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[quote user="beaulieu"]  The only negative being reported is on trainsets where the cars are uncoupled regularly for dumping. There are two problems, the first is corrosion of the electrical contacts, and the second is damage to the electrical connectors when the cars are being uncoupled. The uncoupling problem should be no surprise since all that the crew is doing is operating the cut lever. Just like with home electrical appliances when you unplug them by pulling on the wire, damage occurs. This was anticipated, but it appears the connectors weren't robust enough, or the designers under estimated the forces involved, or the corrosion is increasing the resistance to separation, or all of the above. The result is that over time there are problems getting the ECP signals through the trainline when the consist is being rebuilt at the powerplant following dumping. [/quote] I suppose ECP brakes might find early application to trainsets that are not uncoupled, but by the time it is fully implemented, the majority of trains will still be composed of loose cars.  This raises some interesting questions that I had not thought about:   <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p> How are conventional air brake hoses handled in a rotary dumper?   <o:p></o:p> With an ECP system, are cars equipped with conventional air hoses with glad hand couplings, and also with electrical cables with electric connectors?   <o:p></o:p> If so, does the electrical connector need to be manually connected in addition to the act of manually coupling the hose connector? <o:p></o:p> If so, does the electrical connector part like the air hose couplings when the uncoupled cars are pulled apart? <o:p></o:p> Does anybody have a link to a detailed description of the electrical connectors currently being used for ECP brakes, or connectors being proposed as an improvement?
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