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).
Issue of batteries running down on Post War Cars and comparing generator performance with American models.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 21\5\ Scan001 | |
| Date | 23th October 1920 | |
| X.4213 Qy2/G - 23.10.20. Oct. 23. 1920. Mr. Claude Johnson, Managing Director. Rolls-Royce Ltd., London, England. Attention, Mr. Bailey. Dear Sirs:- Re: Running down of Batteries on Post War Cars. X.4211. X.294. X.3554. X.3878. X.3914b. In reply to Mr. Bailey's memo By3/P24.9.20, on this subject enclosing a copy of directions for daytime charging of the battery, we think that to include these instructions in the Instruction Book will be undesirable from the point of view of this country, since it is equal to stating that our generator is not up to its work. We have talked to Mr. Platford on this point, and I think if Mr. Bailey will consult him he will say that it is quite useless to tell chauffeurs that they must charge the battery in the day time and to give them a lot of careful instructions on this point, because seventy-five per cent of them at least will not take the trouble to do this, and if their employers force them to do it, it will simply circulate the report that the generator is worthless. It cannot be too strongly urged that the American cars, from the Ford upwards, have generators which, though in time may damage the battery by overcharging, do maintain the full charge of the battery under any sort of driving conditions and do balance the lamp and ignition load when the headlamps are full on at any speed above say twenty milrd an hour. X.1692. X.4212. It X.3317. X.4213.? Is therefore desired that as soon as possible we should be supplied with a generator which will cut in at a speed not higher than 12 miles an hour and will balance the full lamp load at not more than 20 or 22 miles an hour. The Marmon which we are sending to Derby is the least satisfactory American car in this respect which we have noticed, since it only barely balances the lamp load at ordinary speeds in night driving. This is the new Delco system which has been recently introduced on the Marmon cars. I think Mr. Bailey will find that the Essex is better in respect of charging current, and that the Cheaper cars which we are sending over - the Hupmobile, Dodge and Buick - are fully capable of taking care of their batteries under any sort of traffic condition. | ||