Tony Shelton
BS Detector, Esquire
Now that we are back to using more guys in the field the lift is only making it through half days sometimes.
Here's what we have now:
4 of these:
<tbody>
<th width="33" rowspan="2" bgcolor="999999"> BCI Grp # </th><th width="58" rowspan="2" bgcolor="999999"> Interstate Type </th><th width="37" rowspan="2" bgcolor="999999"> Amp Hours
@ 20 hrs. </th><th colspan="2" bgcolor="999999"> RC
(Min.) </th><th width="56" rowspan="2" bgcolor="999999"> Warranty (Mo.) </th><th colspan="2" bgcolor="999999"> Hrs. at Ampere Load </th><th colspan="3" rowspan="2" bgcolor="999999"> Dimensions (in.)
L | W | H </th><th width="40" rowspan="2" bgcolor="999999"> Weight
(lbs) </th><th width="75" rowspan="2" bgcolor="999999"> Terminal </th>
<th width="23" align="center" bgcolor="999999"> @ 75A </th><th width="32" bgcolor="999999"> 5 amps </th><th width="32" bgcolor="999999"> 15 amps </th>
</tbody>
With these four batteries the lift can go full cycle up and down, set and unset about 18 times with two guys in it.
We have days in big office complexes where it would be nice to be able to do twice that.
The only (almost) sure way to keep it going all day is to plug it into the generator after the first hour and keep it running like that all day. Even then, sometimes it starts acting up by the end of the day.
I'm looking for some alternatives. I know I will never be able to completely shed the batteries because I need a backup in case the primary power goes down. BUT I'd really like to be able to run off a gasoline engine that I can start and stop when I need to move the lift while having the batteries only for emergency use. This would greatly increase the life of the batteries (currently I'm having to buy new ones annually) and I have an engine start circuit already wired into the lift controls so I could start the engine up to move and shut it off while we are working on the roof IF I can find the right power combination.
So to summarize I'd like to buy/build a gas engine powered 24 volt DC generator that can produce the amperage needed to run (not charge) the beast. I'd like to use the existing motor start/stop line that is already in the bucket to start when I'm ready to go up and shut off while we're on the roof to save fuel, then start back up when we need to come down. (I don't know what I'm going to do about the choke though.)
First: What do I need to duplicate the power of these 4 - 6v batteries?
I know it's 24 volt DC but what kind of Amps do I need?
Is there anything out there that is made for this sort of thing? Biljax thinks I'm crazy for even suggesting it. They won't answer any more questions on the phone because the lift is out of warranty now. (Last one I'll ever buy from them)
How much engine do I need?
Where can I get what I need?
Help!
Here's what we have now:
4 of these:
@ 25A | ||||||||||||
GC-2 | U2200 | 232 | 474 | 122 | 6 | 54.5 | 14.0 | 10-1/4 | 7-1/8 | 11-1/4 | 62 | 2 options: threaded stud over auto post OR auto post w/ hole |
<tbody>
<th width="33" rowspan="2" bgcolor="999999"> BCI Grp # </th><th width="58" rowspan="2" bgcolor="999999"> Interstate Type </th><th width="37" rowspan="2" bgcolor="999999"> Amp Hours
@ 20 hrs. </th><th colspan="2" bgcolor="999999"> RC
(Min.) </th><th width="56" rowspan="2" bgcolor="999999"> Warranty (Mo.) </th><th colspan="2" bgcolor="999999"> Hrs. at Ampere Load </th><th colspan="3" rowspan="2" bgcolor="999999"> Dimensions (in.)
L | W | H </th><th width="40" rowspan="2" bgcolor="999999"> Weight
(lbs) </th><th width="75" rowspan="2" bgcolor="999999"> Terminal </th>
<th width="23" align="center" bgcolor="999999"> @ 75A </th><th width="32" bgcolor="999999"> 5 amps </th><th width="32" bgcolor="999999"> 15 amps </th>
</tbody>
With these four batteries the lift can go full cycle up and down, set and unset about 18 times with two guys in it.
We have days in big office complexes where it would be nice to be able to do twice that.
The only (almost) sure way to keep it going all day is to plug it into the generator after the first hour and keep it running like that all day. Even then, sometimes it starts acting up by the end of the day.
I'm looking for some alternatives. I know I will never be able to completely shed the batteries because I need a backup in case the primary power goes down. BUT I'd really like to be able to run off a gasoline engine that I can start and stop when I need to move the lift while having the batteries only for emergency use. This would greatly increase the life of the batteries (currently I'm having to buy new ones annually) and I have an engine start circuit already wired into the lift controls so I could start the engine up to move and shut it off while we are working on the roof IF I can find the right power combination.
So to summarize I'd like to buy/build a gas engine powered 24 volt DC generator that can produce the amperage needed to run (not charge) the beast. I'd like to use the existing motor start/stop line that is already in the bucket to start when I'm ready to go up and shut off while we're on the roof to save fuel, then start back up when we need to come down. (I don't know what I'm going to do about the choke though.)
First: What do I need to duplicate the power of these 4 - 6v batteries?
I know it's 24 volt DC but what kind of Amps do I need?
Is there anything out there that is made for this sort of thing? Biljax thinks I'm crazy for even suggesting it. They won't answer any more questions on the phone because the lift is out of warranty now. (Last one I'll ever buy from them)
How much engine do I need?
Where can I get what I need?
Help!