When it’s time to lift some heavy items around your job site, you might need a hoist to get the job done. Hoists are essentially used to lift and safely lower large and heavy loads.
To industries such as construction and vehicle maintenance, hoists are valuable and essential pieces of equipment. The common question contractors often ask is, is an electric hoist better than its manual counterpart?
Where does the Principle of Chain Hoists Come from?
Chain hoists were originally developed from the older wire or rope cable pulley configuration. In this type of configuration, the fixed pulleys enable the lifting direction of the wire rope hoist to be changed. In the modern version, the chain being pulled winds around the wheels and lifts the hoist that’s attached via a strong hook.
Electric Hoist vs Manual Hoist – Which is Better?
When it comes to deciding which type of hoist is better, it’s important to compare the two. It’s also important to assess the job that needs to be done to establish which one is better suited to your company’s requirements.
Let’s analyse the difference between these two hoist types as well as the benefits each one offers.
What is an Electric Hoist?
Commonly referred to as electric chain hoists, electric hoists make use of an electric motor and controller to move the chain to lift and lower heavy materials. With the controller, the user is also able to adjust the required speed of the hoist.
While electric hoists can be used for industrial purposes, they’re more suited to everyday use where a faster type of lifting is required. Some electric hoists can easily lift weights over 1000kgs.
Since they’re compact and boast a self-braking feature, their powerful design makes them firm favourites for frequent use around small workshops and even for home use.
Advantages of Using an Electric Hoist
Construction workers who use electrical hoists all agree that the biggest advantage to using an electric hoist is the speed at which lifting and lowering objects are done. Some of the other advantages include the following:
- Easy to use: Since electric hoists are so easy to use, it means less work is required to lift heavier loads.
- Considerably safer: Since you’re controlling the hoist with a control, it’s easier to carry the lift out more safely. This protects the load and the people using the hoist.
- Cheaper than cranes: Although electrical hoists are more expensive than manual hoists, they’re cheaper than cranes. They also don’t require the space a crane would need to get the hoisting done.
- Can lift huge loads: Some electric hoists can lift loads as heavy as 40kg’s while other more heavy-duty models can lift loads as heavy as several tons. These types of hoists are used in factories and warehouses.
- Wide range available: Many contractors offering electric hoists for hire have a wide variety of electric hoists in different sizes and features. This means, no matter what you need the hoist for, you’re guaranteed to find the right one.
- Easy to transport: Electric hoists also don’t take up a lot of space. It’s therefore easy to transport from one job site to another.
- Precision lifting: Electrical hoists ensure a steady and smooth vertical lift with a highly controlled degree of precision.
What is a Manual Hoist?
Manual hoists are remarkably simple devices primarily made from exceptionally durable, high-grade steel. Although these hoists are relatively easy to move from one place to another, they require a lot more physical effort to lift and move heavy loads.
Unlike electric hoists, manual hoists aren’t designed for pulling heavy weights. Their specific function is to lift and lower loads. They can be used for heavy industrial use or even in a variety of mining operations.
On average, manual chain blocks have a hoisting capacity ranging from 0.5kgs to around 5 tons. This makes manual hoists ideal for most everyday uses.
Advantages of Using a Manual Hoist
Some contractors prefer using manual hoists above their electric counterparts. Some of the benefits include the following:
- No electrical power required: Since manual hoists work by hand, there’s no electrical power required to lift loads. This means they can be used on the most remote job sites.
- Easier to move: Manual hoists can easily be moved around from place to place. This makes it easy for contractors to use them anywhere, no matter how remote the area.
- Affordable: Manual hoists are more affordable than electric ones since they don’t require power to run. There isn’t an added expense to your energy bill.
- Safe to use: Since they’re lightweight, these types of hoists are easy to use.
- Durable: Many contractors prefer manual hoists because they’re low maintenance.
- Easier to maintain: Since there are no electrical components or controls to maintain or repair, the manual chain block is a lot easier to maintain.
Final Thought
Essentially, one type of hoist is not better than another. It all comes down to what you need to lift. For some lifts, one type will be more suited than the other. With the wide variety of electric and manual hoists available, it’s easy to find the one best suited to your particular needs.
Simply discuss all your requirements with your contractor and experts will provide you with the best hoist for the job!
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