120v winch as a gantry crane - how to wire a controller?

[Noltz]

I was given a 120v 2000lb winch connected to a I-beam trolley from a buddy. He found it in a store he's leased, tells me it was used to lift product from the ground floor up a 12' mezzanine where it could be stored. It's now mounted on the I-beam in my hobby shop and I need to control this winch from the ground. It's got it's DPDT switch snapped into the side of it's plastic body. The winch itself looks a lot like this one but without the remote and by a different name. I'm guessing the switch just reverses hot and neutrals to the AC motor? Would it be practical to source some 12/6 SOOW and 3D print a handle to hold the OEM switch? Or is there a store-bought handle I could pick up and crimp/solder the controlling wires in? Or maybe a 3rd option? Sorry for the poor picture, it's the only one on my phone right now. I use the winch to lift heavy items in and out of my truck.

 

[The Cobbler]

a "winch" should not be used to replace a "Hoist"
they are different animals and can pose a risk of failure

 

[Walkers]

Plenty of switches on ebay, just find one in your configuration. Probably cost you 20 bucks.

 

[tarmy]

That is a strongarm winch. I have three of them and they are not design to lift a load like you are doing. I think mine are rated for 4K pulling a load…not lifting. Your call op but there are some risks with using it for that As the electric braking mechanism is not the same a how a lifting winch is set up. This is a hoist.

 

[nadogail]

IMHO, Your isn’t suitable for use as a hoist.

 

[Noltz]

So switch to something like this: https://www.ebay.ca/itm/314676785465

Or go used? https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1458064015045661?

Are these "winch style" cranes like this one also not supposed to be used as a hoist? Or are they significantly different from mine? I know mine was in use as a hoist for many years. I replaced the cable and then I used it for a year... I just wanted to make the controls safer.

 

[NDJ]

Well Garage Forum trends require you to have that winch and beam certified by 2 seperate P Eng that have worked at NASA and also designed load supporting mud huts for the 3rd world.
And dont you dare try to do anything that farmers have been doing for years.....

 

[Noltz]

Well Garage Forum trends require you to have that winch and beam certified by 2 seperate P Eng that have worked at NASA and also designed load supporting mud huts for the 3rd world.
And dont you dare try to do anything that farmers have been doing for years.....

I understand it. Are they hoists? No. Will it work? Yes. I've been using this one in this condition (with a new cable installed by me before I fitted it) to pull this press out, lift in a heavy furnace, and this afternoon to lift out a tractor implement. I never get under it. I lift, move the truck, and lower. I just wanted the controller farther away to be safer. I get that it's not the approved device. I don't think the these guys are any better yet they're marketed as overhead. They're certainly a lot cheaper than this winch. But wherever the discussion goes I've learned a lot from GJ so I intend to listen.

 

[LopezBart]

OSHA regs don't apply to you since you're not hired to do this job
If I were using this all the time, I'd look for a hoist; for "moving in", you'll likely get away with it. Brakes on hoists are critical, of course.

I found this somewhat useful: https://www.certifiedslings.com/the-difference-between-a-winch-and-a-hoist/
One cannot reverse a universal motor by reversing the input; you'll need to reverse the connection to the brushes... but since there's already a switch for that, just extend those wires... or put a DPDT relay in it and wire it so it's on for down.

- Bart

 

[dogdog]

Well Garage Forum trends require you to have that winch and beam certified by 2 seperate P Eng that have worked at NASA and also designed load supporting mud huts for the 3rd world.
And dont you dare try to do anything that farmers have been doing for years.....

I think one of the major differences is hoist have breaks that when the motor stops it doesn’t unwind and drops what ever you are winching upwards. Not too sure if that is a safety standard you need or taking a risk at….

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Well Garage Forum trends require you to have that winch and beam certified by 2 seperate P Eng that have worked at NASA and also designed load supporting mud huts for the 3rd world.
And dont you dare try to do anything that farmers have been doing for years.....

all jokes aside i sure you understand the inherent safety risks with using the wrong tool for the job

 

[dogdog]

I am not sure about other hoist motors, but the HF ones are PSC motors and you can reverse the motor by changing the way the capacitor connects to the two windings with the dpdt center off. That is exactly what that pendulum is and the cap is inside the pendulum.

The ac induction motor with centrifugal switch those are reversed by switch the starting coil to the L1 and L2

Not too sure about universal motors.

 

[My Old Tools]

I am not sure about other hoist motors, but the HF ones are PSC motors and you can reverse the motor by changing the way the capacitor connects to the two windings with the dpdt center off. That is exactly what that pendulum is and the cap is inside the pendulum.

The ac induction motor with centrifugal switch those are reversed by switch the starting coil to the L1 and L2

Not too sure about universal motors.

The caps are in the box under the motor, not in the pendant. I've been inside both recently. The pendant is 4 wire and easily extended.

 

[dogdog]

The caps are in the box under the motor, not in the pendant. I've been inside both recently. The pendant is 4 wire and easily extended.

That dependents in the size of the motor, the 880lb or 1200lb one I have is at the pendant.
Pretty sure about it, but will check later just for a and giggles

Wiring still the same switch, switch which coil the cap is in series with and it will go a different way.

 

[My Old Tools]

That dependents in the size of the motor, the 880lb or 1200lb one I have is at the pendant.
Pretty sure about it, but will check later just for a and giggles

mine is a 2k.

 

[dogdog]

mine is a 2k.

Is yours a centrifugal switched type motor (don’t remember the proper name atm) or psc ones ?

 

[My Old Tools]

Is yours a centrifugal switched type motor (don’t remember the proper name atm) or psc ones ?

It uses 2 capacitors. The pendant is just the switches. I'm not sure if uses both caps on each direction, one start and one run, or if it uses a single cap for each direction. No external centrifugal switch apparent.

 

[dogdog]

mine is a 2k.

There.. I looked into the link OP talked about... he has a DC motor on the winch.. not too sure... there are two diagrams on the last two pages of the user manual pages 7 of 8 on the winch he linked. Incoming power is changed to DC with a bridge rectifier, then two of the wire +/- goes to pendant and 2 for motor comes back to motor. +/- dependent on the switch... the pendant have one on/off switch then a regular DPDT switch.

this link he post on post #1

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000AX660/?tag=atomicindus08-20

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/C10NLrNWJsS.pdf

 

[dogdog]

It uses 2 capacitors. The pendant is just the switches. I'm not sure if uses both caps on each direction, one start and one run, or if it uses a single cap for each direction. No external centrifugal switch apparent.

Yeah I don't have your model to say yeah nay. usually figuring out what type of motor helps especially when it comes to reversing.

 

[PugetDude]

Didn't we have a thread a few years back where someone was using one of these winches to build a passenger elevator?