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 with wiring connections causing the motor to start when the battery is disconnected while the lights are on.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 26\2\ Scan078 | |
| Date | 30th December 1919 | |
| To EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} from Ck.{Mr Clark} Ck{Mr Clark}2/T30.12.19. X.995 X.2778 - WIRING CONNECTIONS With reference to the point you brought to my notice over the telephone yesterday with regard to the fact of the motor being started by removing the positive wire from the battery terminal when the lights were on, we have followed this case out on the diagram of connections and can see how this is possible. We do not consider, however, that this point is at all serious as this condition could only occur in rare circumstances. You did not say whether it was merely the motor which was started or whether the gears were brought into engagement. We should think possibly that the current,having to flow through the lamps and main switch, would have been too weak to operate the actuator box. Would you kindly confirm this, as if this is so, it makes the occurrence of still less importance. When we put on the actuator box with greater power there should be still less likelihood of the dogs being put into mesh, and further, when we come over to the series connection of the main switch and actuator box, the occurrence which you experienced will be impossible. The only thing we can do at the moment is to suggest that in the wiring instruction book we definitely state that the battery should never be disconnected until all switches are put in the 'off' position. Ck{Mr Clark} | ||