Signal Technology

Electrical Safety for Railway Signaling

Signaling technology/switching mechanism

Railway signaling and switching systems are crucial for safe and smooth operation of the entire railway system. The train driver relies on functioning signals and signal system uptime allows for increased passenger volume. Bender can detect faults in the cabling quickly and cost-effectively during operation using an ISOMETER® ground-fault monitoring device and locate them automatically by means of ground-fault location systems. Downtimes are reduced and maintenance can be planned proactively.

Switching mechanism/Points drive

The switching points are controlled from the signal box. If a ground fault occurs in the connection between the signal box and the points, this can be detected and reported very early by means of a Bender ISOMETER®. Thereby, downtimes can be minimized and the condition of the insulation can be continuously monitored for increased levels of safety and reliability at all times.

Track heating

Failure of the track heating in winter leads to unnecessary interruptions to operation and passenger or freight delays. Monitoring the controllers of track switch heating locations for faults, energy quality, energy requirements and load currents using measuring and monitoring relays enables continuous operation without disconnection. While the system is out of operation, monitoring is carried out as continuous offline measurement, providing increased levels of safety at all times.

Railway crossing/Safety installations

Railway crossings are made safe by technical equipment. The train triggers the gates to open or close by driving over sensors. Failure of this safety equipment would bring the train to a stop or block crossing traffic. Securing with fault current monitoring devices or ground-fault  monitoring devices helps avoid these problems.

Automatic train control system

The automatic train control system is a system which transfers drive parameters or drive orders to the train driver based on which they are to drive their vehicles. It also allows the monitoring of the driving behavior of trains, especially at maximum speed. If necessary, it intervenes into the vehicle controller to initiate braking in order to avoid excessive speed. Automatic train control systems can also be used for fully automated control of the driving and braking processes of trains. There is inductive data transfer between the vehicle and the travel route by means of a pair of cables laid between the rails (known as the line conductors). The power for each section is supplied via an ungrounded system which is monitored using special ISOMETER®s. The power supply of the ATCS along the tracks is also set up as an ungrounded system and requires continuous ground-fault monitoring to avoid unplanned interruption of control.

Track field illumination/Safety lights

Emergency and safety lighting at passenger train stations as well as track field illumination may be operated via ungrounded power supplies. Ground-fault monitoring devices continuously monitor the condition of the insulation. Grounded system parts can be monitored for faults using residual current monitors. Switching to a redundant power supply can be done via the ATICS® product.

Downloads

NameCategorySizeLanguageTimestampD-/B-Number
Product Overview ISOMETER®/ISOSCAN® Product Overviews 5.3 MB EN2024/02/1616.02.2024
2020 Guidelines (US) Technical Information 1.9 MB EN2020/06/1515.06.2020
Overview Brochure Product Overviews 10.3 MB EN2023/10/0202.10.2023
Bender Industry Application Market Segment Brochures 19.1 MB EN2022/08/1919.08.2022
Electrical Safety Solutions for Railways and Transit Systems Market Segment Brochures 6.1 MB EN2020/06/1515.06.20200

Products

Ground-Fault Monitoring, Ungrounded

ISOMETER® iso685…
ISOMETER® iso685 Series

Ground-fault detector for ungrounded AC/DC systems

ISOMETER® isoRW685W-D
ISOMETER® isoRW685W-D

Ground-fault monitoring device tailored to the requirements of railway rolling stock applications

ISOMETER® isoRW425
ISOMETER® isoRW425

Ground-fault monitoring device for railway applications up to AC/DC 440 V

ISOMETER® IR425-D4
ISOMETER® IR425-D4

Ground-fault monitoring device for ungrounded AC/DC control circuits

ISOMETER® IR420-D4
ISOMETER® IR420-D4

Ground-fault monitoring device for ungrounded AC control circuits

Ground-Fault Location, Ungrounded

ISOSCAN® EDS460-D
ISOSCAN® EDS460-D

- This device series is in the discontinuation phase. -
Deliverable according to availability until 01.01.2025.

