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 main fuse failures on Bentley chassis and a recommendation for a new glass cartridge type fuse.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 166\7\ img040 | |
| Date | 18th January 1935 | |
| Ha/Wst.1/MA.18.1.35. MAIN FUSE ON R.R. AND BENTLEY CHASSIS. In view of one or two alarming cases of complete "black outs" on Bentley cars due to the failure of the main fuse we instituted an investigation into the cause of the failure. The Kingsbury Service Station reported that in each case they dealt with they found the fuse had either been tampered with or had been incorrectly assembled at the Works there only being actually one wire of the three twisted strands carrying the current the other two being sheared. We considered this to be due to the fact that it is easily possible when fitting the twisted strands of fuse wire to shear off one or two of the strands thus weakening the fuse so that an inexpert fitting of the fuse wire, by a customer for instance, might jeopardise the whole electrical system. Tests were immediately carried out with two new designs of fuse, one a fuse link and the other a glass cartridge type both of these being considered to be superior to our existing fuse. Conclusions. Our conclusions, based on the following results of experimental bench tests, are that the glass cartridge type as supplied for test by Messrs. L. Weekes Ltd., is generally the best for the following reasons:- (a) The fuse is immune from maladjustment as customers would be supplied with a spare to be fitted in emergency already correctly loaded. (b) The fuse being considerably less oxidising will last longer and theoretically should not need to be replaced for the life of the car. (c) It will bring the main fuse into line with the new design of distribution board where all the auxiliary fuses are of the glass cartridge type. | ||