Abstract: A method for operating a current collector on a roof of a rail vehicle for transferring energy thereto from a contact line of an overhead contact line, the current collector having a positioning device for moving a sliding piece relative to the contact line and pressing it against the contact line in a sliding contact position using a pressing force produced by a drive mechanism and a spring mechanism. The current collector has a measuring unit with a measuring device, at least two sensors of a sensor apparatus of the measuring device being disposed on the positioning device or the sliding piece, measured values being registered in the sliding contact position in each case by the sensors. The measured values are processed by a processing apparatus, which correlates the measured values and determines a characteristic value describing an operating state of the current collector or the overhead contact line.

Abstract: A method for operating a current collector on a roof of a rail vehicle for transferring energy thereto from a contact line of an overhead contact line, the current collector having a positioning device for moving a sliding piece relative to the contact line and pressing it against the contact line in a sliding contact position using a pressing force produced by a drive mechanism and a spring mechanism. The current collector has a measuring unit with a measuring device, at least two sensors of a sensor apparatus of the measuring device being disposed on the positioning device or the sliding piece, measured values being registered in the sliding contact position in each case by the sensors. The measured values are processed by a processing apparatus, which correlates the measured values and determines a characteristic value describing an operating state of the current collector or the overhead contact line.

Abstract: A power supply device for supplying power to a consumer disposed on a rail vehicle is being configured for generating a supply voltage of the consumer from a voltage applied to the conductor. Transmission electronics and a bypass conductor connectable in an electrically conductive manner to the consumer via the transmission electronics are provided and the transmission electronics is switched between the bypass conductor and the consumer and the bypass conductor is connected in an electrically conductive manner to the conductor by means of two fastening interfaces, a potential difference being present between the fastening interfaces and the bypass conductor being designed in such a manner that the bypass conductor generates an output voltage and the transmission electronics being designed in such a manner that the transmission electronics generates the supply voltage of the consumer from the output voltage.

Abstract: A power supply device for supplying power to a consumer disposed on a rail vehicle having at least one conductor and the power supply device being configured for generating a supply voltage of the consumer from a voltage applied to the conductor. Transmission electronics and at least one conductor loop connectable in an electrically conductive manner to the consumer via the transmission electronics and having n windings are provided. Transmission electronics is disposed between the conductor loop and the consumer, and the conductor loop disposed about the conductor to generate an outlet voltage, the transmission electronics being designed in such a manner to generate the supply voltage of the consumer from the outlet voltage of the conductor loop. A monitoring system having a power supply device and a method for supplying power to a consumer for monitoring a rail vehicle are also provided.