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).
Failures of the battery ignition system on 20-HP cars due to faulty condensers.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 45\3\ Scan062 | |
| Date | 7th June 1923 | |
| X40524 BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to EFC. c. to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Sft.{Mr Swift} EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}/3/H7.6.23. X4430 re. 20-HP. BATTERY IGNITION. X40524 We have for some considerable time experienced trouble with the battery ignition on the 20-HP cars on test. The failures have meant complete stoppage on the road, and on investigation, we have found the battery ignition has been corrected by replacing the condensor. The faulty condensors have been returned to the Works, and they report that the capacity is now beyond the limit, although they are quite confident they were satisfactory in this respect when they were originally supplied and passed by them. We have rather felt that this failure may be due to a batch of faulty material or faulty condensors, but we have during the last week had 6 actual failures on test and the condensors have been returned to Mr. Brock. We think this is a point which requires very careful investigation, and some satisfaction should be given that this trouble will not be experienced on cars delivered, or that some action will be taken to replace or alter the present ignition or condensors, so that such failures will not take place while the cars are in customers' hands. X4054 We have already had one failure of the ignition while in customer's hands, due to the condenser. In this case, however, it was not a case of the capacity of the condenser, but faulty connection, which has already been reported. Will you please consider what action should be taken, if any, to deal with these failures on cars retrospectively. EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} | ||