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).
Notes on correspondence with Mr. H.C. Myers regarding the adoption of the single-wire electrical system versus the double-wire system.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 61\2\ scan0249 | |
| Date | 6th April 1927 | |
| X3374 6.4.27. NOTES ON THE CORRESPONDENCE WITH Mr.H.C.MYERS. The adoption of the single-wire system on both our 20 HP - and Phantom - chassis has been largely for reasons of simplicity and simplicity of understanding. Properly carried out, it is not found to be more dangerous or less satisfactory generally than the alternative double wire system. On the latter, if completely insulated, an earth could occur without giving warning of its presence. An earth then occurring on the other side would be dangerous in the absence of protective devices. Single pole lamp and other fittings are less liable to "shorts".to earth, with the car running, than are double pole to "shorts" generally (pole to pole and pole to earth). The possibility of an unprotected "short" involves risk of fire. Independent protection of distributing circuits is desirable - by "fuses" which, as in our cases, are sound connecting links of a high degree of mechanical reliability if correctly wired and inserted. A pure mechanical failure is very remote and each one is of such current carrying capacity that electrical failure only occurs with a sustained bad "short" such as would in any case put out of operation the lamps or other apparatus supplied through it. Contd. | ||