36 replies to this topic

[Brysie]

Hi All

 

I have the chance to buy a 3.5t clear lift Hanmecson hoist, for $1800. Comes with a 240 volt pump.

 

What are  peoples thoughts on value for money, compared to buying new, as I know there are a lot of brands out there these days, and prices do vary a lot. It will only be for occasional home use, so price Vs quality is a bit of factor for me. My understanding is it is a "workshop quality" older hoist.

 

Thanks

[Shiney005]

After googling around, I believe that most of the Chinese hoists are reliable. The commercial stuff is usually 3 phase as well. I went and had a look at an Autolift from Advance Auto Quip and was happy enough with what I saw to buy one.

Of course there is no reason why an older second hand one won't continue to run smoothly for decades to come. It is all about maintanence.

[yel327]

I'd still try and buy an Aussie made Molnar if you can. Only hassle is they are normally 3tonne for the cheaper used ones and often 3phase pump, and you need to find one near you as they are big and heavy and a PINA to transport long distances. Best also to get a professional to install and commission for you. Be careful of slab thickness too.

 

Is the $1800 installed or plus pickup/install?

 

I had a Tufflift 4 post parking hoist installed during the Covid period, and it is OK quality but it is still Chinese made and probably has far less stresses on it than a 2 post does. I also have a two post and bought the Aussie Molnar unit.

[Shiney005]

Slab wants to be 150mm.

[Brysie]

Thanks for the reply fellas, its only 20 minutes up the road from me, so thats part of my interest in it. I'll be installing it myself, if I go ahead with it. and putting down a bigger steel footprint as I'm pretty sure my slab will only be 100mm. What I meant earlier was for the amount of use I have for it I don't really want to spend a lot, if this one will be reliable, and it does come with a new single phase hydraulic pump as well.

 

Thanks

[Shiney005]

Sounds like the go.  A base plate similar to what is on the bottom of this one will let you get away with 100mm slab.  If there aren't any low powerlines, you might be able to move the whole thing standing up on a car trailer.

 

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[yel327]

Just remember too that many single phase ones will need a 15A outlet. You can’t just hodge up an adapter, you need a proper 15A GPO.

[LXCHEV]

Interesting timing. We just sold a 4 post Repco Molner that we’d had in storage for the last 20 years. It came out of a tech school originally, so was low use compared to a workshop one. I sold it on gumtree for $1,200. A guy rocked up from 2.5 hours away with a banana back style truck, and we winched it on in pieces fairly easily. Still hung over the back a few feet, so they’re definitely not the easiest things to transport.

[Brysie]

it's already pulled apart on a pallet. Thanks Byron i"ll check out my powerbox, i'm pretty sure I've got a 15amp circuit but I'll double check.

[Brysie]

That outrigger style may work well shiney. I'm going to check it out in the next couple days, and go from there

[yel327]

it's already pulled apart on a pallet. Thanks Byron i"ll check out my powerbox, i'm pretty sure I've got a 15amp circuit but I'll double check.

You need a 15A outlet. Most GPO circuits are 15A or 20A as they have a number of 10A outlets on them. However you can’t plug a 15A device into a 10A outlet - that is why the bigger earth pin is on it, to stop you doing it. The switch and the A & N pins are not rated for above 10A. I’ve seen plenty of foolish people bypass this by making up bodgy adapters, end result is melted GPO and in worst case a fire.

[Bigfella237]

~ However you can’t plug a 15A device into a 10A outlet - that is why the bigger earth pin is on it ~

 

There's also a 20A single phase outlet where all three pins are the wider variety (IE won't plug into a 15A outlet), very rarely seen though.

 

I seem to recall that you're only allowed one solitary 15A outlet on a domestic single phase supply, so if you already have a 15A circuit you may have used your quota already?

 

~ I’ve seen plenty of foolish people bypass this by making up bodgy adapters, end result is melted GPO and in worst case a fire.

Well, not the "worst" case...

 

[Toranamat69]

I have 2 x double 15 amp outlets on single phase domestic supply. 1 in each workshop. They were installed by a licenced sparky.

[yel327]

You can have a few but you’d be foolish to put a 15A outlet and multiple 10A ones on a 16A circuit. You’d ideally want a 20A circuit. BUT you also have to watch the cable used and how it is installed as in some circumstances 2.5mm2 TPS is only good for 12-13A. If it is in conduit in air it is 23A. And in all cases, if it is run touching other cables you are immediately de-rated. Moral is, it is not as simple as you might think. My advice would always to have a dedicated breaker and a dedicated 15A outlet for anything with a 15A plug, then you are always covered. If you are doing anything that is voltage sensitive use 4mm2 or 6mn2 cable.

[jpxu1]

Someone's made this lead up to power up a house/shed circuit using a generator during a power outage - plug it into the generator power outlet and into a power point!

