USS Holland Battery


1894 Battery Ad

1894 Advertisement

Dynamic America Edited by J. Niven, 1960


Computer model of Battery Well

Computer Model of Battery Well

(Wood Deck Partially Removed to Reveal Battery Cells)

The Holland's battery was located in a well 15 feet long, 6 feet 3 inches wide and 3 feet deep near the center of the ship. It was bounded on the port and starboard sides by the main ballast tank, on the forward end by the fuel tank and on the aft end by the auxiliary machinery space. The well was lined with lead and covered with wooden planks which could be taken up to provide access to the cells. The planks were covered with a rubber mat and shellaced oilcloth to prevent salt water or debris from entering the cells.

The battery consisted of sixty cells arranged five across. Each cell consisted of a wooden box with an iron frame having an open top. The wooden box was lined with lead and filled with sulferic acid. Eight positive plates and nine negative plates were suspended in the acid.

The negative plate consists of a frame holding a number of one inch square and 3/8 inch thick "pastilles". These "pastilles" were the active part of the negative plates. In a similar fashion, the positive plate consisted of a frame holding a number of 13/16 inch in diameter and 3/8 inch thick "rosettes" which were the active part of the positive plates.2

The plates within one cell were connected in parallel. Fully charged, each cell developed approximately 2.5 volts. Strict instructions were given to avoid discharging the cells below 1.7 volts to avoid permanent damage. The cells were connected in series in order to develop approximately 125 volts.


Sources:

  1. "Storage Batteries: Description and Discussion" by Captain John Lowe U.S.N.
  2. "Descriptive Specification of the Submarine Holland VI" by Charles A. Morris
  3. Various letters in the Morris Collection at the Submarine Force Library in Groton, CT


ÓCopyright 1999,2000,2001,2002 Gary McCue

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