Electrostar Class 377 Cab Fan Noise

[BR1]

These cabs with the air con or heat on are crazy noisy! Is it just me or do others experience the same issue with these units? There’s a steel bar that now blocks the MCB so you can’t even turn it off on the latest series when in heat mode. A loud whiney noise and awful comfort if you want any basic heat in the winter! Has anyone reported issues with these and what has been the feedback?

 

[aleggatta]

the air con breaker also controls MITRAC and the whole of the leading cab train communications system, thus the reason for the bar on the mcb, and it has been there as far as I know since new. it is possible to turn off the air con via the IDU settings page, but this is a time limited isolation. One of the other issues that would arise with electrically isolating the air con units would be the relatively easy way for this to be used by certain drivers to refuse to take the unit into service through excessive heat/cold from a trailing cab that now needs to become active. Not gonna say the system is perfect but the it is fit for the purpose it is there for.

 

[TRAX]

the air con breaker also controls MITRAC and the whole of the leading cab train communications system

Sounds very logical this...

 

[BR1]

the air con breaker also controls MITRAC and the whole of the leading cab train communications system, thus the reason for the bar on the mcb, and it has been there as far as I know since new. it is possible to turn off the air con via the IDU settings page, but this is a time limited isolation. One of the other issues that would arise with electrically isolating the air con units would be the relatively easy way for this to be used by certain drivers to refuse to take the unit into service through excessive heat/cold from a trailing cab that now needs to become active. Not gonna say the system is perfect but the it is fit for the purpose it is there for.

Thanks! Although the cab fan back wall MCB only turns off the cab fan and not anything on MITRAK as this still operates normally. I think the reason for the bar is so they can ensure a “fresh air supply” as they are sealed units.

 

[aleggatta]

Thanks! Although the cab fan back wall MCB only turns off the cab fan and not anything on MITRAK as this still operates normally. I think the reason for the bar is so they can ensure a “fresh air supply” as they are sealed units.

The reason for the bar is simple, to stop drivers refusing to take a unit because 'the cab air con has tripped'. To the best of my recollection (not having worked in a cab for the last 3+ years) the cab HVAC DX unit was utilised when the DOO equipment was fitted as it had spare I/O available (and in a convenient location near the DOO equipment). This DX unit being shut down effectively takes the unit out of service as the DOO system is bricked, but this might only be an issue if it is a leading cab. I do remember being told by a tech very clearly the cab air con breaker should never be tripped outside of the depot.

 

[Fincra5]

These cabs with the air con or heat on are crazy noisy! Is it just me or do others experience the same issue with these units? There’s a steel bar that now blocks the MCB so you can’t even turn it off on the latest series when in heat mode. A loud whiney noise and awful comfort if you want any basic heat in the winter! Has anyone reported issues with these and what has been the feedback?

Yup, which is why I prefer the 313s... With 377s its just a case of hitting that Cab Aircon button on MITRAC to shut it up for 20mins..

 

[387star]

Yup, which is why I prefer the 313s... With 377s its just a case of hitting that Cab Aircon button on MITRAC to shut it up for 20mins..

My DI kept asking me to do this and I kept forgetting driving him mad ! I was more focussed on the drive

 

[37057]

A HVAC shouldn't be turned off by the MCB... It can damage it!

 

[skyhigh]

Similar on 170s, you can turn the temperature up and down but you can't turn the fan off.

If it's the same setup as the 170s, the bar is because people were just switching it off and causing damage to it.

 

[Fincra5]

I've always felt turning it off on MITRAC should leave it off until the Key is removed or it is reactivated by the driver. This 20mins of it being off is just annoying!