Electric lifts are devices or machines used to lower, raise and position work tables or platforms by means of electrical power such as a battery or motor. Electrical power utilizes electricity transferred by an electrical circuit to provide mechanical energy, such as the lifting motion, to components.
When powered by a conventional electric motor, electric lifts are generally less expensive than hydraulic lifts in the long run because they typically require less maintenance. Linear electric motors can be more expensive than hydraulic cylinders or motors, but they offer increased positioning accuracy. Electric lifts can be used in the same applications as can hydraulic lifts and are therefore utilized in a broad spectrum of industries including: industrial manufacturing, for material and load positioning in processing and assembly applications; medical, for applications such as wheelchair transportation and patient lifts; automotive, for vehicle lifts for cars, trucks, vans and sport utilities vehicles (SUVs); construction, for use in traveling cranes, fork lifts and truck lifts; and telecommunications, in which access to above ground locations such as telephone poles is essential. While hydraulic lifts are typically favored in industrial applications, electric lifts are popular in commercial and residential contexts.
Electric lifts are powered by means of either a battery or an electric motor. A battery consists of a combination of one or more electrochemical cells and provides energy by converting stored chemical energy into electricity. Battery-powered electric lifts are generally smaller and more often found in applications such as telephone jacks or automatic door openers than heavy-duty industrial applications. In addition, batteries have the disadvantage of being able to run out of power and having to be re-charged for further use. An electric motor differs from a battery in that its ability to convert electrical energy to mechanical energy from interaction between current-carrying conductors and magnetic fields. Electrical motors can run off on alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) energy, although DC is much more common. Electric motors vary in size, powering equipment sizes anywhere from household appliances and power tools to large ships and pipeline compressors, and they offer excellent energy efficiency. As a result, electric lifts that are powered by electric motors can be used in small or large applications, but they are overall better-suited for heavy-duty applications than battery-operated electric lifts. Often fitted with an emergency power source, electric lifts may be customized to better fit their intended application.
