Automatic Charging for Battery-electrics
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CAA FULLY automatic system of charging nickel-iron batteries is now in use by Harrods, Ltd., Knightsbridge, London, S.W.!. The company have 34 battery-electrics, all of which are equipped with 60-cell nickel-iron batteries, each having a rated capacity of 225 amp.-hr. at 45 amp.
Basically, the control system of the charger comprises a time-switch and a meter. The normal charging rate of 45 amp, is controlled by linking the time switch and meter in such a way that only 22} amp.-hr. are allowed to pass into the battery every half-hour.
The complete equipment incorporates two Chamberlain and Hookharn d.c. meters and two time switches. One meter is arranged to open the charging circuit as soon as the charge allocated
for a given time period has been supplied. It also incorporates an integrating gear train which logs the total amount of charge supplied to a battery over a period of its life.
The second meter controls the total amount of charge, and in addition opens the charge circuits on completion of the 'charge.
The top time-switch governs the halfhourly intervals, and the setting of the bottom time-switch determines the time at which charging commences. As the length of charge can be accurately determined, this switch can also be used as a back-up device for terminating the charge should any of the contacts fail.
With the batteries mentioned test runs of over 100 miles on one charge have been obtained.