ISOSCAN® EDS440
ISOSCAN® EDS440 Series

Ground-fault location module for ungrounded AC/DC systems

ISOSCAN® EDS30…
ISOSCAN® EDS3090 Series

Portable ground-fault location systems for ungrounded and grounded systems

Ground-Fault Monitoring for Grounded Systems

LINETRAXX® SmartDetect RCMS410

Four-channel DC, AC and pulse current sensitive residual current monitor for earthed AC, AC/DC and DC systems

LINETRAXX® RCMS460-D
LINETRAXX® RCMS460-D Blindspot®

Multi-channel AC/DC ground-fault monitor

LINETRAXX® RCMS490-D
LINETRAXX® RCMS490-D Blindspot®

Multi-channel AC/DC ground-fault monitor with individual relay outputs

LINETRAXX® RCM420

AC ground-fault monitor

Measuring and monitoring relays

LINETRAXX® CMD420/CMD421
LINETRAXX® CMD420/CMD421

Current monitoring devices for monitoring 3AC currents by means of measuring current transformers

Ground-Fault Monitoring, Ungrounded

ISOMETER® iso685…
ISOMETER® iso685 Series

Ground-fault detector for ungrounded AC/DC systems

Details
ISOMETER® isoRW685W-D
ISOMETER® isoRW685W-D

Ground-fault monitoring device tailored to the requirements of railway rolling stock applications

Details
ISOMETER® isoRW425
ISOMETER® isoRW425

Ground-fault monitoring device for railway applications up to AC/DC 440 V

Details
ISOMETER® IR425-D4
ISOMETER® IR425-D4

Ground-fault monitoring device for ungrounded AC/DC control circuits

Details
ISOMETER® IR420-D4
ISOMETER® IR420-D4

Ground-fault monitoring device for ungrounded AC control circuits

Details

Ground-Fault Location, Ungrounded

ISOSCAN® EDS460-D
ISOSCAN® EDS460-D

- This device series is in the discontinuation phase. -
Deliverable according to availability until 01.01.2025.

Details
ISOSCAN® EDS440
ISOSCAN® EDS440 Series

Ground-fault location module for ungrounded AC/DC systems

Details
ISOSCAN® EDS30…
ISOSCAN® EDS3090 Series

Portable ground-fault location systems for ungrounded and grounded systems

Details

Ground-Fault Monitoring for Grounded Systems

LINETRAXX® SmartDetect RCMS410

Four-channel DC, AC and pulse current sensitive residual current monitor for earthed AC, AC/DC and DC systems

Details
LINETRAXX® RCMS460-D
LINETRAXX® RCMS460-D Blindspot®

Multi-channel AC/DC ground-fault monitor

Details
LINETRAXX® RCMS490-D
LINETRAXX® RCMS490-D Blindspot®

Multi-channel AC/DC ground-fault monitor with individual relay outputs

Details
LINETRAXX® RCM420

AC ground-fault monitor

Details

Measuring and monitoring relays

LINETRAXX® CMD420/CMD421
LINETRAXX® CMD420/CMD421

Current monitoring devices for monitoring 3AC currents by means of measuring current transformers

Details

Standards

EN 61557-8

Elektrische Sicherheit in Niederspannungsnetzen bis AC 1 000 V und DC 1 500 V – Geräte zum Prüfen, Messen oder Überwachen von Schutzmaßnahmen - Teil 8: Isolationsüberwachungsgeräte für IT-Systeme

EN 61557-9

Elektrische Sicherheit in Niederspannungsnetzen bis AC 1 000 V und DC 1 500 V – Geräte zum Prüfen, Messen oder Überwachen von Schutzmaßnahmen - Teil 9: Einrichtungen zur Isolationsfehlersuche in IT-Systemen

IEC 60204-1

Safety of machinery - Electrical equipment of machines - Part 1: General requirements