I've installed Aladdin lifts several times and they work great. I believe you can get them in 200 lb, 300 lb and 500 lb models (but don't take my word on that). Obviously, the heavier the rating of the lift, the more $$$ you'll spend. Initially, the most important thing you will need to find out from your customer is "How heavy is the chandelier?". If they don't know, you should (at the very least) quote them on the 300 lb lift. At the residence of the last one I installed the homeowner ended up buying a 280 lb chandelier. You can hear that wench working from across the street. As a rule, when I'm called back to do any work there I don't enter through the front door !!! I'm confident in my work but the only thing holding up that chandelier is the cable.
In addition, there are a few other things you should know before installing the lift :
a) The lift will require power to operate the wench and power to light the bulbs. Try to put these on different circuits. You can probably tap off the lighting and receptacle circuit in the attic for the wench motor. However, I would figure on a separate lighting circuit for the chandelier lights
b) In all probability your customer will want to have a dimmer installed for the chandelier lights. Make sure you figure on using a 1000 watt dimmer (at the very least). Again, this is one of those important things that you'll have to extract from your customer "How much power is required for the lighting?". BTW, I've already used 1500 watt dimmers for this. You can't believe what some of these European fixtures can draw.
c) Make sure you have a plumb line in your truck so you can judge where the center of the lift junction box will go. Mark out the floor below with a heavy marker or spray paint. When you get up into the attic you'll be able to see the mark clearly from up above and set the motor housing properly.
d) The lift unit comes pre-mounted on uni-strut. In all probability your customer will want a medallion installed on the ceiling above the chandelier. This will add about 3 or 4 inches to the depth that your junction box will have to be adjusted to. If the GC installed plywood flooring in the area where the lift will be mounted, remove all the plywood flooring in that area, set the lift motor in (with the uni-strut directly on top of the ceiling rafters) and then re-install the flooring around the lift. Believe it or not, if there is a medallion installed on the ceiling, that 1/2" of plywood on the attic floor will not allow you to adjust the junction box to the point where the unit can automaticly shut off when it hits the strike plate.
e) Install the wiring for the key switch in the foyer coat closet in clear view of where the chandelier will come down to the ground level.
f) Make sure you figure enough time for all aspects of this installation. Setting the lift in and wiring it will take the least amount of time. Making the adjustments and hanging the fixture can take up the whole day. Some of these European fixtures are "erector sets" and have 1000 parts like crystals, chains, etc. Personally, I'd figure on 2 days labor and a helper for at least one of those days.
Hope this helps !!!
Phil
Gold Star Electric
New Jersey
It didn't get bought from me.
