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).
Instructions on battery maintenance, safety, and charging procedures.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 26\2\ Scan416 | |
| Date | 4th December 1920 guessed | |
| -3- A useful adjunct in connection with keeping the top of the battery free from acid is a small sponge, which should be used in conjunction with a bowl of clean water to remove acid from the top of the battery. Water wetness, unlike acid wetness, is non-corrosive and will quickly dry. Keep the terminals and connections well vaselined, clean on their surfaces in contact and firmly screwed up, but do not use abrasives for cleaning, i.e. file, emery paper, sand paper. Do not allow metal tools or other metal to short circuit any terminals of the cells. Do not inspect the battery with the aid of a naked light, and on no account disconnect any of the battery terminals or connections when any charge or discharge current is passing, for such a course incurs risk of an explosion, destructive to one or more cells, and involves personal risk. See that the vent-plug passages are kept clear. {The sentence "Do not 'short' the battery to see if it is charged" is purposely omitted as it is considered redundant to "Do not allow metal tools or other metal to short circuit any terminals of the cells".} "A battery should not normally be allowed.. ............ described on page ). It is important that the battery be kept fully charged, but be not overcharged at a high rate of current, as this may cause the temperature limit of 110°F.{Mr Friese} to be exceeded, and the cells may suffer, due to evaporation from the electrolyte and by disintegration of the plates. Too much charging is indicated by the specific gravity of the acid being generally about the "fully charged" value and by unusually frequent "topping up" being required. Too little charging causes an unhealthy condition of the plates; too much charging results in | ||