Digitization makes development processes more efficient. But for the implementation of railway projects, long lifespans and reliability play a significant role for the products. “It’s not unusual for the distributors to spend over 40 years on the tracks, so they have to work reliably,” says Axel Küster. He knows that there’s almost no other industry in which the environmental factors are so extensive and distinctive as signal technology. “The installations are constantly subjected to alternating temperatures and condensation, as well as vibrations and shocks caused by passing trains, over the course of years.” This is where WAGO connection technology, with its spring pressure connection technology in the form of CAGE CLAMP® and Push-in CAGE CLAMP®, really shows off all its strengths.
During the development phase, WAGO already subjects its products to the most rigorous tests in order to meet the common leading standards of the industry. For vibration and shock, that means tests per the industry-specific EN 61373 standard, but also tests per IEC/EN 60068-2-6. The resistance of the electromechanical components to condensation and corrosion is ensured through the cyclic damp heat test per IEC/EN 60068-2-30. An internal SO² test for industrial atmospheres per EN ISO 6988, IEC/EN 60068-2-42, IEC/EN 60068-2-60 is also performed. Adhering to UL 746C, the polyamides used at WAGO have a continuous operating temperature of 105 °C (221 °F) based on the relative temperature index with impact load (RTIimp). “This ensures that the necessary electrical and mechanical insulating properties are maintained with sufficient reliability over a long period of time. The short-term upper temperature limit is 200 °C (392 °F),” says WAGO Product Manager Burkhard Niemann.
In lower temperature ranges, it has been determined that no damage to the insulation material occurs during usage down to −35 °C (−31 °F). After installation and wiring, WAGO products can even be used at temperatures down to −60 °C (−76 °F). For rail applications, the carefully selected plastic of the rail-mount terminal blocks fulfills EN 45545 and is classified as a V0 material by the standard.
Text: Kilian Fröhlich, Global Key Account Manager for the Railway Industry at WAGO