Abstract: The cell of a gas-tight alkaline battery is balanced by subdividing the negative excess capacity into the necessary charge and discharge reserves by individually treating the two electrode polarities prior to their assembly, while avoiding open cell forming. When combining a charged, dried, positive sintered electrode which is suitable for storage with a negative electro-deposited electrode, the latter inherently receives a charge reserve due to partial chemical oxidation with H.sub.2 O.sub.2 l or K.sub.2 S.sub.2 O.sub.8. When a discharged, but preformed positive sintered electrode is combined with a negative sintered electrode, the latter is electrochemically partially charged to the extent necessary to achieve the desired discharge reserve, and thereafter preserved by immersion in a solution containing sulfuric acid, and possibly CdSO.sub.4.