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).
Optimal position and design for starter batteries.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 35\1\ scan 111 | |
| Date | 1st February 1919 | |
| x.2676 To EFC. from R.{Sir Henry Royce} c. to CJ. c. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to EH. 1st. February 1919. R5/G1.2.19. X.664 - RE STARTER BATTERIES X.2676 X.979. I have discussed the matter with Mr. Bailey of starter batteries. Apparently, there are two positions for these batteries, the first being the runningboard which I favour, owing to the safety and accessibility of the batteries. The second position is under the driver's seat, where the tool kit is usually fitted. I do not favour this position but it appears that it will be used by the Americans in their coachbuilding work. The cells of the batteries should be as light as possible, and give a good rush of current, as is necessary for starting the engine. They need not have great capacity, but above all things - (1) They should not be liable to overflow the electrolyte. (2) The insulation of the batteries should be as good as be possible. For this latter reason, I should condemn a set of batteries similar to those supplied by the Lucas people, in which the positives and negatives of the whole battery are adjacent on cells which are cemented together. If one wished to make an arrangement with the greatest leakage factor, this would be the way to do it. So then the battery must be of the usual arrangement, having a positive at one end and a negative at the other. Contd. | ||