Figuring out the right overhead hoist for your crane can be a mind-boggling experience. Navigating the vocabulary and the specifications for each type of hoist is confusing and frustrating.
However, depending on what it is you’re lifting, it’s possible to find the best overhead hoist for you!
Read on to take deeper dive at the specifications for different overhead hoists.
Which Type of Overhead Hoist Works for You?
Manual or electric?
The first decision to make is whether you’d prefer an electric or manual overhead hoist. To decide, take a look at what you intend to use it for.
If you’re using maintenance equipment, or you don’t anticipate using the hoist frequently, a manual hoist will be fine. There’s no reason to go through the expenses of using an electric hoist for such infrequent use.
Electric hoists are better suited for light equipment that needs more lifting. They can also come in various different speeds depending on what you need to use it for.
Electric hoists also offer smooth starts and stops along with the hoist motions. Load sway is limited, meaning wear and tear are generally reduced. Additionally, it also gives you more accuracy and precise loading.
Lifting medium
A lifting medium refers to what the lift actually uses to, well, lift! This can be wire rope or chain.
Some lifting medium hoists are a welded link load chain. This is exactly what it sounds like: different interwoven welded links. They’re manufactured to meet different recommendations and strength, meaning you may need a different hoist for different lifts.
You can also use a roller chain load, which you will have to interchange, and a wire rope.
Operation
An operation host refers to the amount of power needed to operate it. You can use manual power, electric power, or pneumatic.
Manual power will give you a hand chain, meaning you’ll be grabbing and pulling a long chain that’s suspended from the hoist.
If you use an electric one, you won’t have to pull. Instead, you’ll use a menu of buttons and levers to help you lift the object.
See above for more information regarding electric and manual hoists.
Pneumatic powered hoists are powered by a control device. You press a button or pull a lever that will help give energy to an air motor. This will help the object lift.
Suspension
This refers to the type of mounting used to suspend your hoist. They can be hook-mounted, lug-mounted, and trolley-mounted.
All of them are exactly as described. You’d use a hook-mounted suspension to suspend your hoist from a hook, a lug-mounted suspension to suspend it from a lug, and a trolley-mounted suspension to suspend from a trolley.
Conclusion
As you can see, not every overhead hoist will work for every job. Most of them are limited by manufacturer specifications and weight, among other things.
Having a variety of hoists is probably the best solution, but the one you choose and your method is a personal decision.
If you have any questions regarding hoists or industrial equipment, feel free to let us know!