Skyliner comms and electrification

[Phonedave]

Does anybody know how the Skyliners get electricity and comms to the individual gondolas?

At first I though maybe there is an onboard battery that is charged via a wiper as it goes through the station. But there is the ability to have emergency two way communication between the gondola and control, so there must be a transmission path. I highly doubt it is wireless (but I could be wrong). There are leads that go from the ground up to the overhead third cable, as well as to the supporting wheels. But there is no catenary from the gondola to anything. I guess they could multiplex a signal over the cable, but there are much easier solutions. Does anybody know the details on how this works. These are the kind of things I think about while paused on the Skyliner. Don't even get me started on why the shower drain does not line up with the shower valve in the Riviera Resort.

 

[Smiley/OCD]

I don’t think there is any electricity or station to gondola communications. I could be 100% wrong but I don’t think so.

 

[NelsonRD]

I believe they are super capacitors located on the roof of the gondolas that are charged when in the stations.

 

[danlb_2000]

Does anybody know how the Skyliners get electricity and comms to the individual gondolas?

At first I though maybe there is an onboard battery that is charged via a wiper as it goes through the station. But there is the ability to have emergency two way communication between the gondola and control, so there must be a transmission path. I highly doubt it is wireless (but I could be wrong). There are leads that go from the ground up to the overhead third cable, as well as to the supporting wheels. But there is no catenary from the gondola to anything. I guess they could multiplex a signal over the cable, but there are much easier solutions. Does anybody know the details on how this works. These are the kind of things I think about while paused on the Skyliner. Don't even get me started on why the shower drain does not line up with the shower valve in the Riviera Resort.

As @NelsonRD mentioned, they are powered by a supercapacitor that is charged as they go through the station. As for communication it is likely wireless since there would be no other way to get the signal there.

 

[Phonedave]

I don’t think there is any electricity or station to gondola communications. I could be 100% wrong but I don’t think so.

They have lights in them, so those are powered somehow. They also have the pre-recorded messaging, so that needs power too.

There is an emergency communication box as well. So there has to be some sort of two-way comms.

 

[Phonedave]

As @NelsonRD mentioned, they are powered by a supercapacitor that is charged as they go through the station. As for communication it is likely wireless since there would be no other way to get the signal there.

Is it a guess on the capacitor, or do you know for sure, because there are other ways to power gondolas (including self generating).

They also make things such as heated cabins and heated seats (not in WDW clearly) that I doubt can be run off of charging a capacitor as it goes through a station.

If you look at this Doppelmayr brochure on safety - https://www.doppelmayr.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ICT-brochure-ENG.pdf
it appears that communications are either via RF or WiFi.

They have a variety of charging methods

Where does charging take place?
In the parking facility
During station transit
During the trip

How is charging performed?
Power rails Carriage wheel generator (CWG) on 3S systems (ATRIA)
Charging socket on cabin
Additional charge with solar energy (solar panels on the cabins)

 

[danlb_2000]

Is it a guess on the capacitor, or do you know for sure, because there are other ways to power gondolas (including self generating).

They also make things such as heated cabins and heated seats (not in WDW clearly) that I doubt can be run off of charging a capacitor as it goes through a station.

If you look at this Doppelmayr brochure on safety - https://www.doppelmayr.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ICT-brochure-ENG.pdf
it appears that communications are either via RF or WiFi.

They have a variety of charging methods

Where does charging take place?
In the parking facility
During station transit
During the trip

How is charging performed?
Power rails Carriage wheel generator (CWG) on 3S systems (ATRIA)
Charging socket on cabin
Additional charge with solar energy (solar panels on the cabins)

I don't think there is any official information, but the super capacitors seems to be the most likely option. The charging would happen as it passes through the station. I believe there were pictures in the original construction thread that showed where the power pickup was on the arm that holds the car.

We know there are no solar panels on the cars, and they normally remain on the cable over night so there is no option to plug them in for charging. CWG only works when you have a fixed carrying cable.