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).
Electrical equipment failures during a 10,000-mile test of a 20 HP vehicle.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 165\6\ img008 | |
| Date | 22th September 1925 | |
| X5660 Extract from CWE12/LH{Mr Haworth}22.9.25. (REPORT ON 10,000 MILE TEST of 20 HP) X.5840. X.5870. ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT. (a) DYNAMO. X.5660/70. This failed completely at 8750 miles, and no current could be obtained. The brushes were examined, and the bedding not being considered altogether satisfactory, a spare set was fitted and the dynamo replaced, with no better results. The automatic cutting in switch was also examined and the points cleaned. This dynamo was subsequently taken to Paris, tested and adjusted by them, after which, perfect results were obtained. They have reported that the only trouble they could find was one of the brushes sticking up. It would be an advantage if a small slip of carborundum were supplied with the dynamo spares shaped to the same radius as the commutator on which to clean up old brushes. They would then bed nicely, a result which is exceedingly difficult to obtain with a half-round file. In this connection also, some attention is required to the cover over the brush holders of the dynamo which it is impossible to withdraw, so that really very little can be done to adjust the dynamo without removing it, which should not be necessary. It is understood that this cover was designed and was perfectly satisfactory before the magneto was fitted to the car, but owing to the change in the position of the dynamo, when the magneto was fitted, it is now impossible to completely remove the cover. (b) The Klaxon wire through the steering column failed at 9,000 miles, there being an intermittent short somewhere. This has been a source of failure in other cases, and it would seem desirable either to give better protection or to adopt a different form of insulation for it - probably the latter would be the more effective, as it appears to get thoroughly sodden with oil which rots the indiarubber of the material now used. It is considered that some alteration should be made to render more practicable the replacing of the lid{A. J. Lidsey} of the fuse box. Contd. | ||