What’s most enjoyable about heading into the archives room is the sense of history of thousands of job files cataloged. We have two locations where we keep our older job files. The first room has four vertical olive green metal cabinets. Each cabinet has five shelves with ten to fifteen 4” three ring binders from back in the day. Each binder has a company name on it and is filled with thin pieces of paper with job records on them. There have to be close to 1000 jobs in each binder.

If it’s a really old job, we’ve got another room that has file cabinets with thousands of job cards that date back to the 1910’s -1930’s. The smell of thumbing through these cards and folders brings me back to the days when I’d explore books in the library. It’s one of those smells that you just never forget.

The attached job file was for a customer who wanted to update the star wheel selector system. From the serial number he gave me I was able to find the following information.

1. Serial Number: 22602
2. Job Record File: 1931
3. Installer of Elevator: S. Heller
4. Location of Elevator: Milwaukee, WI
5. Serial Number of Wiring Diagram
6. Type of Fixtures/Selector System Used.

Again, it’s amazing the records we still have on file. While all current projects are archived both on paper and electronic format I wonder what it will be like in another 100 years when people are still calling wanting information on old C.J. Anderson Elevator installations. Whether it’s like for like or parts for an old system, C.J. Anderson continues to provide wiring diagrams and certain parts for years to come!

ARC Retiring Cam – MCP – Maintenance Control Plan

• Lubricate at least once a month plunger shaft and all pivot points. You may need to lubricate more often if the equipment is located in a very demanding, both physical and environmental location. i.e. Outdoor, exposed to the elements
• When elevators sit for extended periods of time and are in locations where they are exposed to the elements you’re going to find that corrosion is going to quickly set in.

We recommend a lanolin based lubricant for all of our products because it’s thick and it coats well. We call it a rust prohibitor, the trade name for it is FluidFilm. Cool thick stuff it’s actually used to coat the inside of ships to prevent corrosion from occurring. CJA sells the stuff in a Non Aresol pump bottle for $4.95 (as of 4/6/2010) and containes 3.5 oz. of the carmel colored coating. To order by part number reference 636-650.

By protecting as much equipment as you can you’ll ensure that you extend the life of your elevator equipment while at the same time preventing accidents from occuring due to equipment that may seize up and not function correctly.

Click the following link to view the ARC Retiring Cam Data Sheet: 790-501 – ARC Retiring Cam.PDF

We can prove this fact!  The percentage of our Annual Sales for replacement components for our  all of our fixtures is less than 1% of our total yearly sales!

Ask whomever is providing your fixtures what their percentage of replacement parts for installed fixtures is and see what their numbers are.  You might be saving money up front, but are you really saving money down the road?

As a building owner I’d prefer to pay a little more up front instead of having to pay for service calls throughout the year.  We’re in the business of manufacturing equipment that lasts, not on making money off equipment that breaks after it’s installed.

So consider more than just price. Consider serviceability, longevity and the owner of the elevator system.  Specify and make sure you’re getting the most reliable elevator equipment on the market today!  Choose C.J. Anderson & Company for your next fixture project and you’ll be glad you did!

The project mentioned in the attached letter was for some elevator pushbutton fixtures that were manufactured in about 2 days.  The project was drawn, approved and production started the same day.  There were five people involved with the project which truly made the difference. 

We often get phone calls from people telling us they’ll pay extra for quicker service which we always turn down. If we can get your material to you quicker we’re simply going to do it because we value you as a customer and don’t see it as an opportunity to pad our bank account.  

The team here at C.J. Anderson is here to help you what ever you need. From quick turn around times to custom fabrication, we’ve helped more companies over the last 100 years than most with this and we look forward to helping you.  Give us a call and see how we can assist with your next project at 1-800-252-1910!

The mechanic called letting me know that the controller was not running and hadn’t been for 14 months. After asking what inputs on the PLC were lit up he indicated he provided me the point numbers, which I was able to pull the original file and determine that the following were connected and working.

• SAFE  -  Safe to Run
• AUTO – Automatic Operation
• DOOR ZONE – Elevator at a Floor
• TSD – Top Slow Down Switch – Elevator At Top Floor

The missing two items that were preventing the elevator from running were the DGL and RCI Inputs.

• DGL – Door Gate Limit Contact
• RCI – Retiring Cam Circuit.

With the both front and rear doors closed DGL was not lighting up. Without this contact RCI would never pick and allow the elevator to run. With the retiring cam down as well the door lock contact was not made up.

Remember, free support goes a long way. I’m glad that the PLC wasn’t burned up and am happy that we were able to assist. Toll free support is something we’ve always provided and for all of our equipment.

***WARNING: Only licensed elevator technicians are to work on elevator and escalator equipment. If you do not knowwhat you’re doing you will seriously injure or kill someone or yourself! Elevators are EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! ****

I received a call yesterday from an elevator company wanting to add fire service to a controller we built back in 1984. I pulled the file and found that it was single speed AC soft start back in 1984. He didn’t want to mess around with an overlay and his line of thinking was right on as Fire Service Overlays can be a nightmare if a good set of prints can’t be found.

The original controller that was provided in 1984 was relay logic with a soft start.  It had an AC Motor and manual freight doors. Because it was so simple we were able to ad Fire Service features without having to use a PLC to run it. This is not always the case and typically we’re unable to add Fire Service without utilizing a PLC which does not fall within the criteria for a like for like elevator controller replacement.

Important things to remember when replacing like for like.

• Motor Control Must Remain The Same – Single Speed AC Motors or Two Speed AC Motors are typical for this kind of application.
• Speed of Elevator MUST be less than 100 FPM – Single Speed and less than 150 FPM – 2 Speed - Reason being is that the elevator is going to stop on the brake but have a smooth start up. Speeds higher than this will really give you a run for your money when setting up the leveling.
• Cannot Use PLC or VVVF Drive
• 2 Speed Motors work better than single speed motors
• The operation of the system must be single automatic
• Check with your local AHJ to make sure that they understand that this type of installation is considered a like for like replacement

The next time you consider an upgrading an outdated antiquated elevator, consider replacing the controller for a like for like system. PLC based controllers that are being built today have a life cycle of 10-15 years if you’re lucky. By removing the PLC from the equation you’ve doubled the life of your controller. Keep in mind that you won’t be improving the performance of the elevator but you will make it so that components can be purchased from local electrical distributors.

The original Controller has been working great for the last 25 years. Installing a like for like controller will easily give it another 25.

To get a price quote today http://www.cjanderson.com/controllerquoteform.aspx

Support Log/Tips For Future Projects:

Tip: If you have an older unit with a black box and have a board that’s dead, either master or slave, we recommend that you purchase a complete control box as this will minimize your repair time and you won’t need to rewire the boards to the sensors which when trying to do on top of an elevator is no picnic.