1 more lift question

[danieldolin]

So my 4 post lift will be installed next week, Bendpak HD-9ST. I would like to error on the side of safety, and if my lift raises too high my car will be in the ceiling. I know many people put in kill switches, either manual or rig and automatic kill switch to prevent such things or unwanted lift operation. I am not an electrician nor do I want to pretend to be one or hire one for that matter.

My question is, and I know this is terrible, can I just use a high quality contractors power strip / surge protector to accomplish this kill switch?... Just mount a power strip on the wall near the lift and plug it in. I am getting the 110v motor with the lift.

I know I will probably get torn up on this board for that question but really it seems like the most simple solution to me to still have a safety off switch when not in use or for emergency power kill.

 

[metaleltr]

If the power strip is rated for at least the draw of the motor it would work.

 

[danieldolin]

^^^ Anyone know what the draw of the Bendpak 110v motor is?

 

[darkk]

That info should be right on the motor plate.

 

[danieldolin]

Anyone have the 110V Bendpak motor that can answer the above?

 

[darkk]

You can't use a power strip, It will not be rated high enough.The motor tag has all the info you need. The the tag will have the *AMP* draw listed on it. Here is a photo of my tag for reference. As you can see mine is 17 AMPS draw. Yours will most likely be different because it's 115 vac motor. Just go to Home Depot or Lowes and ask for a power switch and box combo with these minimum requirements and wire your power wire through the switch then into the motor.

 

[Milton Shaw]

A safety switch would be installed on the ceiling to stop the car going any higher when it hits the switch. the ones I have seen have a padded bar that contacts the roof of the vehicle and turns the lift of. Of course if you have the hood up it would hit first instead. All the power strips I have seen would not be enough amps for the hoist motor.

 

[danieldolin]

A safety switch would be installed on the ceiling to stop the car going any higher when it hits the switch. the ones I have seen have a padded bar that contacts the roof of the vehicle and turns the lift of. Of course if you have the hood up it would hit first instead. All the power strips I have seen would not be enough amps for the hoist motor.

I ordered a 15 amp power strip from amazon made by a company called tripp lite. It has three plugs and even a plastic cover that goes over the switch. I confirmed with another member that has the 110v Bendpak motor that the plate indicates the motor is 15 amps. If it does not work, I can still use the power strip for my compressor and other things around the garage. I started another thread to try to find a member with a 110v motor and posted a pic of the power strip I got here:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=152992&goto=newpost

Hopefully it will work!... if not, I will just plug it into the wall and yank the plug in case of emergency.

 

[akdiesel]

It would be nice to have a kill switch for hight restriction but you could simply raise your lift to you maximum hight and take your tallest vehicle hight and use some tape to mark you limits on the posts as a reference. Allow for about 2" to raise to clear the locks.

 

[danieldolin]

It would be nice to have a kill switch for hight restriction but you could simply raise your lift to you maximum hight and take your tallest vehicle hight and use some tape to mark you limits on the posts as a reference. Allow for about 2" to raise to clear the locks.

this is exactly what I plan to do, I wanted to be able to kill power in case of malfunction, or when I am not using the lift.

 

[darkk]

I ordered a 15 amp power strip from amazon made by a company called tripp lite. Hopefully it will work!... if not, I will just plug it into the wall and yank the plug in case of emergency.

sigh.......

 

[UPSHIFT]

sigh.......

Darkk,

I would mount a electrical disconnect to kill the power in case the switch sticks. As a second precaution I would wire in a garage door opener kill switch to kill the power to the motor if the car gets within 2" of the ceiling, similar to the one that stops a garage door opener if any kids run under it. ?? My 2 cents . Gabe

 

[Cryptic1911]

Me? I'd just keep a bungee cord handy if the switch gets stuck. Just wrap it around the release lever, and it won't raise up anymore. Calmly walk over to the breaker, and shut it off. no fancy wiring, unplugging anything, or power strips

 

[danieldolin]

Me? I'd just keep a bungee cord handy if the switch gets stuck. Just wrap it around the release lever, and it won't raise up anymore. Calmly walk over to the breaker, and shut it off. no fancy wiring, unplugging anything, or power strips

This would work too, but If the power strip works, I want to go with that... This way I can leave the power to the lift switched off unless I am using it. This prevents any potential malfunction of the lift motor and raising my car up through my ceiling. If the power strip does not work, I will simply unplug the lift when not in use. I will report back once installed to let you guys know if a 15amp power strip works.

 

[darkk]

haha...you must really be afraid of your new (incoming) lift.

 

[Matt M PA]

I installed a 30AMP double pole switch...looks like a (wall light switch) on the side of my HD9 where the box is. I used an outside wet location box (painted black) and a wet location switch cover....as my kill switch.

My HD9 is 240V, but you could do something similar by using a different switch for the 120.

My lift is hard wired with a box mounted to the wall.

If you're not up to the task or uncomfortable with doing this electrical work...I'd suggest having an electrician put the switch in. If you're concerned enough about needing a kill switch...isn't it cheap insurance to have it done?

I also don;t know if the 120V HD9s use a plug or need to be hardwired. If the pulg isn't going to reach an outlet...have a new one put in. After all the investment in the lift...why not do it right?

 

[danieldolin]

haha...you must really be afraid of your new (incoming) lift.

I am not affraid of the lift, but rather the posts on here about failing micro switches inside the motor and sticky power buttons... My garage is not tall enough for the lift to rise to full height w/o putting my car into the roof, so a failed micro switch or sticking power button could cause a huge problem for me.

Again, I am not an electrician and do not want to try to wire a switch myself. If the power strip idea does not work, I will do what Matt M suggests and hire one to build / install a kill switch for me. Maybe I can find an electrician who also does pluming work, been meaning to get an outdoor water faucet replaced for a couple years now That lets you know how quick I am to call a handyman...