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Guide to Electric Chain Hoist Systems

Lifting Equipment Store- Leading suppliers of high quality industrial and entertainment electric chain hoists for lifting and suspending loads up to 20000kg (20T).
Some of our electric hoists are now available for quick purchase online, however if you are unsure of your requirements we have an experienced and trained sales team that are more than happy to guide you through the process and help you select the correct model. We like to ensure we can provide you with an electric chain hoist that will suit all of your needs, not just lifting the desired weight but the correct voltage, duty cycle, beam size, lifting height and deciding on what speeds your motor should run at, after all, an Electrical Chain Hoist is a serious investment in productivity and choosing the right hoist will make light work of a heavy job.

About Electric Chain Hoists

Powered Hoist’s are built to customer specifications so please bear in mind that there is not a simple ‘one for all’ price. We ask all clients to have the following information to hand before submitting a request for quotation:

• Required Height of Lift (distance from the hoist unit to the load level)
  Safe Working Load (the max weight required to lift)
• Required Voltage (110v, 230v or 400v. 50Hz or 60Hz. Three phase or single phase.)
• Beam Flange Width (This helps us determine which beam trolley will be suitable)
• Indoor/Outdoor usage (For outdoor we have to apply special technology to the hoist)
• Aprox. required number of lifts per hour (this helps us work out the duty cycle to ensure the appropriate motor is supplied)
• Environment- Indoor, Outdoor, Explosive environment, food processing plants, nuclear etc.

Electric chain hoists come in a variety of different specifications. This article will help you get to grips with chain hoists.

Height of Lift:
This is the length of the chain from the hoist unit to the load level, it is usually measured in meters.

Safe Working Load (SWL):
This is the maximum allowed weight to be hoisted using the hoist unit. Anything over this weight means you will not be covered by the hoist’s test certificates and could cause fatal injury if ignored. Always ensure that your structures and beams are also capable for the hoist SWL.

Suspension Types:
Hook: This is where the top of a hoist unit features a ‘Top Hook’ which easily attaches the hoist to a trolley or beam clamp. Ideal for temporarily suspending off a trolley or beam clamp.
Lug: This is where the top of the hoist unit has a closed suspension lug (also known as a suspension eye). This is ideal for a hoist permanently being suspended on a trolley or beam clamp.
Push Travel Trolley: is a method of suspension that involves suspending a hoist from a beam with the ability to traverse manually. It allows the unit to travel horizontally across a beam enabling the hoist to travel with or without its load by the operator simply pulling the unit along the beam. When choosing a trolley you should always choose one that matches your hoist’s SWL.
Geared Trolley: Same as a push trolley however instead of the operator pushing or pulling the trolley himself a hand chain is provided which turns the wheels on the trolley to make the unit travel, this is ideal for more precise movements and for heavier loads.
Electric Travel Trolley: Exactly the same function as a manual trolley however the user pushes a button on the pendant control or radio control to operate the horizontal travel of the trolley. Electric travel trolley’s can be dual or single speed operating. We also supply these as a complete package with the hoist and controls or separately.

Chain Container:
A chain container can be useful if you like to keep your operating area tidy. The slack unused load chain that usually dangles down the side of a load when the hoist hook is raised can easily scratch or damage a fragile load (or maybe you just require the chain to be out of the way). As you begin to hoist your load a chain container will collect the slack load chain in a container attached to the main hoisting unit, these come in a variety of sizes to accommodate the extra load chain. For outdoor use these usually include holes for water drainage

Falls of Load Chain:
This is never usually a key element of specifications however it does mean: the more falls of chain the more chain required and there for costs can rise (not that much though). When a hoist has one fall of chain it means there is one single chain leg from the hoist unit to the bottom hook. When there is more than one fall (Ie. two falls) there is double the amount of load chain required as there are two legs of load chain going from the hoist unit to the bottom load hook. This is all done using a single length of chain that reeves through the bottom hook in the same way a wire rope hoist would work with a bottom block. The advantage of a single fall is that with many hoist modes the capacity can be doubled by retro fitting a two fall bottom block, the disadvantage of this is that your hoisting speed and height of lift is halved (unless fitting a new longer chain). Operators often prefer two fall hoists as the double legs of chain prevent the hook/load from swinging as much and steady the load more.

Hoisting Speeds:
Dual Speed- This means that the hoist can lift its load using two separate speeds, usually one faster speed and one slower speed. The slower speed is usually used when a load is to be slowly lifted/lowered in to position or when the load is fragile. The faster speed is for regular use.
Single Speed- This means your hoist will have one lifting speed, this can be fast or slow depending on the model. Ideal for when budgets are tight or simply user preference. All single phase models feature single speed only.
Hoisting speed is measured in meters per minute.

Travel Speeds (only on hoists featuring electric travel trolleys):
Dual Speed- This means that your hoist unit attached to the electric travel trolley trolley can be moved along the beam easily using two different speeds controlled by the pendant or radio control units. The trolley can travel on a slow speed or higher speed this is easily controled by the operator for a more movements.
Single Speed- is when the electric beam trolley can transport the hoist along a RSJ beam at a single operating speed. The hoist cannot move faster or slower along the beam, single speed is idea for when budgets are tight or simply operator preference. All single phase models feature single speed only.

Indoor and Outdoor Usage:
When specifying your hoist requirements you may be asked if your hoist is for indoor or outdoor usage.
Indoor: All of our standard units are manufactured for regular indoor use. So you don’t have to worry if you are using your hoist indoors unless the area is damp or subject to heavy moisture.
Outdoor: When using a hoist outdoors you must specify this when ordering. Outdoor hoists vary from manufacturer but some of the common adjustments that are made are- Stainless Steel brakes, Weather proof jackets, IP65 protection level and drainage holes where applicable.