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mk3 v mk4 hand wash water temperature

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PG

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Just curious - has anyone else noticed that the water temperature for hand washing in the sinks in mk3 HST toilets seems to be a good bit warmer than that in mk4 toilets?

Is this by design?
 
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Ih8earlies

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I'd hypothesize that this is down to the location of the water tank and its exposure to heat from the sun?
 

Far north 37

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You want to try travelling on southern where you lucky to get any water
 

PG

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I think I'd just be grateful for a train on southern :p

I suppose it had vaguely crossed my mind that mk3's might have had some sort of heating for the sink water which was omitted on the mk4's.....vive la différence
 

pdq

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The best temp water I've come across on a train - where it's plenty hot enough to wash effectively - is on the lowly Pacer. Conversely, it surprises me that the modern 185 fails to dispense water more than lukewarm.
 

47271

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As above, if I need to wash my hands onboard, and so long as it isn't hot to the extent of a scalding incident, I'm usually delighted if any water whatsoever appears from the tap.

Now, what about the state of train hand dryers? You have to place your hands in a single precise location to get anything and then a low power whirr as if they're being driven by four flat AA batteries, why are they all so rubbish?

Even Transpennine 350s, surely the closest thing we have to German engineering total efficiency, have poor dryers.

Maybe I'm missing something, but can't they just work out the technology to put the equivalent of an Airblade on the wall?
 

47513 Severn

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The Chiltern mk3 stock has actual airblades fitted so it can be done.

I've found the Pendolino dryer to be quite powerful, it's just infuriating that you have to have your hands in exactly the right place to activate them and they cut out if you move so much as a millimetre from the sensor!

Following the Eastbourne carriage fire a couple of years ago the dryers in Electro/Turbostars were disabled. This still appears to be the case in many units with piles of paper towels left on the side of the sink (GA Turbostars immediately spring to mind, I don't know if they got sorted during refurbishment though).

Back to the original subject....Mark 3 stock as built had a temperature control knob in the toilets. Some less refurbished examples (GA and EMT) still have them but I don't know if they are actually connected to anything.
 

mpthomson

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The best temp water I've come across on a train - where it's plenty hot enough to wash effectively - is on the lowly Pacer. Conversely, it surprises me that the modern 185 fails to dispense water more than lukewarm.

There's no need for water to be hot or even lukewarm to wash effectively. NHS Infection Control guidelines were altered a couple of years ago to reflect this.
Washing hands in cold water with soap is just as effective as washing them in warm/hot with soap at removing bugs.

The water would need to far be hotter than needed to scald skin before temperature makes any difference to that.
 

pdq

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There's no need for water to be hot or even lukewarm to wash effectively. NHS Infection Control guidelines were altered a couple of years ago to reflect this.
Washing hands in cold water with soap is just as effective as washing them in warm/hot with soap at removing bugs.
Indeed, it's a psychological thing that hot water is better - but nevertheless, washing hands in warm water feels better than in cold, especially in the winter
 

Lockwood

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That's why washing hands in cold water is less effective - you keep your hands under the water for less time.

Comfortable temperature: Rinse, enjoy the experience, rinse more.
Cold water: In, out, done, spend ages trying to feel your fingers again
 

lincolnshire

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Well its not bad going that we have all the above items about the temperature of water etc. when you think back to Mk1, Mk2 & Mk 3 coaches we had hot ( yes hot ) water from the hot tap and cold water from the cold tap and a sink complete with a plug so you could have what temperature you wanted and more water for washing your hands before using the roller towel to dry them. Have we moved on or gone backwards ?
 

Bodie

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The Chiltern mk3 stock has actual airblades fitted so it can be done.

I've found the Pendolino dryer to be quite powerful, it's just infuriating that you have to have your hands in exactly the right place to activate them and they cut out if you move so much as a millimetre from the sensor!

Following the Eastbourne carriage fire a couple of years ago the dryers in Electro/Turbostars were disabled. This still appears to be the case in many units with piles of paper towels left on the side of the sink (GA Turbostars immediately spring to mind, I don't know if they got sorted during refurbishment though)

Apologies for hijacking the thread. Saves having to start a new thread.

Does anyone know the make(s) of on board hand dryers?
Are there many different makes across the classes?
If so, are they the same makes as you see in public toilets?
Or is there a single specialist who manufacture train toilets? (Of which the hand dryer is just on part)

Thanks

Bodie
 

DarloRich

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If you are worried buy some of that gel stuff. People seem terrified of germs these days! As noted a hove washing hands in cold water is perfectly acceptable.
 

Bletchleyite

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Indeed, it's a psychological thing that hot water is better - but nevertheless, washing hands in warm water feels better than in cold, especially in the winter

People might think this because hot water is more effective for dishwashing, but this has nothing to do with bacteria and everything to do with breaking down oil and grease, which aren't on your hands after using the loo.
 

Clip

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Its irrelevant about whats best for washing hands - what counts more is the temp the water is stored due to legionella forming in the tanks.
 
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