There’s a lot that goes in to powering elevator and lift systems. You need an effective and responsive electric motor to support the varied horsepower and constant torque necessary to transport people and materials safely between floors.

There are many solutions that can support the motors powering traction and hydraulic elevators, which are the two most common types of lift systems. These solutions help identify or mitigate potential operational issues, and allow your elevator and lift system to work effectively in your commercial or industrial environment.

Our product portfolio offers the solutions you need to get the most from your elevator and lift system, along with added benefits like inventory reduction, cost savings and increased reliability.

Soft Starters

Temporarily reduce the load and torque in the system’s power train, as well as the current surge of the motor during startup. Use modern communication protocols to provide lift system status insights to improve efficiencies and maintenance.

•  High Efficiency: About 99% efficient at full operating speed and load.

•  Low Heat Generation: No solid-state components are active    when an integral bypass is used; therefore, no additional heat is generated.

• Improved Communications: Modbus, Profibus, Profinet, Ethernet/IP, DeviceNet.

HOW THEY HELP

If the belt breaks, the motor will draw less current because it is no longer under load. Soft starters can detect this event and make the appropriate notifications for fast resolution. Soft starters can also provide insight into the status of a lift system via modern communication protocols for operational efficiencies and proactive maintenance.

Variable Frequency Drives

Drive an electric motor by varying the frequency and voltage supplied to the motor. Variable frequency drives, or VFDs, are best used in applications with high-torque starting applications and applications where continuous feedback of position is needed.

•  Heat Generation: Components of VFDs are “always on” and constantly controlling frequency, making them inherently hotter than soft starters.

•  Improved Communications: Modbus, Profibus, Profinet, Ethernet/IP, DeviceNet.

HOW THEY HELP

VFDs can be used to provide different speeds when needed–for example, slowing acceleration to avoid lurching people and material. VFDs allow for accurate acceleration, deceleration, braking and positioning.

Molded Case Circuit Breakers

GuardEon* by GE is the new low voltage molded case circuit breaker platform designed to work in tough, real-world applications, and is a smart, reliable and secure circuit breaker solution. GuardEon circuit breakers have global ratings for both IEC and NEMA markets, which makes them an ideal solution for the global lift industry.

•  Inventory Reduction: Field interchangeable, upgradeable trip unit technology enables flexibility in stocking, installation and servicing. Plug & play functionality helps to configure advanced features on site.'

•  Labor Cost Savings: Incorporates many electrical components found external to the breaker, such as a CT for metering. Fewer components mean less time and labor costs to build the control panel.

•  Protection of People and Equipment: Enabled with ArcWatch* selective coordination and arc flash mitigation technology.

•  Fewer Unplanned Outages: Equipped with the new PremEon* G Trip Unit with digital display to help with predictive maintenance.

•  Trip Unit Toolkit: Manage your trip unit with a powerful and intuitive interface that provides simple, easy access to control functionality from startup and commissioning to maintenance and testing, directly on your personal computer.

HOW THEY HELP

If the lifting mechanism is attempting to overcome the friction caused by a jam or material build-up, the motor will begin drawing too much current. Molded case circuit breakers like GuardEon can sense when the motor is drawing too much current. These components can also provide insight into the status of the lift system via modern communication protocols for operational efficiencies and proactive maintenance.

If an overcurrent event causes a short circuit and thermal overload of the motor, molded case circuit breakers like GuardEon can help protect the motor, controls and wiring.

Contactors

Contactors, like GE’s Efficor*, make it possible to operate your lifting system in myriad commercial and industrial environments and conditions. Because control and electrical rooms are often located in or near the elevator shaft, space can be limited and components hard to reach. Contactors and other modular components allow for tool-free installation and in-the-field upgrades. They’re also designed to function in harsh and high-temperature environments.

•  Built for Industrial Applications: Contactors like Efficor can     withstand temperatures from -40 to 70 C, and their compact design helps protect against pollution and dust. Efficor has achieved global approvals including CE, CCC and UL, and certifications for marine and transportation applications.

•  Inventory Reduction: Just one Efficor contactor SKU is all that’s needed for your global product lines, simplifying machine     design, reducing stock costs and streamlining BOM management.

•  Smart Wiring for a Secure Connection: Efficor is designed with double box terminals to provide secure and intelligent wiring options, which ensure a secure connection preventing overheating.

•  Energy Efficient Design: Efficor units up to 40A utilize a  combination or permanent magnet and electromagnet  technology to help ensure low energy consumption and high reliability. Above 50A, it incorporates an AC/DC super wide coil design that provides improved reliability and energy efficiency.

•  Space and Time Saving: Efficor’s compact design results in significant space savings in the cabinet. Efficor also features smart wiring and connectivity technologies that enable faster assembly. The contactors can be mounted side-by-side without derating.

HOW THEY HELP

Efficor’s universal service coil technology enables coverage across an industry-leading range of voltages and voltage types (AC/DC), and a voltage suppression device is automatically built in. With the industry shifting to IE3 motor applications, which require 30-50% more inrush current to start, Efficor is tested and proven to meet your control needs.

Motor Starters

Manually switch motors on and off, and provide overcurrent (fuseless) protection against short circuit, overload and phase failures. Motor starters are also able to sense when the motor is drawing too much current, which occurs when the lifting mechanism is attempting to overcome the friction caused by a jam.

•  Industry Leading: Interruption ratings (up to 50kAIC/65kAIC @ 480V) and vibration resistance (5G as standard, 8G available with hold down clips).

•  Compact: Two compact frames measuring 45mm wide rated up to 32 A, or 55mm wide rated to 63 A.

•  Time Saving: 35mm DIN rail mounting.

•  Safe and Easy to Install: Finger and back of hand protection for the best possible safety, and a complete range of easy-to-install accessories such as auxiliary contacts, alarms, short circuit indicators, under-voltage and shunt trip mechanisms, and bus bar.

•  Secure: Class 10 overload trip characteristics, and type 1 and 3R/12 non-metallic or metallic enclosures available with E-stop pushbuttons, padlocking devices, and indicating lights.

HOW THEY HELP

Provide a global solution and supply optimum flexibility for panel design. These IEC, UL and cUL marked products may be used in a variety of applications including individual, group, or combination installations. Select versions rated up to 63 A for use with motors to 40HP at 460V.