Rigging UPS batteries into place

[c_picard]

Hey fellas,
Does anyone have any experience building UPS battery racks? If so you are probably aware that they are fairly heavy. I am curious if anyone knows of a safe way of lifting the batteries into place.
Thanks

If anyone thinks this should be in a diferent spot let me know...

[iwire]

Hire a laborer for the day?

[infinity]

We always use a manual platform battery lift with wheels. You can load the batteries from the pallet, lift the batteries to the proper height and slide them right into place.


http://www.northerntool.com/images/product/images/144311_lg.gif

[c_picard]

thanks Trevor, now I see how Iwire got up to 10,000 posts!
This particular rack I'm faced with appears to have a lip at the front edge, so it looks like the battery has to be lifted up over the lip, moved into position, then lowered down into place. The batteries came with lift slings, but i can't picture a hoist that could lift them high enough. Of course all I have seen are cut sheets so far. That lift looks great, it's just the sliding part that seems tricky. Of course bob's company would be too cheap to buy one anyhow, trust me.

[iwire]

now I see how Iwire got up to 10,000 posts!....................Of course bob's company would be too cheap to buy one anyhow, trust me.

Interesting, I guess I should not have held back.

Grow some muscles and lift the batteries into place.

That is how we do it.

BTW I don't have a company, I work for one. :D

[c_picard]

Thanks for the help Bob, you are truly an asset to your, er I mean the company that you work for. Maybe I can meet you at the shop for some weight-lifting tips?

[infinity]

The last time that I installed UPS batteries they were so heavy that no one could lift them without some sort of machine.

[hardworkingstiff]

The last time that I installed UPS batteries they were so heavy that no one could lift them without some sort of machine.


Curious,

What are the approximate dimensions and approximate weight?

[iwire]

The last time that I installed UPS batteries they were so heavy that no one could lift them without some sort of machine.

That would be a new one to me as any battery banks I have worked with we could handle the batteries.

But live and learn.

[infinity]

Curious,

What are the approximate dimensions and approximate weight?


They were similar to these:

http://www.cdstandbypower.com/products/batteries/flooded/assets/xtj_xtk_xtl_12_340_1.jpg


I seem to remember them being about 15"x15"x22" and weighing about 485 pounds.

[iwire]

weighing about 485 pounds.

I thought you said they where heavy.;)

[hardworkingstiff]

How high do you have to lift them and how much floor space do you have for equipment to lift them?

[memyselfandI]

We hire a rigging crew from a crane company. They are experts at moving heavy items around in tight places.

[e57]

"Work is something you have to do, a job is what you enjoy doing. I love my job...except for the working part. "

Can I quote that, oh, I just did....

[c_picard]

Thanks again trevor, that is just the style battery I was refering to. I'll look into prices for renting a lift. Buying one seems foolish, as iwire noted most banks I've seen have lighter batteries that lay down with terminals on the end.

[shockin]

I've used an engine hoist for this type of thing before assuming you can get a sling on it. You can rent them very cheap if you don't own one They can lift quite a bit, and the lifting arm extends out in front a little ways.

[hardworkingstiff]

If you have overhead beams that you can connect a chain-fall to ....

[Jpreverso]

I agree with the engine hoist idea. If your slings are osha rated i think they are good for at least 5,000 lb (being the smallest size sling to carry the osha rating) so this info might be useless to you as you are only lifting 500 lb. If you go with the rafter idea and you can span two rafters (for chain fall use)picture the same triangle upsidedown the two points that held the 1000 block would now be anchor points ON THE TOP SIDE OF THE RAFTER ( side closest to the deck) anchored through one of the channels. The angle of what would now be a V would determine weight on each rafter. My experiance with the chain fall method, you almost need two chain falls one on each rafter. Down with one up with the outher to go left or right. fun process

[infinity]

Thanks again trevor, that is just the style battery I was refering to. I'll look into prices for renting a lift. Buying one seems foolish, as iwire noted most banks I've seen have lighter batteries that lay down with terminals on the end.


There are literally dozens of styles of UPS batteries (or as they are called in the battery world jars). The one's that I've installed were on two tier racks with hundreds of jars. Being able to maneuver them from their pallets and up on to the different levels of the rack requires a set up with a lot of flexibility. A string of jars may be 30' or longer so lateral movement with your lifting apparatus is a must. For racks that are stacked in tiers it would be very difficult to lift the jars from the top since the the top tiers would block the bottom tiers.

[c_picard]

We were thinking of assembling the lowest tier, with as much bracing as possible, installing lowest "jars", then completing the rack and instaling 2nd tier of jars. This is if we go the chain fall route.

[Jpreverso]

Make sure you anchor to the top of the bar joice(sp?). Two guys that used to work with us used the bottom. I wasnt there but I guess they got the transformer about a 1 foot in the air and the bar joice couldnt hold it. I was told that the sound of a bar joice bending could be heard through out the whole building. Let me know if you have any questions im not an expert at rigging but I have hung a few transformers, got a double ended five peice switch gear that stands 10' through an 8' door with out incident. I rock climb I think thats why my company always for my help with the placement of heavy objects.



Josh

[charlie k.]

Make it easy on yourself and rent a battery lift. The tubs or jars are not meant to be slung. They send you slings to slide the batteries on the racks. They should have sent a lubricant to aid in sliding them. The last battery lift I purchased was 750.00 from McMaster Carr. That was about ten years ago. Also have spill supplies handy and some containment pigs in case the worst happens. PPE is also important.
Charlie

[barclayd]

Depending on the Earthquake Zone, you may need special rack bracing.
Many jurisdictions also require spill containment with absorbant pillows.