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).
Letter discussing Lucas batteries and the controversy over the use of thick versus thin battery plates.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 35\1\ scan 156 | |
| Date | 19th June 1920 | |
| X.2676 To Wd.{Mr Wood/Mr Whitehead} from EFC. EFC1/T19.6.20. X.2676 - LUCAS BATTERIES. X.664 X.607 I have received your note WD{Mr Wood/Mr Whitehead}19/NJ17.6.20, covering letter from the Lucas Electrical Company, with regard to Lucas batteries. I do not know whether you have the impression that we have encouraged Messrs. Lucas to the extent of informing them that we are prepared to place an order with them for batteries subject to their being made to a specification which would meet our requirements, but I have not done this. The question of the use of thick or thin plates is one, as you know, over which there has been a large amount of controversy. The plates of our present standard battery are of medium thickness. It is no doubt a fact that the high rate discharge capacity is very much better for the same weight of thinner plates, and it is quite probable on the other hand that the life with the rather thicker plates is better. In using plates of intermediate thickness in our standard battery, we have compromised between the two extremes, which are typical of British and American practice respectively. Our practical experience on the question of the relative life of batteries with thick and thin plates is rather limited at present, and will be until we have had more experience Contd. | ||