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).
Investigation into recurring regulator resistance unit burn-outs.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 166\2\ img088 | |
| Date | 10th May 1937 | |
| Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Wst. [illegible crossed-out text] 6092, Hd{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy}/SB{Mr Bull/Mr Bannister}2/HR.10.5.37. re REGULATOR RESISTANCE UNIT BURN-OUTS. You will remember that we drew your attention some eighteen months ago to a case of complete burn-out of the resistance and regulator unit. The heat generated was so intense as to burn right through the Bakelite cover and base. Since that time we have had other instances and we have now experienced the fourth case of a complete burn-out. The trouble seems to be due to the regulator sticking in such a manner as to allow the dynamo to pass a continuous current through the resistance unit, thus heating it up. The chief danger is that there is no fuse to protect this other than the dynamo field fuse, and we have demonstrated that the resistance unit will become white hot when passing a current of only 3 amps, which is less than the fusing current of the field fuse. The following cars have given this trouble:- GRF-9............Crane. GYH-45...........Barr. GTK-10...........Naylor. GLJ-58...........Player. Both Mr. Naylor and Mr. Player were very concerned and alarmed owing to the intense smell of burning. The replacement resistance and regulator fitted to Mr. Naylor's car have since become considerably over-heated, and he has again complained of the smell of burning. Hd{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy}/SBs | ||