Grey plastic covers over electrical cabinets

[theageofthetra]

Whilst out driving I have noticed an increasing number of line side electrical cabinets which have a sort of grey heavy duty 'tent like' cover over them. Does anyone know the purpose? Is it extra weather protection or possibly an extra deterrent to cable theft?

 

[user15681]

I don't think it's either of those reasons, personally. First one I noticed was the concourse end of platform 5 at Victoria, which doesn't really need protecting from weather or theft.

Willing to be corrected if they are for that though!

 

[455driver]

Sun screen, it stops the sun heating up the top of the cabinet and so keeps the relays a bit cooler.
It actually woeks quite well.

 

[theageofthetra]

If its a sun screen surely it would be made of a white material? Also wouldn't the cover act as a blanket keeping the cabinet contents warmer?

 

[455driver]

It is fitted so there is an air gap between the top of the cabinet and the cover.

This of course assumes we are all talking about the same thing!

 

[HarleyDavidson]

It is fitted so there is an air gap between the top of the cabinet and the cover.

This of course assumes we are all talking about the same thing!

No, you're talking about the roof style thing on top of the cabinets, this is like a heavy duty tarpaulin thing which is a "shiny grey" in colour & is laced up for the better expression onto the cabinet. It's like extra waterproofing.

 

[DeparturesBeck]

Based on the time of year they've appeared, or at least that I've noticed them, aren't they more likely to be protection against winter weather?

 

[HarleyDavidson]

Based on the time of year they've appeared, or at least that I've noticed them, aren't they more likely to be protection against winter weather?

Yeah, but they've been on since mid-June.

 

[Clip]

Yeah, but they've been on since mid-June.

Probably read the weather report and then cant be bothered taking it off again

 

[HarleyDavidson]

Today's forecast is for acid rain, followed by scorching dry rain.

 

[ainsworth74]

Could we maybe have some pictures so we can all try and work out what is what?

 

[HarleyDavidson]

I won't be able to get any until next week as I'm on really late shifts so it'll be too dark & it'll be awkward anyway as I only have a minute or less to grab a picture.

For those who might be in the area, there's one at Bagshot.

 

[theageofthetra]

There's one on the down platform by the signal at Beckenham Junction I'll get a pic later.

 

[DeparturesBeck]

...and one on the end of the Up platform at Penge West. Seems to have only been put in over the past week, hence the suggestion of winter weather.

 

[user15681]

There's one on the down platform by the signal at Beckenham Junction I'll get a pic later.

I know the one, same as the one I mentioned at Victoria and one on the down at Sydenham Hill. Probably plenty more. I'll attach a picture of the one on VE3 on p5 at Vic to this post later.

 

[jon0844]

Yeah, but they've been on since mid-June.

If Network Rail read the Daily Express then they'd have been expecting snow all summer.

 

[Darandio]

If Network Rail read the Daily Express then they'd have been expecting snow all summer.

I'm half expecting to see a 'Scorching Blizzard' headline from the Express one of these days.

They went all out yesterday as usual.....

Britain to face ARCTIC WINTER as mild autumn triggers polar gales and heavy snow

You can pretty much say with certainty that we will be guaranteed for a spell of mild weather.

 

[user15681]

Here we go, said grey plastic cover.

Sorry for the shockingly poor photo.

 

[Elecman]

They are to protect people from recieving electric shocks from live metal cabinets due to faults on the 650 volt signalling supplies

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Would it really be a weather cover as it's effectively indoors there?

They are to protect people from recieving electric shocks from live metal cabinets due to faults on the 650 volt signalling supplies

Are there that many fault that this is needed in the first place? Or is this another "just in case it ever happens" thing?

 

[pdeaves]

It's really a 'just in case' thing because legacy signalling electricity supplies do not have an earth. This is both good and bad; good in that it doesn't necessarily shut down if there is a fault, but bad because people can get zapped. With the non-compliant legacy systems getting older and older, faults are more and more likely. There have been several cases of maintenance workers getting a shock from cabinets, so this looks like a safety thing, especially as the item in the picture is in a publicly-accessible place.

Over time the signalling supply systems will be replaced but of course it takes time and money.

 

[thecrofter]

Whilst out driving I have noticed an increasing number of line side electrical cabinets which have a sort of grey heavy duty 'tent like' cover over them. Does anyone know the purpose? Is it extra weather protection or possibly an extra deterrent to cable theft?

Neither. It's a safety precaution. A number of signalling location cases have been identified as posing a risk of electric shock. Until they have been rectified those presenting a high risk, particularly those in public places, are being covered.

 

[Marklund]

Neither. It's a safety precaution. A number of signalling location cases have been identified as posing a risk of electric shock. Until they have been rectified those presenting a high risk, particularly those in public places, are being covered.

Indeed. SIN 119.

Sun screen, it stops the sun heating up the top of the cabinet and so keeps the relays a bit cooler.
It actually woeks quite well.

It's not the relays that need the additional cooling, it's generally anything of an electronic nature that need the cooling, be it SSI modules, Aster/TI21 Tx and Rx's, etc.

 

[HarleyDavidson]

Here we go, said grey plastic cover.

Sorry for the shockingly poor photo.

That's not the type. I believe the type is the ones over the signalling control or location cabinets.

 

[theageofthetra]

Its a similar style to the ones I saw. The one at the end of Beckenham Jct is in a publicly accessible area so a safety cover makes sense. Am sure one of the other ones I saw was lineside so only shock risk would be to rail staff (or wildlife!). Will try and note a few other locations when driving at the weekend.

 

[High Dyke]

Could we maybe have some pictures so we can all try and work out what is what?

There's some fitted at Newark Castle. I'll get a pic this afternoon.

They've been fitted for over a year now. I am led to believe, as some have already posted, that it is to protect against electric shock - something to do with wiring issues within the cabinets. The picture already posted by someone (apologies for forgetting who) looks to be the same type of cover, but just looks a little unwieldy where it is situated.

 

[High Dyke]

As attached. The cabinets at Newark Castle.

 

[theageofthetra]

Yes those ones at Newark are identical. Are they in a public location?

 

[High Dyke]

Situated on the platform ramp (non public area), but can be reached if you lean over the platform ramp wall from the public access path.

 

[dysonsphere]

not sure if this would affect signalling equipment but why not just put in a ground spike and have a local earth its done all the time on mains power.