I have a 4 post lift and would like to make a fail safe stop switch to prevent the vehicle from hitting the ceiling. I was think something could be made using garage door safety eyes. Does anyone have an idea how to do this? The lift motor is 220v. Is there anything already pre-made to do this?
4 post lift fail safe
- Thread starter pdave
- Start date
whateg01
Well-known member
go check the thread about not opening the garage door when the lift is in the air.
jack stand
Well-known member
There must be a way electrically with eyes, relays, but is this a personal lift and is it really that difficult to simply measure your 3-4? vehicles and put a mark on a post visible from the switch for any vehicle that's tall enough to hit the ceiling before the lift tops out?
I completely understand your needs if this is a commercial application with many different height vehicles.
I completely understand your needs if this is a commercial application with many different height vehicles.
Ole Slewfoot
Well-known member
I'd look at repurposing a driveway alert, or do something with a string.
motorcycle79
Well-known member
I think some type of warning light or buzzer would be better. I have had a couple cars close to the ceiling on the lift and get distracted working on it and the next thing I know I jack the car into the ceiling.
I marked the high spot for the lift with tape, one of the first jobs I did had the car to tape height, didn't expect to, but ended up having to jack it up. No problem. Then I wanted to lower it to get access to something else while jacked up. To lower it you first have to raise it. **** I crunched the roof very slightly. In my defense my mom was having health problems a d we were deciding whether to take her to the hospital. My phone was going off with a text from a brother or sister every thirty seconds and I wanted to get the job done and check on my mom.
Anyway I was thinking of a bell or alarm to. I did end up buying pool noodles, cutting them in half, and taping them to the bottom of the trusses above the lift. My bell or alarm would not have helped if I had based it on lift height instead of car height. A garage electric eye is an interesting idea. Even if you just rigged it to flash a bright light or sound an alarm, which would be a little simpler than stopping the lift.
Anyway I was thinking of a bell or alarm to. I did end up buying pool noodles, cutting them in half, and taping them to the bottom of the trusses above the lift. My bell or alarm would not have helped if I had based it on lift height instead of car height. A garage electric eye is an interesting idea. Even if you just rigged it to flash a bright light or sound an alarm, which would be a little simpler than stopping the lift.
Last edited:
whateg01
Well-known member
More reason for an automated method.
CraigStu
Well-known member
So you are saying the OPs is not a quality lift? That is helpful.
Two Speed
Well-known member
I read it as; check your lift if its got at least provisions for a limit switch. And quality is subjective; ltf may draw the line at limit switches. Some people get bent out of shape about Harbour Freight tools...
finn
Well-known member
My 10k BendPac two post asymmetric has a cable and micro switch strung so the vehicle doesn’t strike the crossbar. I imagine this would be easy to duplicate. The micro switch is wired into one leg of the electric feed to the 240 v motor, so, if it trips, the motor stops.
The four post Advantage has no such feature, though. I suspect the 2 post Bendpac has the limit switch to protect the crossbar more than to protect the car.
The four post Advantage has no such feature, though. I suspect the 2 post Bendpac has the limit switch to protect the crossbar more than to protect the car.
Last edited:
BruceMc
Well-known member
Like others, I have the lift marked for my various vehicles, but I also have a panic/paddle switch wired up by the controls. It should be pretty simple to modify and rig something similar up on the ceiling as well. The only catch would be how to reset it with the vehicle up against it.
whateg01
Well-known member
Easy. Set it so it stops low enough to allow for slight raising to get off the stops. Then use a manual override button to allow that small movement. That's assuming gravity down. If you have something that power up and power down, you wire it so it interrupts the up but doesn't affect the down.
A four post lift doesn’t have nothing across it over the top to put limit switches on it would guess.
A two post lift typically has a bar going across the top.
I use tape to mark the max height. However, since I use the lift for three different cars I have three tape lines marked with the various vehicle types. When I had a 10 ft ceiling I installed a spring loaded arm on the ceiling that when triggered would set off a small buzzer. I set this at 5 inches from the ceiling since a Bendpak lift needs to be raised to release the brakes before lowering. As my line of sight using the up switch didn't allow me to see how close the car was the ceiling, this provided a safe backup. Now that I have 13' in my new garage, I haven't needed to install the switch.
I dunno, my lift manual is pretty clear about "pay careful attention to overhead clearances", so I do.
Final step of my manual after installation is "All lift operators have read this manual", so I did.
"Lift to be used by trained operator ONLY", so I am, and I trained my wife as well. Some things you just shouldn't automate.
For convenience I've marked max heights for my vehicles with labels on the power unit post. If you can't focus on the raising and lowering, then walk away until you are focused.
Final step of my manual after installation is "All lift operators have read this manual", so I did.
"Lift to be used by trained operator ONLY", so I am, and I trained my wife as well. Some things you just shouldn't automate.
For convenience I've marked max heights for my vehicles with labels on the power unit post. If you can't focus on the raising and lowering, then walk away until you are focused.
Walkers
Well-known member
Duct tape a jar of habanero hot sauce to the ceiling. If a car gets up too far it crushes the jar, spraying you with habanero sauce causing you to let go of the lift lever as your hands try to save your scorching face. You will likely only do that once.
RPH
Well-known member
Try this, it requires a reflector to return the beam. Senses over 23 foot between unit and reflector. Not cheap but good controls are an investment.
05snopro440
Well-known member
You hit it on the head. People seem to forget that lifts are dangerous pieces of equipment that should be treated with respect. Not just because of possible damage to cars but also for possible injury to people.
I inspect mine per the manual and have trained my wife to run it, with the express direction that she was trained in case she needs to help me, either working on something or for safety.
While having something as a final fail-safe is fine, relying on something mechanical every time you lift it just allows complacency. Akin to relying on backup sensors and not paying attention to the mirrors in your car.
If you can't lift the car respecting the dangers of the task you're undertaking, don't do it.
Chilliwack Murray
Well-known member
My 2 post has this cable between the posts attached to the power switch mechanism. The mechanism is a little complicated but you could easily attach to a second switch wired in series.
On a 4 post you could probably go diagonally between the posts.
On a 4 post you could probably go diagonally between the posts.