Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Fixed Car Lift on Standby Setting

For those of us with more money than sense who have installed a fixed car lift just a heads up.

They have for the past 20 years or so been controlled by 24 volt electrics and have a two pole on off switch that all the ones I have come across including my own lift is left on.

I have thought I should check that and now I have with a clamp meter on the main supply into the garage.

These lifts have a transformer and various other electronics included in their controller.

To cut to the chase, the lift I have checked consumed around 0.3 amps at 240 volts, that is 72 watt hours in an hour.

In a week is 12.1 Kw hours, 631 Kw hours in year.

With a unit cost of 32p a unit of electricity, an annual cost of £201.

My lift on / off switch is now only switched on when used and off at all other times.

In saying that installing a car lift in pure economic terms for a private motorist is not sensible to begin with.

Always isolate the supply after use as a matter of course. Thanks for heads up though.

To be honest all electrical appliances should be isolated when not in use, not only makes sense from a safety aspect but also cost.

I have now checked around 20 fixed lifts including my own and nobody switches off their lift from the 2 pole switch, they just assume that it is switched off as the up button is not pressed. What you have said is correct but from my checking nobody does it with fixed car lifts.

I always isolate mine when not in use, I'm suspicious a faulty switch or mains surge could trigger the lift and crush my Mog against the garage ceiling in the night