Just wondering

[Mark Gordon]

In describing the two sides of a car, we use the terms "right" and "left" or "nearside" and "offside". Often, when using "right" or "left" the question comes up as to whether the vehicle is being viewed from the front or rear and (although one would think which orientation is obvious) and the terms "nearside" and "offside" are a puzzlement to many non-British folks. I wonder why we in the automotive world haven't adopted clear terms like the marine world has, viz. "port" and "starboard". When those terms are used, there's no question as to which side is being addressed whether the viewer is looking fore, aft or standing on his head.

Another thing that I've never understood is why we refer to cars as having 12 Volt electrical systems when the unloaded, fully-charged battery reads 13.2-13.4 V. A 12 V. reading indicates a nearly discharged condition and in many modern cars, won't even begin to fire the engine. Just wondering why.

[cactusman]

Can't answer for right and left

As far as the battery goes the nominal cell voltage of a charged plain lead acid cell is 2.1 volts. Cars have six in a battery so the nominal voltage (emf) of a charged but unloaded battery will be 12.6 volts. A fully discharged cell has a voltage of around 1.8 volts so a flattened battery will have an emf of around 10.8 volts....12 volts is somewhere between. This applies to both old and modern cars. Only once running will the voltage rise much beyond 12.6 volts or so. The float voltage when the battery is fully charged can be up to about 2.2 volts per cell giving a voltage of 13.8 volts. It does depend a bit on battery makes so voltages up to 14.2 are seen,especially in alternator systems...anything beyond this and the battery will either loose water due to electrolysis (wet batteries) and need topping up..or will loose water and be eventually rendered useless..(sealed gel types).

So 12 volts is a kind of compromise

[malcolm]

I wonder why we in the automotive world haven't adopted clear terms like the marine world has, viz. "port" and "starboard". When those terms are used, there's no question as to which side is being addressed whether the viewer is looking fore, aft or standing on his head.

Without being pedantic, that isn't quite the full story. (I'm an ex naval navigation officer)
If you are on a ship, going down a river or canal, is the land on your right the starboard or port bank? Doesn't it change according to which way the ship is going? The answer is no, it doesn't, because the bank of the river or canal is either the starboard "hand" or port "hand", and doesn't change.
The starboard hand is defined as "that side which lies on a vessels starboard side WHEN travelling in the direction of the main stream or flood tide" So it is the same whichever way you are travelling. Essential when referring to the buoyage system.

OK, I am being pedantic!

[Mark Gordon]

So when you're going up the Thames, you would go to the port side of the ship to view the starboard bank of the river? Makes sense to me!

[Heuer]

The terms nearside and off side refer to the side of the carriageway in the UK, where we drive on the proper side of the road So nearside is that closest to the kerb or pedestrian pathway. I guess for cars driving on the wrong side of the road the correct terms would be 'kerbside' = our offside and 'roadside' = our nearside. Has always been the case in UK made vehicles but I am not really aware of the correct terminology in LHD English speaking countries. Maybe European manufacturers have their own terms?

[Series1 Stu]

By far the easiest and most universally suitable way is simply to say left hand side or right hand side. The rule being that its left or right when sitting in the vehicle facing forward (behind the steering wheel).

Do export model wheel spinners say near side and off side as well as left and right?

Regards

[Heuer]

Yes, they do.

[Series1 Stu]

Well, that's just daft!

Another quintessentially British foible. We WILL make the rest of the World see things our way!

[Mark Gordon]

By far the easiest and most universally suitable way is simply to say left hand side or right hand side. The rule being that its left or right when sitting in the vehicle facing forward (behind the steering wheel).



Regards

And this is precisely what got me to wondering. It doesn't seem to be a problem if you refer, for example to the right front headlamp. OTOH, if you tell someone that they'll find a relay underneath the bonnet on the right hand side (particularly if the bonnet hinges at the rear which makes the person stand in front of the car), some folks get confused and start looking on the port side rather than the starboard.

[rdh6642]

Jaguar knock-offs from the usuals still include near side and off side markings, but Healeys and MGs are not so fortunate. I got a replacement set a few years ago for the 3000 from Moss and was disappointed to find they had been modified from the original design. Possibly less confusing but still ...........



Bob Hodgins
66 FHC