<VV> Electrical Reliability Question

[Ron]

I ran Sunbeams for many years as daily drivers and can't complain about any 
excessive electrical problems as the Lucas stuff worked OK.
RonH

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Elliott" <corvair at fnader.com>
To: "Jeffrey B. Aronson" <jrh at foxislands.net>
Cc: <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2008 1:24 PM
Subject: Re: <VV> Electrical Reliability Question


> There are two main issues with Lucas electrics... both stemming from
> cost cutting measures...
>
> The first is the lack of plated connectors. This may seem like a simple
> thing, but over time (especially in switchgear) corrosion causes a
> breakdown in the ability to pass current... hence the three positions of
> a Lucas switch "dim", "flicker", and "off". ;-)
>
> The second issue (as compared to both the Americans and to Bosch) is the
> underspecification of components. If a given circuit required, say,
> 1.75A, the Germans or the Yanks might provide gear capable of 2, 2.5, or
> even 3A on that circuit... the Brits would use 1.74999 and round up. ;-)
> No room for error, no operational margin.
>
> This of course doesn't take into account some of the more infamous feats
> of British engineering, such as when the TR7 needed a catalytic
> converter so the engineers placed it under the hood about 3" from the
> fusebox!!!! Lucas had little to do with fiascoes like that....
>
> Being a long time British car owner, I don't fear (or even dislike)
> Lucas electrics (I find Ducellier much more distasteful)... but I can
> tell you owners of those marques can't expect to pull a car out of a
> junkyard (or barn, etc) and expect 99% of the electrics to work
> perfectly... as has been my experiences with older American vehicles
> (particularly Corvairs)...
>
> If you want to learn about vehicle electrics, buy a British car... a
> Corvair is too electrically reliable and straightforward to really teach
> you much.
>
> ;-)
>
> Bill Elliott
> "Gentlemen do not motor about after dark"- Mr. Lucas
>
>
>
>>
>>
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