Home › Technical Support › Unipole Maintenance VAHLE Unipole Conductors require very little maintenance. The following checklist will help to maintain the reliability of the installation; it may be modified in accordance with on-site conditions. Follow proper safety procedures prior (i.e. lock-out, tag-out) to making any modifications or repairs on the system or collectors. Sparking may occur on systems where the collector assembly enters and/or exits the conductor system via a funnel. The size of the spark would depend on the potential (current) on the conductors at the time of entry or exit. Minor sparking is acceptable and should have no detrimental effect to the operation of the system. Component life of the funnel and brush wear may be reduced. It is important clean excess graphite (collector) dust especially at funnels. The combination of excess dust and arching could cause a fire hazard. To eliminate arching a switched or power-up/power down zone(s) would need to be added to the system configuration.

These are to be used to scour away any deposits on the conductor rail such as oxidation. The cleaning collectors should only be used as required to clean conductors. Visual inspections of the system should be preformed monthly on the system (see maintenance instructions). The cleaning collectors are to be used only as needed (i.e. installed and for several circuits of the system and removed). The cleaning pads on the collector assembly can be changed as required with replacement pads. The cleaning collector is not designed to remove debris from the collector rail. It is designed to clean the contact surface of the conductor. The cleaning collector cannot be used when there is excess collector dust in the rail as this could cause electrical problems at isolation sectionsor transfer areas. The dust must first be removed (see also RG 10 Conductor Vacuum system). This system is to be used to remove loose debris such as collector dust from the conductor rail. The RG 10 can be installed on a standard carrier, as required, and provides an integrated vacuum cleaning system for the Unipole conductor installation.

The system will vacuum dust and graphite residue out of the individual conductors (up to 10 pole). The RG Vacuum system is avialable for the U10 - U 15 and VKS conductor systems.Home › Technical Support › Powerail System Troubleshooting We have been informed of, seen and inspected a number of VAHLE systems that have been improperly configured and/or installed (not per VAHLE Specifications). kenmore canister vacuum cleaner model 29229We feel it is a tribute to the quality of VAHLE components and design that these systems continue to operate reliably despite the incorrect installation. hollandia vacuum cleaner reviewsHowever, longevity may be reduced. hirsch hillcrest vacuum cleaners

There are systems that will not operate or function properly if the installation or configuration is not correct. It is our experience that operational issues can easily be fixed by reviewing the system configuration and/or adjusting the installation. The most common problem concerns allowances for expansion and contraction due to temperature changes. It is critical to use expansion sections as shown in our catalogs for certain configurations. The expansion sections will only work properly if fixpoint and sliding hangers are installed at their proper positions. Moreover, sliding hangers must not be installed cocked or against a joint or feed that will restrict the expansion/contraction of the conductor system. Symptoms of this issue include: warping or bending of the conductor rail, joints pulling apart. The contact brush is the “wear item” on the system. The contact brush is composed of copper graphite. As the brush wears carbon graphite dust can build up in the housing.

The dust should be periodically removed as it is conductive and can cause shorts. If you choose to vacuum the dust you will need to use a vacuum that is designed so that the intake does not flow (designed for cooling) through the motor. We also offer cleaning components (see optional components). The proper installation of joints and joint covers is critical to a properly operating system. After installing a joint (and before powering up the system) run your finger over the connection. The connection should be snug, secure and smooth. If there is an edge or burr use an emery cloth to remove it. An edge will act as a file on a contact brush causing it to wear quickly and cause a build up of graphite dust; in extreme cases an edge can cause a collector brush to jump or break. Joint covers must be in place for safety reasons. To identify problem joints on an existing system you can pull a collector through the housing. The collector should not snag, or jump (do not have power on the system when doing this) when passing over a joint.

If you have any operational issues regarding VAHLE components or systems please call us . Our experience is that problems can be easily and quickly resolved. Our goal is to provide you with maximum performance and minimum hassle. Call us at 800.725.9796; The Leader in ElectroMotion Solutions For over 100 years, VAHLE has been the industry leading manufacturer and supplier of mobile electrification solutions. This expertise has evolved to include mobile data & communication systems, absolute positioning systems and controls. VAHLE products around the world are implemented wherever safety, quality and reliability are top priorities. VAHLE offers solutions for mobile electrification systems, festoon cable systems, data/communication systems, absolute positioning systems, battery charging and contactless power systems. VAHLE offers solutions for mobile electrification systems, festoon cable systems, data/communication systems, absolute positioning systems, battery charging and contactless power systems.