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).
Merits of double versus earthed wiring systems and evaluating a Westinghouse switch box.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\G\June1921\ Scan50 | |
| Date | 17th June 1921 | |
| To R.R. of America Inc. from R.{Sir Henry Royce} -7- RL/G17/6/21 Contd. It is regretful that the double wiring system naturally requires more wires and more complication than an earthed system, but it has the advantage of being very much safer in the case of accidental contacts, and safer from a fire point of view when the car is stored in the garage. You will therefore see that we think* it is worth while having our earthed arrangement unless we go in for an entirely earthed system with lamps having central contacts.* We shall be glad of your views as to the future policy, whether such an earthed system be adopted, or whether you might prefer the double wiring system that is now proposed. It has occurred to us that it may be worth while to entirely insulate the low tension battery system also; and therefore do away with all earth connections. In the arrangement of distribution board which we have produced, testing is somewhat simpler than is usual. Anyone with moderate electrical education can fairly easily trace the wires in case of a fault. Regarding the switch box, we have very carefully examined the one sent on 4 EX. which we understand is of Westinghouse construction. We regret to say, however, that we think this is a very poor apparatus. For instance, we do not think it is equal to the one fitted on the Marmon. It will be necessary, therefore, if you intend to go on with the Westinghouse Company, for them to make you something entirely better than this. We do not object to the general arrangement, which seems to be pretty general, but it is not carried out XXXX sufficiently well. We should anticipate that the switches would fail to make contact, owing to the attempt to use them as a notched plate as well as a contact. If they are used as a notched plate the rating of the springs must be Very (Contd.) | ||