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Does anyone know about that device on electric engines that touches the wires above? Why is that it doesn't spark and do the overhead cables need frequent repl
by wg0 3y ago
Does anyone know about that device on electric engines that touches the wires above?
Why is that it doesn't spark and do the overhead cables need frequent replacement because of being constantly rubbed against?
- mission_failed 3y agoIt's called a pantograph. There is a carbon strip on the top of the pantograph that is typically replaced every couple of months as it wears. The overhead wire isn't wire like you normally see, it's more like a thick copper bar that is unwound and has a flat surface on the bottom that the carbon strip runs on. The overhead does wear out over time, but is much longer lived than the carbon strips. Sparking I think is when there might be damage to the overhead wire that temporarily interferes with current as the strip passes over, as you see sparks happening at the same place as trains pass
- haspok 3y agoAlso noteworthy, the overhead wires usually zig-zag from left to right, so they touch different parts of the pantograph surface as the train moves.
- fransje26 3y agoOh, but it sparks... https://youtu.be/p5u_5iQ3Ego?t=342 https://youtu.be/p5u_5iQ3Ego?t=342 (By the way, the part where it goes over a turnout at 500 km/h as if it is nothing is also pretty amazing.. https://youtu.be/p5u_5iQ3Ego?t=291 https://youtu.be/p5u_5iQ3Ego?t=291)