Withdrawn Document

BRITISH RAILWAYS Uncontrolled When Printed No. EH J102

ENGINEERS HANDBOOK Page 01
Signal &Telecommunications Issue 01
Engineering Department Date 01 /92
● SILVERMIGRATION IN PLUG-IN REIAYS AND BASES

INTRODUCTION

Silver migration is the transportation of metallic silver over and through insulation. it is most commonly
encountered on relay plugboards and bases. Initially it is restricted to the surface but with time penetrates
into the material of the base. It can conduct electricity and is able to bypass contacts in circuitry and
introduce connections between d“hferentcircuits by forming a bridge between adjacent contacts e.g. A2-A3.
The photographs show various examples of silver migration.

SYMPTOMS AND CONDITIONS

For silver migration to take place the following conditions ~p”n$:&kck-

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Silver or silver plated contacts, :A: .- . ~.j)”
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Moisture, K:Z%%$f:
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An insulating material which can absorb moi $(‘Lrp$.g.$tiack phenolic bases,
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A standing voltage across the insulation. ‘[ ,’;’’’:~:~
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The equipment identified as being most at r k are:~~ck phenolic relay bases and ‘P’ style relays. The
highest risk occurs where these are subject 4 q’$oist conditions with a high voltage across the insulation
where silver Is present. Generally, the hig #r t~e’tbttage and the longer the voltage is present, the higher
the risk. The risk is higher for single cut ciri “
‘~S!~~double cut.
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‘P’ style relays present a special probl a@the contact springs inside the relay are silver plated and can
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thus be subject to silver migration. TtI ;?~l;tple silver migration can be totally hidden within the sandwich
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construction of the base. < &x
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Once tracking has started, the bas ~xnatehsiican char which further reduces the insulating properties of the
base material. J ..g’?~
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● “&d

●
Removal of the silver film by solvents is most unlikely to be effective as surface penetration has almost
certainly occurred by the time the silver migration is visible.

The only effective means of overcoming silver migration is to replace any black phenolic bases by blue
epoxy resin bases. The blue bases are resistant to the deposition of metallic silver.

POUCY

The following policy is to be adopted:-

BR930typeblack phenolicbases

Locations and unheated relay rooms - Elimination by April 2001, with priority being given to areas of
single cut circuit~.

Heated relay rooms - Inspection of bases by annual 1% population sampling and total replacement
where problems identified.

Exception - where it is known that only tin plated connectors have been used in the base there is no
need to change the bases.

BR 13439/3007 continued
 Withdrawn Document
No. EH J(N)2 Uncontrolled When Printed BRITISH RAILWAYS
Page 02 ENGINEERS HANDBOOK
Iswe 01 Signal &Telecommunications
Date 01 /92 Engineering Department --

SILVER MIGRATION IN PLUG-IN RELAYSAND BASES

●

‘P’ style black phemfk bases

Locations and unheated relay rooms - Elimination by April 1996, with those in areas of single cut
circuitry being replaced by April 1993.

Heated relay rooms - Renewal with blue epoxy resin type bases by annual 5% population sampling
and total replacement where problems identified.

‘P’ style relays

In moving towards the servicing frequencies specified in Engineers Handbook section SERVICING
OF SIGNALING RELAYS AND SEARCHLIGHT SIGNAL MECHANISMS, priority must be given to
“P style relays in locations and unheated relay rooms. A test set is available.

Mgepluginre laybases

Inspection of bases by annual 1% population sampling and total replacement where problems
identified.

continued BR 13439/3007
 Withdrawn Document
BRITISH RAILWAYS Uncontrolled When Printed No. EH JOO2
ENGINEERS HANDBOOK Page 03
Signal & Telecommunications Issue 01
Engineering Department Date 01 /92
● SILVER MIGRATION IN PLUG-IN RELAYS AND BASES

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.
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,., , ....;
1. . .
.. .
Example A \ .!; Example A with affected area enlarged
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1: :
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Example B Example B with affected area enlarged

ILLUSTRATIONS Silver Migration

BR 13439/3007 END