From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Battery charging issues and potential solutions for a customer's car used in strenuous mountain conditions.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 59\1\ Scan050 | |
| Date | 29th November 1932 | |
| S/W. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}.from PN.{Mr Northey} Copy to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Wor{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} Ox. WST X6045. PN.{Mr Northey}2/WT29.11.32. See me Sir Norman Watson, 38-MY. HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} This chassis is due for delivery in the first week of January. I have just had a long talk with Sir Norman Watson about the battery charging which will be on his car, and there has been much correspondence arising out of this owner's wish not to find his battery in a condition of discharge frequently, if it can be avoided, having regard to his very strenuous conditions of use. It appears that he goes in for Spring ski-ing which means that he will be taking his car into most inaccessible places high up in the mountains where it will be left in a shed, perhaps for two or three days without any form of heating, the water having been emptied out of the engine, while he climbs on skin-wrapped-skis for three days before returning to the car, on skis again. Meanwhile during his use of the car in such country his runs may be only short, not having much charging effect, even the ordinary paraffin-fed bonnet heater appears not to be useful to him because the lamp should keep alight for at least three days sometimes. Sir Norman Watson had various suggestions to make, which in my opinion were not helpful or practicable, such as the provision of an additional battery on the car. I pointed out that two batteries instead of one would merely double the length of time before he found himself without any charge in the absence of adequate charging, also there other than on the running board it would be more than difficult to find a place for a second battery. I told him that I would discuss the matter with Derby, and I think that this is certainly a case where it is possible we should do something special to meet the difficult conditions. Fundamentally it would appear necessary for the dynamo to cut-in much earlier than normally, and in doing so immediately offer a useful rate of charge. | ||