Tips for Using an Electric Hoist

by admin on January 5, 2011

An electric hoist is a tool that can turn lifting even the heaviest objects into a simple task that requires little muscle work from you. There are many types of electric hoists available, with sizes ranging from industrial that can lift several tons to portable that can lift just a few hundred pounds.

Benefits of Electric

There are three main types of hoists available with manual and electric hoist being the most popular. Air hoists are also widely available but may not be as cost effective as an electric chain hoist. Electric hoists are simple to use. All you need to do is plug the hoist into the nearest outlet and you are ready to go to work. There is no ratcheting to lift your items at all since the electric power does the heavy lifting for you. Electric lifts are also available in many sizes so you can choose the one that is right for your personal needs easily.

The size of your electric hoist should reflect the heaviest objects that you need to lift, but should also be a size that fits into the space you have available. It is tempting to simply purchase the largest hoist available within your budget but some of these devices are rather large and difficult to move. A portable hoist that works on electric power is a great choice for lifting items up to five hundred pounds. You can carry the hoist as needed in a truck and lift any object within its weight limit.

Lifting Motion

The lifting motion of your chain hoist is also important to think about. The lifting motion is how fast the hoist can lift a specific weight. You may think that a faster motion is better, but the truth is that it really depends on the items that you plan on moving. For instance, you probably don’t want to have the motor to your car accidently dropped when the hoist was moving too quickly. A slower, smooth lifting motion is ideal when using an electric hoist.

You need to purchase your electric hoist based on the maximum weights to be lifted to ensure the proper lifting motion. If you try lifting an extremely heavy item with a lightweight hoist you may find that the machine simply can’t get the job done. Along with the lifting motion you also need to consider the voltage used. The voltage will also depend on the electrical connections that you have available within your power system. The most common voltages are 230 volts and 208 volts.

Using Your Hoist

Using your electric hoist is simple. You connect the item that you need to lift using a chain. The chain typically has hooks that connect to the chains or to the item that is being lifted but there are several variations to choose from concerning the chain configuration. You will find that a hoist makes heavy lifting look easy. You can move any weight object with the right hoist.

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