Re: Pantograph Operation - Melbourne
  Matthew Geier


On 9/1/19 9:25 pm, 'Richard Youl' via TramsDownUnder wrote:
> As the length of the insulating material in the centre of the SI is greater than the length of the pantograph head to avoid bridging the two sections, it is necessary to cut power to avoid an arc which burns the insulating material and adjacent metal.


I understand there are both breaking and no-break SIs and that no-break
ones are becoming more common. With 10kw or more air-conditioning load
even cutting off will still draw an arc.

And with the interruption to power, the air con compressor stops and has
to go through an unload - restart cycle that takes a minute or so.

> Regards,

>

> On 9 Jan 2019, at 7:48 pm, Ronald Besdansky shrdlu.junction@...> wrote:

>

> Are drivers still required to cut-off at section insulators and H-crossings?

>

> I remember Green Men noting down the numbers of trams drawing an arc as they crossed Swamston St in Collins St - not wanting to lose momentum for the climb beside the Town Hall?

>