GENERAL INFO – VELOX MEGAPOINT SWITCHPOINT HEATING SYSTEM
In many places switchpoint heating is not an issue but where it is needed, the way of heating and more important cost of the heating is an issue.
In Principe there are 4 ways of keeping the switch free from ice and drifting snow.
Blowing with air is one way which nowadays is not so common.
Steam cleaning have been tested and found not to be very practical.
Gas heating and electrical heating seems to be the two systems used today.
Electrical systems seems to be the future technique main-ly, because it is easy to handle and easy to control and most of all it shows low maintenance cost.
The electrical heating system come in many different shapes today. Low voltage systems, 48-60 Volts, 110 Volts and 240 volts.
Also DC is used in some places for switches but normally for third rail heating for switches 650-800 Volt and for third rails 750-800 Volt seems to be common.
| Partno | Denomination |
| 3950101 | Triac-card MegaPoint 8-Channel |
| 3950103 | Driver Card MegaPoint 8-Channel |
| 3950104 | Sensor Card Megapoint 4-Channel |
| 3950105 | Insulator Megapoint |
| 3950108 | Current transformer Megapoint |
Personal safety as well as system safety is another important issue.
Velox Switchpoint heating system is a development between Sweden and UK-manufacturer. The Velox system is designed with the idea of having a system which is easy and flexible and possible to expand without changing to a complete new system.
Velox controls can be use for any electrical heating system.
Components shall be easy to find in any market and the controls and communicators must be simple to use and easy to replace and upgrade.
The speed that communication and controls are being developed at present makers it necessary to have an easy operating system. Technical development gives you 3-5 year before your system is starting to be obsolete.
Many switchpoint heating systems are today manually operated, i.e. you have to in person switching on and off the system visiting the site.
When upgrading a railway line or switch it is normal today that you install a wire-less communication system, based on GSM/GPRS or similar.
Velox MegaPoint System has developed a turn-key system including heating element, clips, connection boxes, cabling and cubicles as well as computer system and communication via internet.
The latest development is to use internet as a base with mobile phone and use a “dial-up server system”. This means you only pay for the actual minutes you as one operator is connected to the cubicle via GSM/GSMR. The SIM-Card in the modem that is placed in the cubicle is a simple cash card serviced with a minimum amount of money in order to send out. periodical information and alarms. Cash cards and Top Up cards gives you low fixed cost.
This system has been tested and proven well working in Germany, Sweden, UK in combination with Velox Mega-Point System.
The system is developed by Mitsubishi and are supported by most of the telephone operators, Vodaphone, Telia (Sweden) to mention some of them.
What is Velox MegaPoint System?
Basically it is a triac system build in modules of 8. One triac can support 8 heating elements or set of elements. Each individual element or set of elements must be less than 20 Amp.
Velox MegaPoint is designed for a maximum load of 20 Amp per output about 110 or 240 volt, AC or DC.
Each output of max 20 A has a fuse to protect it and a current transformer that indicates the current used in any given time. The system is running by a computer. Via Internet you have full access to the system at any time in the system.
The computer has a log-function and can log info from 10 seconds up to hours to customers requirement.
Each element is separately logged and has a current trans-former that show the present output.
All information can easily be transferred to excell-files or similar or been processed by the MCDialog help server.
The modems used can handle SIM-Cards, GSM-R/GSM/GPRS and standard telephone line.
Presentation of data is done in a simple layout and needs a minimum of training to operate.
Control sensor is normally placed on the stock rail and has a back-up by ambient temperature or you can use a Dew point sensor.
Each software package can handle up to 480 heating elements/sensors.
On a standard panel 1.2 x 1m it is possible to fit up to 3 triacs.
The basic system all have preloaded software for weather and CCTV-camera. All settings can be done remotely via internet.
Heating element
Self-limiting element are manufactured for 110V/120V and 120V/240V as well as 750 VDC. All element are double insulated.
Parallel constant wattage element are manufactured in 110V/115V, 120V/240V and 750V. Double insulated ele-ments with output of 180-200W/m.
Personal safety/System safety
With self-limiting elements and parallel constant wattage elements, i.e. double insulated elements, there is no problem using personal safety ELCB i.e. 30mA.
Using metal element you often have problems using 30 mA so we recommend 300mA on these system. In many situations even 300mA given problems due to element quality.
This is because metal element has an organic insulation of magnesium oxide and this is hygroscopic.
Velox Self-limiting and parallel constant wattage heaters have insulation of flourpolymer (Teflon). This material are not hygroscopic.
Fixing elements to the rail section is a problem that needs a special attention.
Older switches are not designed to handle heating elements and therefore the fitting of heating elements to the switch is not always easy to solve in a good looking and working condition.
Fixing clips are designed in many ways and the use of them are more or less thought through.
The element is designed to stay on by the clips when maintenance is done.
As a designer of systems you take into consideration the clips and clips demands. Changing elements has to be easy as the time in the trails has to be cut to a minimum.
Not only because trains are running but also for cost of staff. Changing elements requires 2-3 people depending on system you have chosen and then you need to minimise the time because of labour cost.
Velox MegaPoint have in co-operation with technical staff and maintenance staff at Stockholm Lokaltrafik and Nexus Metro in Newcastle UK developed a plug and screw system, which is very easy to handle also when temperature will below -20°C.
In Sweden all systems used has to be in operation below -35..-40°C for long periods. Even installations of systems have been done in temperatures down under -25°C.
In temperatures down to less than -25°C cables is not easy to handle.
No problems have shown in Stockholm despite temperatures been down below 25 C.
In summer temperature in cubicle are well over 50°C so we know the computer are of good quality.
Velox MegaPoint users mostly standard products.
Communication and triac as well as current transformer and sensor cards are of MegaPoint design.
Weather station used are standard products.
If required computer which terminal and LCD/TFT screen can be supplied.
Normally the system is supported with only the computer and you work over internet. Maintenance personnel can easily aid on a screen and a board for access to computer locally.
Velox MegaPoint system has been tested and in operation for more than 15 years now.
You are as a customer not limited to element supplied by us. You can use any heating element you want.
Velox MegaPoint system is a flexible system. Not only by the system itself but also by the fact it is very easy to add on to existing system.
Demo-programme are available to use on internet. If you are interested you will get a log-in code for system in Sweden, UK and Germany to make your own judgement.
We try to deliver a good flexible system at a fair price with possibility to grow within.
