Electrical hoists have continued to play a critical role in the manufacturing industry, and this can be attributed to the advancements in radio remote controls. Rather than rely on cable, electrical hoists are today operated using radio remote controls. Instead of sending out light signals, radio remote controls transmit radio waves to the receiver; hence, there is no need for cables. As a manufacturing facility intending to invest in electrical hoists, you need radio remote controls. However, with a myriad of brands out there, what radio remote controls should you buy? This article highlights the key capabilities you should look for in a radio remote control for electrical hoists.
Fail-Safe Operation
When operating an electrical hoist, operators must make sure they follow all safety precautions to avoid accidents. However, as mentioned earlier, electrical hoist receivers rely on radio signals transmitted from the remote controls. If the signal between the transmitter and the receiver is lost, then the hoist will continue to move, thereby exposing people and equipment to danger. Therefore, the fail-safe operation is necessary to prevent such an occurrence. It is made possible by "stay alive pulses" sent by the transmitter to the receiver. If the receiver on the electrical hoist loses sight of the stay alive pulses, the safety relay will drop and stop the hoist from moving further.
Control More Than One Hoist
Efficiency is the name of the game in the current manufacturing industry, and the faster you get work done, the better. While most radio remote controls are designed to operate on single electrical hoists, you need one that can control multiple hoists. It is a vital capability you should be looking for when in the market for a radio remote control. By controlling two electrical hoists with one radio remote control, it is easy for a single operator to handle hoisting operations in an entire facility with no problem. However, each electrical hoist should have its receiver for the radio to work on each hoist individually.
Dust Protected
The radio signals sent by the transmitter must be received by the receiver on the electrical hoists to complete a command. However, various factors can prevent these signals from reaching the receivers, and dust is an excellent example. It is especially the case for radio remote controls used in dusty manufacturing environments. For this reason, the radio of choice must be completely dust protected and have certification for that. Such protection ensures the operator continues to use the radio remote controls without worrying about signal interference.
