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Jonathan came in on Saturday to carry on with the never ending task of PAT (Portable Appliance Testing) this time he concentrated on the 26B shop, testing the portable heaters, kettles etc.

On Sunday I was joined by Jonathan, John and Simon the full time electrician, Jonathan and myself checked out the fire alarm call points as usual in BBS and The Trackside, everything tested OK and the findings were recorded.

Simon through the week had sorted out the 13A ring main fault in the diesel shed, this turned out to be caused by a spur off the ring main, the armoured cable was causing a short circuit, live to earth.

Simon asked if we would carry on with the rewiring of the Santa carriage M4917 alongside the Carriage & Wagon shed on road one.
We collected our tools and test equipment and made our way down, most of the wiring as now been replaced, so we concentrated on fixing covers back on the conduit runs, hoovering up all the debris from under the seats and heaters, whilst John set about rewiring the four motorised control units.

Lunch was then taken back in our worshop, Simon joined us later in the workshop for some lunch after he had returned from Baron Street yard where he had been installing an electricity supply.

After lunch it was back to the Santa carriage to finish off the cleaning and wiring of the control units, it appears that this carriage had been causing problems with the ETH for some time according to Lee Kenny and Simon.
John found out after some testing, that it appears that three out of the four heating control units are open circuit, Lee said he would try to locate some spares from the scrap line, for us to fit next week.

Simon had gone back to Baron Street yard to finish off the electrical work in the container he had been working on.

The weather had started to deteriate so we decided to pack up for the day and make our way back to the workshop for a brew before leaving.

After lunch it was back to the Santa carriage to finish off the cleaning and wiring of the control units, it appears that this carriage had been causing problems with the ETH for some time according to Lee Kenny and Simon.
John found out after some testing, that it appears that three out of the four heating control units are open circuit, Lee said he would try to locate some spares from the scrap line, for us to fit next week.

How does coach heating work...

Is it simply some massive resistances thrown into the ETH supply off the loco?

the dark lord wrote:

After lunch it was back to the Santa carriage to finish off the cleaning and wiring of the control units, it appears that this carriage had been causing problems with the ETH for some time according to Lee Kenny and Simon.
John found out after some testing, that it appears that three out of the four heating control units are open circuit, Lee said he would try to locate some spares from the scrap line, for us to fit next week.

How does coach heating work...

Is it simply some massive resistances thrown into the ETH supply off the loco?

It depends on the design of the coach. In Mark 1 coaches it is simply resistance heaters which are under the seats and the end vestibules/toilets. The heaters are rated at 800W at 200V and are arranged in banks of four in series, ETH supply is nominally 800V. Each bank of four is controlled by a switch in the saloon. The vestibule/toilet heaters are also arrange in banks of four but there is no switch for these so they are permanently on.

Mark 2, 2a, 2b and 2c coaches are pressure ventilated. There is a single heating element over which air is blown which then is blown into the coach via underseat vents.

Mark 2d, 2e, 2f and 3 are all air conditioned. In these all the ETH is used for is to supply power to motor alternator sets on each vehicle. The output of these is used for heating, ventilation, cooling, lighting, battery charging, catering supplies etc. Hence the reason that on the 'Big' railway ETH is now referred to as ETS, Electric Train Supply.

That was a good reply, you don't fancy helping us out to test & prove the new wiring do you?

Next Sunday you know were we are.

Alan.

Should he bring his own loco to help with the test?

asbibby wrote: That was a good reply, you don't fancy helping us out to test & prove the new wiring do you?

Next Sunday you know were we are.

Alan.

I spend all week trying to keep them in a fit state to run as it is, weekends are my time off from coaches.

XTMike wrote:Should he bring his own loco to help with the test?

I normally do!