Small Cranes or Lifts

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jmellc

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Location
Durham, NC
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Facility Maintenance Tech. Licensed Electrician
We put a huge 400 amp disconnect on a wall last week and had to rig a come along up high to lift it high enough to work the existing wires into it and slowly lower it. It was a big job.

We have another one coming up and are looking around at small boom lifts to use. Equipment weighs about 400 pounds. What have any of you used for such jobs? I think a tiny crane would be great but I've never seen any cranes that small.
 
Usually a come-along (rigged to an overhead beam) or a forklift, occasional a crank-up lift like a GL- or SuperLift (from Genie, I'm a big fan of them); once or twice an actual block & fall.


It should be obvious, but just like pulling large cables/wires make sure that what you're using to support the load can actually do that.... this includes not just the overhead point(s) but the ropes, cables, eye bolts, etc. Anyone who isn't sure of the rigging should find someone who knows about that work.
 
The method will be mostly dependent on surrounding and overhead structures. Can you drive to it? Can you access the structure above? Lifting it is the easy part. How you do so is entirely dependent on almost everything BUT the actual item being lifted. Perfect time for a wide angle picture of the issue.
 
MAC702 said:
The method will be mostly dependent on surrounding and overhead structures. Can you drive to it? Can you access the structure above? Lifting it is the easy part. How you do so is entirely dependent on almost everything BUT the actual item being lifted. Perfect time for a wide angle picture of the issue.
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I agree, if there is something strong enough above just rig off of that with a chain fall/hoist. 400#'s isn't that heavy so a duct lift would work too.
 
Spider crane, not cheap but real cool. They have one at the power plant I worked at.
 
zbang said:
Usually a come-along (rigged to an overhead beam) or a forklift, occasional a crank-up lift like a GL- or SuperLift (from Genie, I'm a big fan of them); once or twice an actual block & fall.
Click to expand...

Fork lifts are almost perfect for doing millwright type work. Even a really small lift will handle 400 pounds with ease and have controls that are easy to use.
 
This is outdoors. Boss is getting us a small all terrain boom lift that should work.

We managed OK with the come along but I wouldn't want to chance that every time we do this. We anchored the come along to the brick wall with a steel anchor and 1/2 inch bolt. It held well but every wall may not be so strong.
 
Wait wait, we are Electricians use your back! That's how most of the companies look at it.
We work off the ground, carry stuff on our shoulders, meanwhile even the labor crew has a wheelbarrow.
That's my pet peeve, top of the food chain yet work like idiots at times. I was constantly telling the guys to take a little time to make things easy; two wire reels and a sheet of plywood or go ahead and work off the dirt.
 
sameguy said:
Wait wait, we are Electricians use your back! That's how most of the companies look at it.
We work off the ground, carry stuff on our shoulders, meanwhile even the labor crew has a wheelbarrow.
That's my pet peeve, top of the food chain yet work like idiots at times. I was constantly telling the guys to take a little time to make things easy; two wire reels and a sheet of plywood or go ahead and work off the dirt.
Click to expand...


:D:D:D:D
 
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