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).
Technical complexity and alternatives for implementing headlight dimmers.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 50\2\ Scan153 | |
| Date | 7th December 1920 | |
| X.4311 To EWT. from EFC. {E. Fowler Clarke - Electrical Engineer} c.c. to Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} /TMW. c.c. to Hy. {Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} EFC {E. Fowler Clarke - Electrical Engineer} 17/T7.12.20. X.4291. HEAD LIGHT DIMMERS. X.1357 X.4311 With reference to your note EWT/HWC7/G26.11.20, covering Mr. Olley's note Oy5/G6.11.20, we are of the opinion that the advantage gained by being able to dim the head lights according to the scheme outlined by Mr. Olley, in which three separate switches would be necessary, one of which would be a three-point switch, would not be worth the extra complication involved. We do not think Mr. Royce would for a moment consider altering his switchbox in such a manner as to bring this about. One would have thought that the circumstances referred to in the paragraph reparking cars would have been met equally well by means of the side lights, as by dimmed head lights, as these lights usually throw sufficient light on the forward part of the car to enable this to be seen by approaching traffic. The additional resistance method of dimming the headlight would, we feel, never be considered. The connection of the headlights in series would involve the complication of a series parallel switch in addition to those on the switchboard. Since in this particular case it could be arranged without affecting the switchboard, this would seem to be the most reasonable way of doing it, although it would mean complication in the wiring. The use of small auxiliary bulbs would also not be Contd. | ||