IF THE LIGHTS FAIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18457, 21 July 1923, Page 10 (Supplement)

IF THE LIGHTS FAIL.

A failure of the lights when driving at night is such a risky matter that the owner driver should make every effort to thoroughly understand the particular system fitted to his car. To locate electrical trouble calls for more reasoning ability and grasp of details than any other sort of trouble that may arise on a car. Manufacturers of equipment adopt every means to ensure reliability, but owing to there being so many interdependent factors a light failure isa possibility to be reckoned with, and for which one should be prepared. It is very advisable always to carry at least one," and preferably two, spare bulbs for each lamp, some fuse wire of the correct gauge to fit the fuse holder in the switch box, a set bf carbon brushes for the dynamo, a couple of yards of ordinary low-tension wire, insulating tape, and some bare copper wire of about 22 gauge: as with some spare wire a broken connection can be put right. There are certain precautions to be taken, and if these are noctlc-ctcd it is sirrmlv asking for trouble. Always keep the battery on " charrje" if the starter is to be used, as the battery reserve of current is essential. Keep dvnnnio drive at right tension, especially if belt driven. Remember that when the dynamo is generating at normal charging rate the armature has a powerful " brake" put. on it by the magnetism of the dvnamo. and belts will slip if they possibly can. A sudden failure of the lights suggests one of various happening. Of course, an individual light mav go out from failure of the bn'b, i.e.. the filament breaks from old ac and vibration: bit two or all the bulb* would never fail rim<ilfaueou=lv. This effect would he preceded hv the lights becoming exceptionally brilliant. The obvious deduction is that the batterv has become disconnected in --omp war. and there is no " balancing -ff»rt" on the current. The lamps thus .-.-,-eive the full voltace bf ihp dvnnmo. and '.mij go the filament''. Tt should not be •Tien It to trace th*» loose or broVen ro-n----"•Tvior.. and remedv it. pnspihtv the dvtMvno fuse mav break s« wall, and re-n.-;ro I ; the ]ic-""t- ar<* normal. aid then wddenlv all CO out. or go rerv d'm. a "short circuit is ih? cause, hnt unless the wiri"" 1 'Ha* been done verv badlv it is an unlikely happening. On. sfiTT!" enninme-nft there ir- a spe<r/l fnse to nrotect the wiring.