 

I have 2 x 20 amp circuits (aircons) and several 15amp circuits (hoists, welders, compressor) in my shed. 15amp and above has to be a dedicated cable; ie. a single cable from a switchboard circuit breaker to one outlet (or hardwired to one appliance- usually aircon). You can have multiple circuits, you just can't run them all at once, which would be unlikely anyway.

I don't know anyone who welds up an exhaust while the vehicle is still being raised on the hoist! lol

 

Cheers,

JPXU1

[Bigfella237]

Someone's made this lead up to power up a house/shed circuit using a generator during a power outage ~

 

Yep, that's what it said, but they also said it has to be cross-wired (you have to swap the active and neutral wires in one of the plugs).

 

They also had an extension lead with a bayonet (B22) plug on one end that powered the lighting circuit!

 

~ You can have multiple circuits, you just can't run them all at once, which would be unlikely anyway. I don't know anyone who welds up an exhaust while the vehicle is still being raised on the hoist! lol

Well yeah, but you could easily have the air con(s) running, while hoisting a car, when your big-arse air compressor just happens to cut-in.

 

Plus you could add a couple of fridge / freezers to the circuit and if somebody switched on the electric kettle at the same time, all of a sudden you're pulling triple what the circuit was intended for!

[Toranamat69]

That makes me nervous just knowing that plug adaptor above exists.

[RallyRed]

I have often thought that the "requirement" for these single phase hoists to be on a 15amp cct is maybe more about having them on a dedicated circuit?

Maybe to assist in owner complaints of nuiscance tripping etc. i.e. make it easier for the vendor when dealing with warranty type issues ?

 

My thoughts are due to  -

1.

It's nearly  impossible to use them "continuously", as they only normally "work" in the hoisting operation, and just use gravity for the lowering operation.

A typical hoisting operation seems about the same time as a gravity lowering operation. Thus a 50% duty cycle would be max?

2.

We have 2 single phase units, a 2 post and a 4 post, neither of the motors have a full load current stated as being in excess of 12 amps. Sure there is some inrush current, but that applies to most motors hooked up to 240v.

3.

Even with a large 4wd on ours, the running / hoisting current never even gets near 10amps. ( more like 6 or 7 amps.)

 

Not for me to suggest anyone disregards the manufacturer/ vendor's requirements.

Happy to be corrected.

[yel327]

If the motor nameplate is 12A then it cannot be used on a 10A outlet. Remember on start a motor pulls multiples of rated current. The outlet sockets and switch won’t handle it.

In Bigfella’s scenario the circuit breaker would trip.

[Rockoz]

I have often thought that the "requirement" for these single phase hoists to be on a 15amp cct is maybe more about having them on a dedicated circuit?

Maybe to assist in owner complaints of nuiscance tripping etc. i.e. make it easier for the vendor when dealing with warranty type issues ?

 

My thoughts are due to  -

1.

It's nearly  impossible to use them "continuously", as they only normally "work" in the hoisting operation, and just use gravity for the lowering operation.

A typical hoisting operation seems about the same time as a gravity lowering operation. Thus a 50% duty cycle would be max?

2.

We have 2 single phase units, a 2 post and a 4 post, neither of the motors have a full load current stated as being in excess of 12 amps. Sure there is some inrush current, but that applies to most motors hooked up to 240v.

3.

Even with a large 4wd on ours, the running / hoisting current never even gets near 10amps. ( more like 6 or 7 amps.)

 

Not for me to suggest anyone disregards the manufacturer/ vendor's requirements.

Happy to be corrected.

 

I have seen quite a few electrical installations over the years that in technical terms were wired according to the rules.

However, in terms of being useable or fit for purpose they left a lot to be desired.

New rules means that the limitations on the number of outlets on a circuit are all but gone.

Instead, the rating of the breaker protects the installation.

Cant keep increasing the fuse size as used to happen all too frequently in years gone by.

And with trades being screwed on price by builders more and more, the trades will find the cheapest way to get the required number of outlets.

 

I stopped doing domestic work as much as possible a very long time ago.

Any jobs I did do, were done to my standards and pricing.

Didnt care that I didnt win many jobs on price.

But loved listening to the tales of woe when a cheaper job won, and the owners werent happy with the lack of ability to use what they wanted to.

 

Cheers

 

Rob

[RallyRed]

p.s. my hoist is on a dedicated cct.

[mick_in_oz]

I've just installed a second hand Powerrex 2900 Hoist, 2 Post, 4T, Clear Floor, motor on the hydraulic pack is rated at 1.5KW.

Depending on the hydraulic pack fitted to that hoist, you might not "need" a 15A outlet.

[claysummers]

I got a 15A circuit after a few years of doing it dodgy brothers on the mig. Was no big deal just get it done. No way would I be operating hoist and mig at the same time.

Sent from my SM-G781B using Tapatalk

[Shiney005]

Yeah, I had an adaptor on the farm for the mig, but every time I used it the lights would flicker down at the house.

[Brysie]

I ended up buying the hoist. Hopefully I'll get a chance to install it on the weekend.

 

I will also get a 15amp circuit installed, as the new motor is 12amp.