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).
Short-circuiting issues in Exide batteries and ongoing tests with alternative battery suppliers.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\F\February1921\ Scan89 | |
| Date | 7th February 1921 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from EFC. c. to CJ. c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to PN.{Mr Northey} c. to Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} c. to Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to EWT. for R.R.Inc. EFC4/T7.2.21. ORIGINAL. [Handwritten] X.60Y [crossed out] X.949 X.664 - BATTERIES - GENERAL. I have your note R6/G4.2.21. We have had one or two cases of Exide cells short circuiting in the way you describe, sometimes due to the separator being too short and sometimes due to the plates pinching together right through the wood as a result of buckling. The thin wood alone is certainly unsatisfactory. We had taken this matter up with the Chloride Company some considerable time ago and are now receiving Exide batteries fitted with perforated ebonite sheets between the plates and the separators. The Chloride Co. have also had back a number of batteries which we had in the Stores and fitted these with these sheets free of charge. We have had no case of failure with batteries so fitted. We now have several [Handwritten: other] batteries running on experimental and test cars :- (1) The latest Willard Battery with threadedrubber separators on 2 EX. (2) Peto & Radford thick plate battery on Mr. Northey's car. (3) Peto & Radford high rate discharge battery on School Car. [Handwritten: 15] The Tudor Company also have ready for us [Handwritten: two] four batteries made up to include all the points which we know for reliability Contd. | ||