Aircraft batteries and their behaviour on constant-potential charge

A brief survey of the present state of progress in aircraft battery development is given, followed by a discussion of constant-potential charging as it applies to aircraft practice. Improved high-rate performance and increasingly unfavourable working conditions have made aircraft batteries over-sensitive to excessive busbar voltages. The variables affecting battery stability are discussed and illustrated by examples from modern batteries. It is shown that with lead-acid batteries a worth-while improvement would be achieved if antimony could be eliminated. This change would not merely reduce the incidence of boiling but should greatly improve overall reliability, ease of servicing and tolerance towards high ambient temperatures without increasing complexity.