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).
Short circuits and potential improvements for a Lucas type St.44/N combined stop and tail light.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 166\5\ img022 | |
| Date | 16th January 1935 | |
| Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/WST. WST v6026 K/KC/DPB/16.1.35. Twin Armoured Lead. Combined Stop and Tail light. Lucas type St.44/N. Re the above, which I believe is the latest type of combined stop and tail lamp (it is a heart shaped fitting with the reflector for the tail lamp in the apex of the heart, the cover of which is secured by one screw). We have experienced several cases of "shorts" in this fitting (actually, I think the number is three) during the past few weeks or so, with the resultant fuse blowing. We have found that the short that has occurred is due to one or two of the fine wires of the stranded cable breaking where soldered into the adaptor, which connects up with the main supply line.(R.R) The actual short is caused by these broken wires touching part of the metal flange upon which the securing flange is pressed by the screw fitting. Would you examine this fitting for the following points:- (1) Do you think the fracturing of the wire is caused by the stiffening up of the stranding by soldering. (2) Can the amount of insulation be increased. (3) Is the weather getting at this wiring, causing corrosion. (Examine an old car especially for this corrosion business. The reason for this memo is that on the occasion of your visit to K, you told me that I was in order in writing to you on any point which I thought might prove of interest, and this particular point, although small, does cause a certain amount of annoyance to an owner. Personally I think the whole fitting could be improved considerably, both from a mechanical as well as an electrical point of view. K/KC. | ||