommunication these special cells of large size with
terminals were there very much in use. This was used for providing current to
the telephone used by maintenance man.
If you recollect the olden days when one telephone was in an office with the
chief officer , and extension was given to the supervisor, when a telephone call
come to some official , he used to extend it operating a buzzer button on the
phone to the supervisor. This buzzer was operated with a special bigger cell
kept with the main phone in a box under his table!!
10. Bus, Car, scooter, Lorry starting ignition and lighting battery.
Yester years we were having battery, which had to be periodically topped up with distilled water. Some times they had to be charged also. These were called maintenance type.
For the last 12 -13 years we get battery which are called maintenance free. The life period of these maintenance free batteries are less, but it is hassle free. Now a day we get only the maintenance free type.
These battery are normally of 12 volts and this means in the single unit we purchase from the shop, 6 cells are connected together.
These batteries get charged while the vehicle is running as required. For all additional equipments, mostly this battery serve like radio, CD player etc. The battery provides direct current or simply DC.
11. Battery lighting train coaches
24 Volt battery is used for lighting train coaches. In all coaches, there is a battery for the lighting. So if there are 16 coaches in a train, 16 sets of batteries are there. We could see while the train stop, the lights get dim. This is due to the stoppage of charging. When the train start again they will get connected to charging and we can see as the train pick up speed, the light become brighter. The wattage of the bulbs and tube lights are also criteria. These are DC equipments.
Yes- The fans in the train too are DC fans
12. Emergency light battery
There is a battery inside our emergency light, which provide 6 hours current to light two small tubes of 5W/10 watts or so. The battery can be 12v/24v/ 50v depending on the model. There is an equipment inside the emergency light which convert our 230 V AC to the required voltage and DC Form. For simplicity we can call it as adapter.
13. Mobile battery
This battery is nickel cadmium type and as such when once lost it's capacity has to be recharged. The battery gives 6 volts DC for the mobile phone function. Our mobile charger reduces 230 V AC to 6 volts and convert to DC. I am not sure about the arrangements now a day made for voltage supplied in Railway coaches for mobile charging.
14. UPS
Now most of our houses are having wiring for a few lights and Fans (some times for TV and computer) during power failure like kitchen, hall, bedroom, toilet etc. The UPS provide 230 volts AC supply converting the DC of 12 volts from a battery. All these equipments take less current. UPS means uninterrupted power supply.
15. Battery in Lap top and computer.
The battery in Lap top and computer provide 12 volts supply. Our power adapter converts the 230 v AC to this 12 volts DC and provide to the equipments.
16. Torches with rechargeable cells.
The rechargeable battery is mostly is of 3 volts and our charger gives 3 volts DC output.
17.Cars and scooties running on Battery
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