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).
Failure and incorrect mounting of a voltage regulator in the Vibrator Control Dynamo System for car 58-GN.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 60\3\ Scan221 | |
| Date | 30th March 1933 | |
| 86092 To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}9/KT.30.3.33. VIBRATOR CONTROL DYNAMO SYSTEM. Replying to Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}4/E29.3.33. I have discussed this matter with Wst. The real trouble with the failure of the voltage regulator on 58-GN was due to the fact that we had not carried out sufficient tests and expl. work on it before it was fitted to the car. Wst. was not given sufficient time to thoroughly test out the electrical system before the car was sent away. At the time we were more interested in the results obtained by the modified steering, and this took up most of the time available. There will always be the risk when fitting expl. features to a car that they may fail. When we fitted up 58-GN the scheme was the best we knew of at the time. It was a mistake that we did not watch the car more as regards this particular feature. As we have pointed out in a recent memo, the charging rate shewn by the ammeter does not mean very much with voltage control, the discharge shewn on the meter with the lamps on gives us more information. Since 58-GN has been here this time, we have confirmed that the fault is entirely due to the method of mounting the regulator. To get correct results the regulator must be mounted horizontally. If it is mounted vertically, as on 58-GN, it reduces the charging current, whilst the other way up increases it. At the time we fitted up 58-GN we had no experience to show that the performance would be affected by the method of mounting. It is unfortunate that this should have occurred on the car you use, but it must be realised that negative results are equally as valuable as positive ones. The tests on your car have been valuable because they have shewn us how not to mount the regulator. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||