Railway Products

On electrified railway systems, maintenance crews have two basic steps before starting work: verifying that the line is dead and earthing the work area. Railway products cover the voltage detectors and earthing hooks developed for these two steps. DC catenary and third-rail metro lines, monorail systems, conventional and high-speed AC catenary lines and railway substations are the main fields of application. Users include the power and catenary maintenance departments of railway operators, metro and tram maintenance crews and electrification contractors.

How to choose the right model

• Supply system and voltage: The first criterion is the line's supply type. The HVC-1.5N3 is used for DC 1500 V catenary, the HVC-750N3 (DC 600 V – 1500 V) for DC 750 V third rail, the HVC-1.5N3M (DC 600 – 1500 V) for monorail and the HVC-1.5N3S for DC 1500 V substations. On AC catenary lines, the HST-W80JS (AC 20 kV – 80.5 kV) is preferred.
• Residual voltage: On DC systems, voltage may not drop to zero immediately after disconnection. The HVC-1.5N3 and HVC-750N3 visualise the decaying residual voltage.
• Railway medium-voltage installations: For AC 6600 V, the HSR-1.5NJ / 1.5NJ1; if DC 1000 – 7000 V checks are also needed at the same installation, consider the HSR-1.5NR.
• Earthing: In the Type R earthing hook for DC 1500 V lines, the operating stick and conductor are integrated; the earthing cable does not hang loose, and the device is secured without being passed under the rail. For other requirements, a custom earthing hook is made by selecting the tip fitting, stick length, cable and connection clamp.

Model	Application	Operating voltage
HVC-1.5N3	DC catenary	DC 1500 V
HVC-750N3	Third rail	DC 600 V – 1500 V
HVC-1.5N3M	Monorail	DC 600 V – 1500 V
HVC-1.5N3S	DC substation	DC 1500 V
HST-W80JS	AC catenary	AC 20 kV – 80.5 kV
HSR-1.5NJ / 1.5NJ1	Railway medium voltage	AC 6600 V
HSR-1.5NR	Railway medium voltage	AC 6600 V; DC 1000 V – 7000 V
Type R	DC line earthing	DC 1500 V
Custom earthing hook	Application-specific	Specified when ordering

Safe use

• Do not approach the line until your organisation's disconnection and permit-to-work procedure has been completed.
• Verify that the detector works before use; then check for absence of voltage and fit the earthing hook immediately.
• On DC lines, do not proceed to earthing until you have seen the residual voltage decay.
• The earthing hook must stay in place until the work is finished; it is removed only after all personnel have left the line.

For field practice, read our article Railway Catenary Lines: Voltage Testing and Earthing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which detector is suitable for 25 kV AC catenary?

The HST-W80JS, with an operating range of AC 20 kV – 80.5 kV, is designed for conventional and high-speed AC catenary lines; 25 kV lies within this range.

Can the same detector be used for DC 750 V third rail and DC 1500 V catenary?

The operating range of the HVC-750N3 is DC 600 V – 1500 V, so it covers both voltages. However, the model is positioned for third-rail applications; for DC 1500 V catenary the HVC-1.5N3 is offered separately. Tell us about your application and we will make the choice together.