On farms in the 1920s and 1930s, the batteries used to store electricity from windmills were lead-acid batteries, often stored in glass jars. These systems, such as the Delco-Light system, provided a reliable way to generate and store power for rural homes and businesses.
- Lead-acid batteries: This was the dominant type of rechargeable battery technology for these early systems, notes this University of Notre Dame document.
- Glass jar storage: The batteries contained a corrosive mixture of acid and water and were often housed in large glass jars.
- System integration: They were part of a larger power system that included a generator and a gasoline or kerosene engine for times when wind was not available.
- Purpose: These systems powered various household needs, with even smaller wind chargers being ideal for charging radio batteries, according to Cooperative.com.