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Plug/Power Socket Christmas Special
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AndyLandy
Established Member
I suspect this is more likely to be for political reasons than technical ones...
They might not be the exact same seats but the First Class provision on the 350's is incredibly poor. I travelled First a few months ago due to a 1st Advance routed FGW And Connections and I was amazed at just how like Standard it was in the 350. I even ended up in an airline seat. It did not feel fundamentally different from standard class on other operators. 2+2 throughout. Just felt like a standard class coach.
The only real benefit was that it was nice and quiet. But a First Class experience it most certainly is not.
I can't help thinking they should either do it properly or don't bother and have the additional standard class capacity. I'd have been fuming had I paid for a conventional 1st class ticket and found that sort of servie provision.
DarloRich
Veteran Member
they are canny similar!
They have:
1) An almost useless recliner option
2) Tables
3) An antimacassar (WOW!)
4) Power Sockets
5) 2+2 layout
5) A screen so you dont have to look upon the great unwashed
AndyLandy
Established Member
First class is almost entirely pointless on a 350/1. If you get a 350/2 with 3+2 seating, the 2+2 layout of First is an improvement on it.
But yes, let's not pretend LM's First Class provision is anything to write home about.
DarloRich
Veteran Member
It is simply to offer an FC season ticket to London types who want to ensure they have a seat on a peak service. That is all.
Tomonthetrain
Established Member
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DarloRich:1310307 said:
I did shower! Honest!
DarloRich
Veteran Member
AndyLandy
Established Member
That's fairly standard on London Commuter TOCs. The First Class in Southern's 377s is even worse than LM's. Not tried FC on an SWT 450, but I imagine it's similar to the LM 350s.
Well I'm sure that their was a person who posted on a previous thread said they are an unregulated voltage. Some of the drivers I work with have caught people using the not for public use sockets before now, asked them to stop using it to which they refused so the circuit breaker that is in the cab that feeds the socket is promptly tripped so they can't use it!
Mutant Lemming
Established Member
If you paid £6 for one of their (LM that is) cheap advance singles and then used all the sockets on the train to charge up various phones, camera batteries, laptops etc., would it be possible for the journey to pay for itself ?
I doubt it, unless you take a multi-KW cooker, etc. with you. Actually a hair dryer and kettle might work!
Mutant Lemming
Established Member
Indeed they do ! (well the cheap £4 kettles from Wilkos do - other cheap kettle retailers are available)
Cl450 First Class is 2+2 with slightly different seats to standard, along with curtains, sockets etc. Cl444 First Class is much better!
Well I'm sure that their was a person who posted on a previous thread said they are an unregulated voltage. Some of the drivers I work with have caught people using the not for public use sockets before now, asked them to stop using it to which they refused so the circuit breaker that is in the cab that feeds the socket is promptly tripped so they can't use it!
As the intentional purpose of these sockets is to power 240v hoovers/floor polishers/etc, I doubt there is that much fluctuation.
Staff with attitudes like that belong firmly in the last century, not this one.
Tomonthetrain
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Report for prosecution
I'm sure I've read elsewhere that they are unregulated (as said above) and are only designed for use when the train is stationary (for cleaning devices etc), when the train is moving the output is not guaranteed and so may damage devices that cannot cope with low voltage.
Also, it may be a case of the cleaners only being on board when the train is on a protected shore supply instead of third rail/OHLE.
Sorry but far far easier just to trip the cb to stop them from using it rather than trying to pursue a prosecution.
87015
Established Member
What breakers are in the cab of a 321 (unless I've lost track that was the stated traction) out of interest - I thought they were all in the power car or is that just for traction purposes?
In cab cb's:
Control Earth
Cab Heat
AWS/TPWS
Demist
Brake Control
Aux 1/2
Control Positive
And the CB for the socket I am talking about.
I'd imagine that hoovers and floor washers which are essentially big motors are less sensitive to fluctuations than consumer electronics, which could be more easily damaged. And if a fluctuation did damage a passenger's stuff, I'm sure the TOC wouldn't want to be liable. So passengers should observe the notices!
The driver should have a life, and just allow the passenger to continue what they are doing.
The fuse on the charger will take care of any power spikes.
LexyBoy
Established Member
Assuming a maximum draw of 13 A at 230 V, you'd get 3 units of energy per hour journey. I think the longest LM journeys are around 4 hours, so at 12 p/unit you'd need to be using a 3 kW appliance in five or more sockets to use more than £6 worth of electricity (and allowing you to make a cup of tea every 7 seconds).
tsr
Established Member
AndyLandy
Established Member
The first question is why are they not for public use. It may be technical reasons (fluctuating voltages), H&S reasons (you'd cause a trip hazard plugging in there), or just that the TOC isn't prepared to pay for charging your phone (It may not be much in the grand scheme of things, but it's their choice not to)
To be honest, if it's possible to disable those sockets in the cab without disrupting the rest of the train, they should probably do so as a matter of course, only activating them when they are needed.
They are actually called a "catering socket" as they were used for the catering trolley to plug into. I'm sorry but I don't understand why it is that some people cannot/will not obey with what the sign says. I certainly comply with the instructions on signs when I travel or go into shops etc.
Nym
Established Member
No actually, it won't.
The BS1362 fuses used in BS1363 plugs are rated for a 0.4s blow time on overcurrent. There are many other ways of damaging equipment that a fuse would not prevent, and indeed a common MCB or RCD could not prevent. Such as; over voltage, high low order harmonics, poor power factor and under or over frequency, all easily possible on a train supply that may or may not use a static invertor weather it be in motion or not, but especially the latter.
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