Class 374 Pantograph Question

[Doomotron]

Why do the Class 374s have so many pantographs? In about 6 coaches you've already got 3 or so pantographs!

 

[Prestige15]

Each train is half set (i.e 374015/374016 in one 16 car train) and most modern tains such as class 390/397/800 etc usually has two, They also run on 1.5 kV DC overhead line which adds another two, So two 1.5 KV DC and two 25 KV AC pantographs per 8 car set.

 

[43096]

Each train is half set (i.e 374015/374016 in one 16 car train) and most modern tains such as class 390/397/800 etc usually has two, They also run on 1.5 kV DC overhead line which adds another two, So two 1.5 KV DC and two 25 KV AC pantographs per 8 car set.

They also run on 3kV DC in Belgium.

 

[Doomotron]

That explains it, thanks.

 

[themiller]

Don’t they have pantograph for 16.6kv as well for use in Germany?

 

[TheEdge]

Each train is half set (i.e 374015/374016 in one 16 car train) and most modern tains such as class 390/397/800 etc usually has two, They also run on 1.5 kV DC overhead line which adds another two, So two 1.5 KV DC and two 25 KV AC pantographs per 8 car set.

I've never understood why all the different pantos are needed for different voltages. Surely it doesn't matter if its 25kV AC, 1.5kV DC or any other combination, a metal pantograph is always going to be conductive

 

[43096]

I've never understood why all the different pantos are needed for different voltages. Surely it doesn't matter if its 25kV AC, 1.5kV DC or any other combination, a metal pantograph is always going to be conductive

It’s not always for different voltages, but can be for other reasons e.g. different pan head widths, different materials used on collection strips etc.

 

[hwl]

I've never understood why all the different pantos are needed for different voltages. Surely it doesn't matter if its 25kV AC, 1.5kV DC or any other combination, a metal pantograph is always going to be conductive

Usually one for AC (wired up to transformer) and one for DC (not) and Germany + Switzerland have narrower head widths as they use less stagger than France/ Belgium/ Netherlands.

France have enough AC - DC change over issues (fried electrics) with two pans without giving themselves even more with a single pan.

 

[swt_passenger]

I've never understood why all the different pantos are needed for different voltages. Surely it doesn't matter if its 25kV AC, 1.5kV DC or any other combination, a metal pantograph is always going to be conductive

If overall train performance has to remain the same, the DC pan needs to pass around 15 times the current of an AC pan. That alone will redefine the contact area significantly.