Point Heater power

[Ploughman]

Can anyone let me know what power supply is provided to S+C heaters?
Voltage, Ampeage etc
Is it possible to make use of this supply for engineering work on the units?
This may mean modifications may be required on the system but that could be factored in.

 

[ole man]

Depending upon the number of points being heated at a given location, a power supply of
suitable type and capacity shall be obtained to meet the required electrical demand. For one
or two number point ends, a 1 phase 230V 50Hz supply is appropriate, for three and above
number point ends, a 3 phase 400V 50Hz supply is recommended.

For 110V heater installations, the maximum voltage drop from the sealed end of the heater
element to the secondary winding output terminals of the step-down transformer shall be
nominally 4%.
For self-regulating strip heater installations, the minimum operating voltage at the sealed end
of the heater element shall be 110V-18%.

The transformer shall have a continuous rating of either 5kVA or 10kVA and be
designed for a minimum life cycle period of 15 years.
The primary winding(s) of the transformer shall be suitable for either a 3 phase nominal
voltage of (400 10%)V, or single-phase nominal voltage of (230 10%)V.
With the transformer loaded at between (50 and 100)% capacity, the magnetising
inrush current shall not be allowed to exceed five times the load current in the first
sinusoidal cycle after energisation with the nominal rated voltage maintained across the

 

[Ploughman]

Thanks for the reply.
I will now have to check if it is suitable for what I had in mind now.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

You live next to a railway junction and your electricity has been cut off?

 

[lincolnshire]

Is it possible to make use of this supply for engineering work on the units?
This may mean modifications may be required on the system but that could be factored in.[/QUOTE]

I guess your thinking of using the 110v supply for powering Kango Hammers etc instead of using portable generators on site. The only problem is that the transformers are only energized when its down to freezing point or snow is falling thereby melting the frost or snow on the switch blades.If you put them on override then all the point ends in the installation is on and heating the switch blades. Another problem is that there is not much spare capacity on the transformers current wise with the elements energized, the other big problem is to make sure they are in correct mode of operation when they are required for there intended purpose. We often used to find that inquisitive fingers had been at work in the control cubicles.

I think you will find that at Leeds City Station area there is an installation of 110 v sockets for powering Kango Hammers etc, these can be turned on independently of the points heaters.

There are some installations where when the heaters are on they are drawing 80+ amps per phase for just one cubical, so you can imagine if they had to be on to power tools, there would be a big electric consumption as against using a generator. Also if they are not left in correct position for there intended use frost and snow melting, what would be the train delay charges be till they was put back to correct operation.

That's if this is what you was thinking about, if not just some more information for you.

Had years of maintaining and repairing points heaters in all weathers.

 

[Robsignals]

Are bottled Propane Gas heaters still used in places without suitable electricity supply?

 

[lincolnshire]

The last place that I knew that there was any propane gas heaters was on a set of switches in Ferrybridge Power Station and they no longer worked, as the Network Rail S & T staff maintained the point motor and interlocking etc for the signalling.& since the track and points was on the power station,s infrastructure a contractor looked after that part of the set up. So Network Rail was not responsible for the point heaters anymore and they remained propane and out of use and the rest of them on Network Rail property at Ferrybridge Junction have been converted to electric ones.

The big problem with any gas heaters is that they require trained and registered staff to work on them ( used to be Corgi certified) and also trained in commercial / industrial ( not domestic) gas installation as well as propane and natural gas from the mains, two different qualifications I understand.

Also the burner bars are very expensive and not very reliable in operation and require a lot of maintenance to keep them working correctly.

Before anyone put me right, this information is to the best of my knowledge.

 

[Robsignals]

The last place that I knew that there was any propane gas heaters was on a set of switches in Ferrybridge Power Station...

Classic, no power supply at a power station. Thanks for info, something else that's now a museum piece.