Elevator Power Supply

A power supply system plays an important role in the safety of elevators. When your home or office building experiences a power outage, your elevator equipment will shut down and passengers may become trapped inside the car.

A battery backup system helps in this situation, providing the necessary power to hoist your cab and open doors. An Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) is another backup solution.

Battery Backup

As building code enforcement becomes more aggressive, the need for backup power to elevators in multi-story buildings has become a must-have. Previously, standby generators have been the go-to way for building owners to satisfy this requirement. However, as new air quality control regulations and hefty maintenance requirements emerge, standby generators are becoming less popular and getting replaced by UPS (uninterruptible power supply) battery backup systems.

Elevator battery backup can provide a means for rescuing passengers in the event of a utility power failure, but it does have its limitations. If the UPS battery is low, the rescue process will stop and passengers will be trapped in the elevator car.

In order to avoid this situation, the battery backup must have a switch that will isolate power from the battery when the grid is unavailable. This is accomplished by using a breaker that is installed in the control panel.

This breaker will open when the utility is restored, and then close again when the utility is shut off. This ensures that the battery will always be fully charged and ready to go when the main supply is restored.

To further improve the safety of a battery backup system, it must be capable of sending a signal to the elevator when utility power is lost. This can be done by a dry contact board that is included with the battery backup, or a circuit from the dry contact board can be provided by an electrician or the elevator company.

As well as this, it must be able to run the entire load of the elevator, including its accessories and exhaust fans for at least 90 minutes under maximum load conditions. In order to meet these requirements, the system must be verified and stamped by a local electrical engineer.

Lastly, the battery backup must have a dry contact board that will send a signal to the elevator when utility power has been restored. This will notify the passengers that they are safe and can exit the elevator.

It can also send updates to concerned parties of the elevator wing via an on-line SMS modem fitted inside the UPS. This enables the UPS to send SMS updates regarding the status of the lift, such as if the elevator is in battery mode, the reason for the mode, the nearest electricity sub-station number and other relevant details.

Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)

Uninterruptible power supply (UPS) provides emergency power for essential electrical systems and devices. It provides continuous, clean power and protects against voltage sags and undervoltage (“brownouts”) that can cause damage to equipment and electronics.

UPSes are available in standby, line interactive and hybrid configurations. Standby models tap the battery in case of a power outage, and are usually used in smaller applications like homes or offices. Elevator power supply Line interactive models continuously feed power through a conditioner that charges and regulates it, so they’re good for industrial and commercial applications.

Generally, the UPS’s alternate power source is a sealed lead-acid battery or a flywheel. Both are available in a variety of sizes and have varying operating temperatures.

While the alternative power sources for most UPSes are batteries, there are also other types of alternate energy that are gaining market share. These include compressed air, which can tolerate higher and lower temperature levels than batteries.

A UPS’s inverter converts direct current output by the battery to alternating current, or AC power. The alternating current flows smoothly 60 times each second, so the inverter must replicate that power flow accurately. This is especially important for sensitive audio and medical devices that require pure AC power, as well as computer peripherals such as monitors.

The best UPSes also come with backlit screens to display information such as the current load, run time and battery charge status. They’re not expensive, and are a great way to ensure that you have the power you need for essential work or operations when the electricity goes out.

Another feature to look for is the presence of a user-replaceable battery. This allows you to replace the battery without having to buy a new UPS.

Lastly, be sure that the UPS’s inverter is compatible with the type of electronics it’s protecting. Some devices, such as medical or audio systems, may have a negative reaction to modified sine waves produced by inverters.

The KUP LIFT UPS, purpose-designed for lifts, features this protection along with cost-effective and easy installation and integration. It incorporates an intelligent braking system, using IGBT controllers to electronically absorb any back-fed regenerative energy from the lift during operation.

Automatic Rescue Device (ARD)

If your elevator’s mains power goes off, a Elevator power supply backup device called an automatic rescue device (ARD) comes into play. This device is designed to bring the elevator to the nearest floor landing and open its doors so that passengers can exit safely.

ARDs use battery backups to power the elevators during an electrical outage, and can be used for both single-phase and three-phase electric lifts. They also provide a way for occupants to escape the elevator if it’s on fire.

An ARD’s input power consists of an AC/DC converter that boosts the battery voltage to a high enough level to operate the elevator traction drive and elevator controls. It then provides a three-phase output that connects to the elevator system’s traction drive through a contactor.

This is then connected to a contactor that supplies the elevator controller, door motor control, and brakes. It is a simple design that prevents shorting of the elevator’s supply.

A ARD can be installed in any type of elevator, but it must be connected to a system that has a fail-safe braking mechanism. The ARD monitors the elevator’s electrical system and automatically shuts down if a mains power outage occurs, preventing the car from dropping down the hoistway or getting stuck between landing doors.

If an ARD can’t start the elevator, it sends a fault signal to the elevator controller. This causes the controller to release the motor drive brake and slowly bring the elevator to the nearest floor. Once at the landing, the door will open and an audio/visual indicator will inform occupants that they’re safe to exit.

An ARD can be designed with an AC/DC charger to charge the batteries, a DC/AC inverter to generate the elevator’s DC output, and a circuit that monitors the elevator’s mains input for blackout or single-phase conditions. Once these are detected, the circuit enables or disables the required power stages inside the ARD.

An ARD typically uses four 12v lead acid maintenance free batteries to provide the required power. Each battery can hold a different ampere hour rating based on the power requirements of the elevator.

Control Panel

A control panel is an electrical device that manages the electric system of industrial machinery. It consists of various components, including power supply circuitry, PLC/DCS programming boards and relay logic. These panels are usually used for controlling the motors in elevators and other machinery. They also act as a communication link between the elevators and the power management systems in the building.

A good control panel should have all the necessary features and functions to ensure smooth operation of an elevator. They also need to meet strict standards and codes for the buildings in which they are installed.

Elevator controls are also essential for keeping the elevators safe from fire and smoke. When a smoke detector at the designated floor goes into alarm, the control panel will automatically stop all elevators on that floor and bring them to the nearest landing. This protects the elevator motors and the building’s electrical system from fire or other hazards.

Another way to keep your elevators safe from fire and smoke is to install smoke detectors at each lobby landing and in the equipment room. When the smoke detector at a designated landing or in the equipment room goes into alarm, it will send a signal to the elevator control panel, which will automatically stop all elevators on that floor. This saves time and money for the building.

In addition, it can help you avoid rewiring when a fire occurs in the building. Rewiring can be expensive if the fire causes extensive damage to the elevators or electrical wiring.

You can also minimize the risk of fire and smoke by installing a control system that will automatically shut off the elevator when the emergency power switch is activated. This is a great option for large buildings that can’t afford to lose their elevators for long periods of time.

The elevator power supply will typically operate on a 110-volt alternating current (a.c.). However, you should be aware that it is possible to short-circuit control circuits if they are not properly wired and monitored.

The best option for your elevators is to use a modern elevator control panel that uses the latest technology. It will be durable and reliable. It will also have all the features you need to protect your elevators.