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Old September 20th 10, 08:23 PM posted to uk.transport.london,uk.railway
Ray Shafranski Ray Shafranski is offline
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First recorded activity at LondonBanter: Jun 2008
Posts: 3
Default Could isolation transformers prevent electrocution on LU tracks?

"Dominic" wrote in message
...
On London Underground the DC traction current circuit to and from the
trains is via an insulated third live rail and an insulated fourth
live rail, and the earthed running rails are not used for traction
current. Would it be possible to use an isolation transformer to
prevent the electrocution of a person who touched one of the live
rails on this type of railway, or possibly on an AC version of it?
My understanding, which I am sure will be corrected, is that an
isolation transformer could prevent the electrocution of a person who
connected one live rail to earth, but would not prevent the
electrocution of a person who connected the third live rail and fourth
live rail together. I would be very grateful to anyone who can explain
further.
Dominic


You can't use a transformer on a DC system, that is totally impossible.
Transformers ONLY work on AC.