For manufacturers of amusement rides, the first unit of a new model is always a prototype as well. It is developed, built, inspected and accepted. Successful models then go into series production, as a park version or as a transportable ride, for operators in many countries. Electrical design has to deliver both, the single case and the product line. And it decides early how hard the way from one to the other will be.
Drives with people on board
Chain lifts, launches with linear motors, hydraulic lifting gear, travel and rotation of large structures. Power levels are high, load changes are harsh, and passengers depend on every drive. Brakes, holding functions and behaviour on power failure shape the design more than the rated power alone. A ride has to come to a safe stop even if the supply fails at exactly the worst moment.
Safety that can be inspected
In Europe, rides fall under the EN 13814 series for fairground and amusement park machinery and structures. The electrical equipment follows EN 60204-1, and safety functions are assessed to EN ISO 13849 or IEC 62061. Before a new model carries its first guests, experts inspect the design and the documents.
For electrical design this means restraint systems, block sections, emergency stop and monitoring functions have to be traceable in the drawings without ambiguity. Every safety function needs a clear path from sensor through logic to actuator. To estimate the probability of failure of a safety function, there is our PFH calculator.
Power on rotating structures
Carousels, Ferris wheels and rotating rides have one thing in common. Power, signals and often data have to cross slip rings onto the rotating part. Every line across the slip ring costs space and money, every forgotten one forces a conversion. Deciding early and cleanly which functions sit on the structure and which stay on the ground saves a lot later. For safety signals there is the added question of how they are transmitted and monitored reliably across the slip ring.
One model, many countries
A successful ride goes to Europe, Asia and America. 400 volts at 50 hertz here, 480 volts at 60 hertz there, separate rules for controls and panels in North America such as NFPA 79 and UL 508A, documents in several languages. Redrawing every version costs time and introduces errors.
With macros and variants, the country version is derived from the base model without touching the inspected basis. How such templates need to be built to carry the load is described in EPLAN macros and templates. Understand first, then adopt. How we approach product lines in general is described under Standardisation.
Effects yes, but separate
Lights, music, fog, water. Effects technology is part of the experience and is often changed shortly before opening. It does not belong in the safety chain. A clean separation between ride control and show ensures that a new lighting effect does not trigger a new acceptance of the safety technology.
For manufacturers who want to strengthen their design team or take a new model into series production, we take on the electrical design fully or in parts, as part of your project team.