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Over-Head Electric Wire

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  • Member since
    December 2017
  • From: I've been everywhere, man
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Posted by SD70Dude on Wednesday, January 17, 2018 6:53 PM

ben
SD70Dude

Most railway overhead electrifications do use the rails to carry the return current. 

Trolleybuses require a second overhead wire to complete the circuit.

Also, electric trains like the Acela require such systems.

Confused I don't follow Hmm, where is the second wire in this picture?

Image result for acela

There is only one wire contacting the pantograph.  Compared to this trolleybus, with two wires and dual trolley poles:

Image result for trolleybus edmonton

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

ben
  • Member since
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Posted by ben on Wednesday, January 17, 2018 6:40 PM

SD70Dude

Most railway overhead electrifications do use the rails to carry the return current. 

Trolleybuses require a second overhead wire to complete the circuit.

 

 

Also, electric trains like the Acela require such systems.

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Posted by kenny dorham on Sunday, January 14, 2018 9:36 PM

OK.....i see. Kind of like my house power (usa).

I have 120-VAC on the Black wire and Very Little/No Voltage on the white wire. The Rail or white wire simply carries current.

Thanks Again

  • Member since
    December 2017
  • From: I've been everywhere, man
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Posted by SD70Dude on Sunday, January 14, 2018 9:05 PM

Most railway overhead electrifications do use the rails to carry the return current. 

Trolleybuses require a second overhead wire to complete the circuit.

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

  • Member since
    March 2015
  • 171 posts
Over-Head Electric Wire
Posted by kenny dorham on Sunday, January 14, 2018 8:59 PM

OK.....i am not an electrician by any means, but with an electric train.......I often see what looks like just One Wire that powers the train.

Don't they need a second wire.?..... do they use one of the rails somehow.?

Thank You

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