PSI Maintenance Schedules — Traction Distribution Notes

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PSI equipment maintenance targets the same 'ZERO DEFECT' standard covered for OHE earlier in this subject — a minimum monthly inspection quota for TrD officers/Senior Subordinates, carried out in depth to identify deficiencies, skill gaps, facility inadequacies, and poor-quality-work conditions, not routine box-ticking.

Switching Station Maintenance — What's Genuinely Different

Switching station maintenance is broadly similar to sub-station maintenance, except traction transformers, circuit breakers, and current transformers aren't present, and the area is much smaller. The one additional, genuinely important item: return feeder connections to all rails at feeding posts.

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Exam Focus — Why PWI Coordination Matters Here

Return feeder rail connections are genuinely liable to be damaged by Permanent Way (PWI) gangs during their normal packing/track-maintenance work — since they're not even aware these connections carry an electrical function. This is exactly why supervisory officials must specifically stress the electrical importance of these connections TO the PWIs, so PWI staff can in turn warn their own gangs — a real inter-departmental coordination requirement, not a purely electrical-department task.

General Maintenance Principles

No work of any kind on/near live equipment shall commence unless power supply to that part has been switched off and ALL prescribed safety measures taken.
Against unauthorised interference/pilferage at unattended sub-stations and switching stations, ALL electrical department staff must stay vigilant during any visit — surprise checks combined with periodic inspections act as deterrents.
TPC checks communication with EVERY grid sub-station ONCE A DAY, obtaining maximum demand and energy consumption for the previous 24 hours, entered in a register. Inspection staff visiting a sub-station/switching station must contact TPC by telephone.
Circuit breaker maintenance schedules are type-specific — SF6 circuit breakers follow one manufacturer-recommended schedule (Annexure 3.06), vacuum circuit breakers another (Annexure 3.07); the detailed schedules here are written specifically for SF6 breakers.

Fortnightly Maintenance — Real Checklist

General Inspection by PSI Supervisor

Go round the whole sub-station area — check cleanliness, drainage, road/rail access; roadway/pathway surfaces must be firm and elevated enough to prevent water-logging. Remove vegetation at the outer periphery, cut tree branches likely to approach live lines.
If lubricating/transformer oil is stored, inspect for security and FIRE RISK — ensure no combustible material nearby.
Examine all Caution/Danger/Shock Treatment boards for cleanliness and secure mounting; inspect fire extinguishers, fire buckets, and First Aid Boxes for intactness and serviceability.
Inspect structure/plant foundations for sinking or cracking; check tightness of structural bolts and nuts.

Battery — Fortnightly Tasks

Check all cells generally as per the earlier Station Batteries chapter (Para 3.3.6).
Take specific gravity and cell voltage of the PILOT cell, recorded in register. If any significant change is noticed, take readings for ALL cells to identify weak ones. Top up with distilled water to the EXACT correct level for every cell.
Check battery charger operation and note charging rate in register.

Monthly Maintenance — Bonding & Earthing

Visually inspect all earth connections, confirming every piece of equipment has DUPLICATE earths — tighten connecting bolts/nuts as necessary. Where a sub-station and feeding post are close by, confirm sub-station structures are properly bonded with BOTH the feeding post AND the track, via two independent connections.

Relay Overhaul Cycle — Completing the Picture

Adding to the annual test cycle covered in the previous chapter: full overhaul, bench tests, and calibration of protective relays are necessary once in TEN YEARS, or immediately if a relay is found functioning incorrectly. This deep-level work must be done ONLY at the Central Repair Shop by highly-skilled technicians — never in the field. After overhaul and satisfactory lab tests, relays are sealed and the overhaul date is painted on the outer cover.