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).
Lighting system failure and incorrect fuse usage on chassis B-131-BL.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 59\1\ Scan061 | |
| Date | 6th November 1934 | |
| WST c. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Wst. c. N/RD. BY.3/G.6.11.34. RE: CHASSIS B-131-BL. HON. JANET CAMPBELL. Referring to the complaint made in connection with the above car, to the effect that the lighting system failed completely when driving at night, fuses continuing to blow after replacement by local garage, and at the same time the failure occurred the instrument board light fell out on to the owner's lap, whilst we do not doubt the phenomena, that is, the blacking out experienced by the owner, it is improbable that such a state of affairs could arise if the fuses on the car were standard. In the first place the light on the instrument board, together with the horns and starter push button, are connected to the main circuit by a light fuse, and therefore if the lamp caused a short to occur when it fell out of its position by touching an earth it should have blown the small fuse provided for the purpose of protecting the rest of the system against the short. In the second place, the main fuse takes 90 amps. to blow, and bearing in mind that the fuse through which the lamp is connected to the circuit is only calculated to carry 30 amps., it is obvious that the whole system could not have gone out as a result of the lamp causing a short circuit unless the normal fuse on the instrument board circuit had been replaced by one heavier than the main fuse or even possibly by a piece of copper wire. We note from the remarks made at Kingsbury that the lighting system was found to be standard. They say, 'fuses were examined and standardised,' apparently indicating that after the trouble occurred the local garage referred to inserted fuses to get the car on the road again. As there is complete provision for all connections required to be made by the body makers, it is difficult to understand how a fuse so much greater than the standard 30 amps fuse required at this point could have been inserted, particularly as the fuses should all have been examined at the time the car was passed off complete with its body, but I see no other explanation beyond the possibility that for some reason or other the fuse had been changed on the instrument board lamp circuit. BM BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} | ||