THAT BATTERY PROBLEM

NZ Truth, Issue 1052, 21 January 1926, Page 17

THAT BATTERY PROBLEM

Where Should It Be Carried?

SUGGESTION FOR IDEAL CAR ■ ■ . .v ■

We have been looking 1 around recently for some ideas about fitting batteries to cars, and cannot find any really outstanding design.

The most popular idea is to sling this unit somewhere under the floorboards 'or the seat, between the chassis side frame. This is all very well, but most owners promptly forget all about it m this position, and when they do think of it, are too lazy to take up the floorboards to examine it. Other cars carry the battery on the running boards. This position is more accessible, but unless the mounting of the boards is very substantial; the weight of a heavy battery is liable to break away the step from the mudguards. j Moreover, many people object to the appearance of a large box on the step. VARIETY OF DESIGNS. The neatest mountings we have seen are those on the "Owen Magnetic," where the large unit is fitted just behind the step valance, and m the "Bean" m which a 12-volt battery made up into a long narrow shape, is fitted m the exact position usually occupied by the fuel tank at the back of the car. This last position, however, would be useless for a large car with. a 6-volt equipment owing to the long leads needed between the unit and the starter.

The importance of the Wires betwfeen the starter and battery being as short, as possible is often overlooked, by the way. After looking at a great many designs, we think that our, ideal oar will have the battery mounted under the front floorboards, on the opposite side from the driver, and will have a little separate "man-hole" above it so that it can be examined without taking out the whole floorboard— always a clUmsj; job. - ■