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 for charging and maintaining a vehicle battery.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 26\2\ Scan154 | |
| Date | 1st August 1919 guessed | |
| -4- Leave the battery over night to allow the plates to soak, after which remove stoppers and restore the levels with distilled water only. Now charge the battery at an ampere value equivalent to 2/3 of the normal charge rate as given on the label (i.e. 2/3 x 4 = 2 2/3 amperes, in the case of the 6 EXE 5 Exide battery) for 96 hours at least, but in any case until all plates, both positives and negatives, gas freely. The charging rate may be reduced over night but the time extended accordingly. If the charge cannot be carried out in one period, an interval of rest should not exceed the immediately preceding period of charge at the specified rate, nor should it exceed 12 hours as a maximum. If, during the charge, the electrolyte temperature exceeds 100° F, interrupt or reduce rate of charge but extend time accordingly. (Never, during the life of the battery, allow this temperature to be exceeded). The first charge and all subsequent charges on batteries removed from the car should be carried out with the stoppers removed. The filler holes of some batteries will be found to be fitted with a loose ring which turns through 90° with the stopper. The function of this ring is to take up a position in which it closes vent holes in the sides of the filler channel when the stopper is withdrawn, thus enabling topping up with distilled water to the correct level to be effected without over-filling, owing to air being locked in the space at the top of each cell round the filler Contd. | ||