Elevator Power Supply Backup Systems

Elevators are a crucial part of any building and it is important to ensure that they operate properly even if the power supply fails. This is why a backup system is required in most buildings.

The problem is that elevator SMPSs and controllers are highly sensitive to fluctuations in power surges. These can destroy or disrupt their operation.

Power Surges

Surges are one of the most common problems that can arise with elevator power supplies. They are a brief spike in the electrical current that can cause damage to equipment. They can also disrupt the flow of electricity and cause overheating in appliances and other devices.

There are several reasons for surges, including local power grid issues such as faulty wiring, equipment breakdowns and downed power lines. These types of issues are unavoidable, but they can be avoided with regular electrical maintenance.

The most frequent causes of power surges are internal sources within your home or business, like electronic devices with motors and compressors that operate by switching on or off. These appliances and machines pull a lot of electricity and send excess power into your outlets, which overloads circuits and can cause serious damage to any electronics or other devices that are plugged in.

Faulty wiring is another common source of surges, especially in older buildings. It is important to inspect the wiring in your building regularly and keep an eye out for pests that may be nibbling on it. If you don’t find out about the problem quickly, it can be quite costly to repair.

Fallen trees or car accidents that take down transmission lines can also cause power outages. Similarly, animals, such as snakes and squirrels, can tamper with the transformers that serve your building, knocking them out of service and flooding the electrical system with excess electricity.

Lightning is also a major cause of power surges, but it can be much less common than the other types of surges. While lightning does not directly impact your power supply, the strong electromagnetic field it creates can induce electrical surges that will wreak havoc on your facility’s telecommunications and power systems.

The right commercial surge protection can minimize the effects of these fluctuations, so that you can continue operating safely and efficiently without any interruptions or delays. A professional can help determine the best surge protection solution for your business.

Intermittent Issues

A sudden power failure can disrupt your elevator cabs and affect the safety of passengers. From extreme weather conditions to technical grid and distribution problems, there are many factors that can cause your equipment to shut down.

Regardless of the cause, this can be an extremely stressful experience for people using your lift. A power outage can also cause damage to your lift, requiring extensive repairs and replacements.

It’s important to have your elevator system inspected regularly by a licensed elevator repair technician. This will help catch issues early, saving your building from costly repairs.

One of the easiest ways to spot an issue is with infrared thermography. This process will allow a technician to identify drastic temperature changes and faulty components in your elevator motor.

Another way to spot an issue is with a power quality survey. This can be done by an elevator service company and will ensure that the voltage being pushed through your system is clean and safe for your lifts overall equipment effectiveness.

A power quality survey can help to identify any faults in your system, such Elevator power supply as excessive voltage inputs, fuses that are running hot, or a poor earthing system. It can also help to find any issues that may be causing your elevator motors to lose phases.

Elevator SMPSs and controllers are designed to handle fluctuating power, but the occasional issues can still cause damage and compromise the equipment’s ability to function correctly. A good quality, agile power backup system will protect your lifts from these issues and enable them to be restored quickly after an emergency.

Intermittent issues can be caused by a number of factors including power surges, electrical shorts, and even a change in the building’s electric utility voltage. It’s important to make sure that your elevator SMPS and controllers have proper circuit protection fuses and circuit breakers, as these features will help to protect your equipment from any potential issues.

It’s also important to check the condition of your sheaves. Worn sheaves will place extra wear on the hoist ropes, which can cause them to fail prematurely. Regrooved sheaves can help to prevent this from happening, so be sure to inspect your sheaves and groove profiles regularly.

Battery Mode

Battery mode in elevator power supplies can be a great feature for those who live in areas where there are frequent power outages. It allows your elevator to continue working up and down for about 30-40 cycles during a power outage.

During normal operation, the power supply system of an elevator includes a number of parts that convert AC to DC and then store it in batteries. In addition, the system also has an emergency power generating device that generates electricity during a power failure and supplies it to the elevator control devices.

According to the present invention, the power supply system of an elevator has a simplified structure. Instead of using three sets of converters and inverters, the present invention only uses two sets. In this way, the efficiency of this system is greatly improved.

The first set of converters and inverters consists of an AC-DC converter 2 that converts commercial power to DC, and an AC-DC inverter 3. This system also has an additional circuit that provides power feedback to the commercial power side during normal operation.

After the commercial power is supplied, the AC-DC inverter 3 converts the DC power into frequency-variable AC power. This power is supplied to motor 4, which is driven by the elevator system’s counterweight.

When the AC-DC inverter 3 has finished converting the power to AC, it outputs the converted electric power via contacts NP of the power source monitoring relay 1. The battery charger 6 is disconnected from the elevator’s power line and connected to the motor’s DC link. This DC link is controlled by the voltage of the battery, and the motor is driven with the help of the power from the battery until it reaches the cage’s nearest story.

The second set of converters and inverters mainly consists of a converter switch circuit 38 that converts the stored AC power from the battery to the control voltage for the elevator’s elevator control devices. A step-up transformer 40 is connected to the input side of the converter switch circuit 38 and supplies the control voltage from the converted electric power for the elevator’s elevator control devices.

Backup System

The backup system, also known as the automatic rescue device (ARD), is a safety feature designed to prevent people from being stuck inside an elevator car when the mains power is shut off. Using fail-safe braking systems, the ARD stops the elevator car as soon as the mains power is shut off to prevent the elevator from falling down the hoist way or getting stuck between landing doors.

Elevator backup systems are designed to provide at least 90 minutes of battery support. This requires a load capacity that is large enough to handle not only the normal operating current but also the peak/inrush current of the elevator and any attached accessories, such as fans. This allows the batteries to have proper heat dissipation and ensures that the unit has a long lifespan.

Often, the load capacity of an elevator UPS is custom-built to the specific elevator. This is because every elevator has different loads, such as the number of floors, size, speed, etc.

Another consideration is the battery life of the UPS, which is usually three to seven years. This can be determined by comparing the number of cycles that the unit is capable of during a power outage.

In addition to providing a long life span, the backup system for an elevator must be able to detect when the utility power is Elevator power supply lost and send a signal to the control panel. This is typically done with a dry contact board that is included in the backup system.

The elevator battery backup system is a vital safety feature, especially for multistory buildings. As a result, many building codes are increasingly enforcing the requirement to have the ability to safely recall and operate an elevator in a power outage.

In the case of a utility power outage, the elevator emergency backup system transfers from utility to battery mode within 15-20 seconds. The battery inverter starts charging the batteries and converts the three phase input into three phase output. The traction drive is then fed from the inverter, enabling it to run during a power outage.