Anyone got experience in Maintenance on Stairlifts?

Alan McMaster · Jun 11, 2018

Could be starting a new position with a stair lift company and wanting to know of anyone with experience in this sector to maybe give me some pointers. From what I have gathered there is 3 main PCBs that control the lifts, inverter for speed control and then motors and limit switches. Probably a lot more to it but these I would think would be the main issues.

Never really worked with PCBs before and there is training provided at the beginning, but Id like to get a headstart and get some learning in now so Im not just a nodding dog. Any references, books, videos or advice Im open to all suggestions.

Ive worked with motors and limit switches before, I can setup basic programs in Inverters and read fault codes from them, however its the PCBs that could be scary due to lack of knowledge.

Thanks in advance

Adam W · Jun 11, 2018

Chances are it's just a case of replacing the PCB depending on what the fault is, just as if your graphics card started playing up you'd just take it out and put a new one in instead of getting the multimeter and soldering iron out.

Alan McMaster · Jun 11, 2018

Been told I have to know why im replacing it and that would suggest testing the components? I would think its as simple as measuring across them and getting the resistance and checking against acceptable values?

They repair the PCB back at the workshop so it is just a matter of swapping them, but diagnosing the fault will be one my tasks so as to help speed up the repair by pin pointing the faulty component?

ruston · Jun 11, 2018

Usually the micro and limit switches are the first culprits to give problems . There are quite a few of them .
As Adam says a suspect PCB would not likely be repaired on the job.
I have only repaired a few and am no expert on various models .

Wilko · Jun 11, 2018

Hi Alan and welcome to the Forum. With any luck they'll have some training material for you and someone to work with too

. Good luck with getting the job !

Alan McMaster · Jun 11, 2018

thanks for the welcome. Yeah have a few weeks training to begin with but want to impress as much as possible to stay in the job and to get out and about as soon as possible. Thanks for the replies as well.

Spoon · Jun 11, 2018

Don't worry about the PCB's. IMO they should have a maintenance manual telling you what outputs you should have and where on the PCB. This will tell you what is faulty.

Spoon · Jun 11, 2018

If you Google 'stair lift pcbs' you can look at some of the pbs's out there. Like this one.

[ElectriciansForums.net] Anyone got experience in Maintenance on Stairlifts?

Octopus · Jun 11, 2018

Is this a full time role?

Alan McMaster · Jun 11, 2018

thanks for the link, and yes full time role. Should get proficient in it through training and experience.

Octopus · Jun 11, 2018

Just be wary of the area you will be expected to cover .

My late mother had a chair lift and when it stopped working the service company were a nightmare - rarely achieving their response times ....

Marvo · Jun 11, 2018

You won't be expected to work down to component level on control boards. You just need a wiring diagram that shows you the inputs and outputs and those would be what you'd be testing to establish if it needs replacement.

Deleted member 26818 · Jun 11, 2018

Don’t like them, drive me up the wall.

timbobelfast · Jun 12, 2018

Alan McMaster said:
Could be starting a new position with a stair lift company and wanting to know of anyone with experience in this sector to maybe give me some pointers. From what I have gathered there is 3 main PCBs that control the lifts, inverter for speed control and then motors and limit switches. Probably a lot more to it but these I would think would be the main issues.

Never really worked with PCBs before and there is training provided at the beginning, but Id like to get a headstart and get some learning in now so Im not just a nodding dog. Any references, books, videos or advice Im open to all suggestions.

Ive worked with motors and limit switches before, I can setup basic programs in Inverters and read fault codes from them, however its the PCBs that could be scary due to lack of knowledge.

Thanks in advance

Normally if a PCB is knackered it is replaced from my point of view. Unless you are proficient with diagnosing, selecting and soldering the correct components like capacitors, psu, bridge rectifiers etc. The chances of doing this in someones house with workshop like equipment is unlikely.

Spoon · Jun 12, 2018

I very much doubt you will be responsible for changing components on these boards. By the looks of them, most of the components are surface mounted. Something that, if needs changing is better done in the right conditions, not in some ones home.