On Thursday, February 18, 2016 at 10:47:13 AM UTC-6, Snuffy "Hub Cap" McKinney wrote:
I'm looking at adding a resistor or bulb inside an Acorn stair lift motor housing to keep the temperature about 40degF. The unit is in an unheated area and temps get too low for the motor to turn normally. I considered an electric blanket or pad but having an elderly person messing with something on the stairs is not a good idea. Also, there's the issue of having a separate part and cord to deal with.

Cheat this out and see what you think. I have done this when setting up electronic devices in remote locations, installed in an insulated box with a car battery & resistor. In this case a night light bulb might be another choice.

Sketch
http://i67.tinypic.com/t9jmac.gif
http://oi67.tinypic.com/t9jmac.jpg

Is this in a lower area available to the disabled who enter the structure? Isn't the upper elevation warmer? Can't it be stored at a warmer lever and "called" to the lower level?

"bob_villain" wrote in message ...
On Thursday, February 18, 2016 at 10:47:13 AM UTC-6, Snuffy "Hub Cap" McKinney wrote:
I'm looking at adding a resistor or bulb inside an Acorn stair lift motor housing to keep the temperature about 40degF. The unit is in an unheated area and temps get too low for the motor to turn normally. I considered an electric blanket or pad but having an elderly person messing with something on the stairs is not a good idea. Also, there's the issue of having a separate part and cord to deal with.

Cheat this out and see what you think. I have done this when setting up electronic devices in remote locations, installed in an insulated box with a car battery & resistor. In this case a night light bulb might be another choice.

Sketch
http://i67.tinypic.com/t9jmac.gif
http://oi67.tinypic.com/t9jmac.jpg

Is this in a lower area available to the disabled who enter the structure? Isn't the upper elevation warmer? Can't it be stored at a warmer lever and "called" to the lower level?

Stairway is in an enclosed space with little insulation from the outside air. Temp at top probably warmer, but still not much warmer than outside air. Only switch for this model is on the arm of the chair.

On Thursday, February 18, 2016 at 10:24:56 PM UTC-5, Snuffy "Hub Cap" McKinney wrote:
"bob_villain" wrote in message ...
On Thursday, February 18, 2016 at 10:47:13 AM UTC-6, Snuffy "Hub Cap" McKinney wrote:
I'm looking at adding a resistor or bulb inside an Acorn stair lift motor housing to keep the temperature about 40degF. The unit is in an unheated area and temps get too low for the motor to turn normally. I considered an electric blanket or pad but having an elderly person messing with something on the stairs is not a good idea. Also, there's the issue of having a separate part and cord to deal with.

Cheat this out and see what you think. I have done this when setting up electronic devices in remote locations, installed in an insulated box with a car battery & resistor. In this case a night light bulb might be another choice.

Sketch
http://i67.tinypic.com/t9jmac.gif
http://oi67.tinypic.com/t9jmac.jpg

Is this in a lower area available to the disabled who enter the structure? Isn't the upper elevation warmer? Can't it be stored at a warmer lever and "called" to the lower level?

Stairway is in an enclosed space with little insulation from the outside air. Temp at top probably warmer, but still not much warmer than outside air. Only switch for this model is on the arm of the chair.

add insulation.

On Friday, February 19, 2016 at 10:24:27 AM UTC-5, bob haller wrote:
On Thursday, February 18, 2016 at 10:24:56 PM UTC-5, Snuffy "Hub Cap" McKinney wrote:
"bob_villain" wrote in message ...
On Thursday, February 18, 2016 at 10:47:13 AM UTC-6, Snuffy "Hub Cap" McKinney wrote:
I'm looking at adding a resistor or bulb inside an Acorn stair lift motor housing to keep the temperature about 40degF. The unit is in an unheated area and temps get too low for the motor to turn normally. I considered an electric blanket or pad but having an elderly person messing with something on the stairs is not a good idea. Also, there's the issue of having a separate part and cord to deal with.

Cheat this out and see what you think. I have done this when setting up electronic devices in remote locations, installed in an insulated box with a car battery & resistor. In this case a night light bulb might be another choice.

Sketch
http://i67.tinypic.com/t9jmac.gif
http://oi67.tinypic.com/t9jmac.jpg

Is this in a lower area available to the disabled who enter the structure? Isn't the upper elevation warmer? Can't it be stored at a warmer lever and "called" to the lower level?

Stairway is in an enclosed space with little insulation from the outside air. Temp at top probably warmer, but still not much warmer than outside air. Only switch for this model is on the arm of the chair.

add insulation.

I'm no HVAC expert, so I'd like to know how insulation would help in this situation.

The device is stored in an enclosed unheated space. What purpose would
insulation serve?

On Fri, 19 Feb 2016 08:11:34 -0800 (PST), DerbyDad03
wrote:

On Friday, February 19, 2016 at 10:24:27 AM UTC-5, bob haller wrote:
On Thursday, February 18, 2016 at 10:24:56 PM UTC-5, Snuffy "Hub Cap" McKinney wrote:
"bob_villain" wrote in message ...
On Thursday, February 18, 2016 at 10:47:13 AM UTC-6, Snuffy "Hub Cap" McKinney wrote:
I'm looking at adding a resistor or bulb inside an Acorn stair lift motor housing to keep the temperature about 40degF. The unit is in an unheated area and temps get too low for the motor to turn normally. I considered an electric blanket or pad but having an elderly person messing with something on the stairs is not a good idea. Also, there's the issue of having a separate part and cord to deal with.

Cheat this out and see what you think. I have done this when setting up electronic devices in remote locations, installed in an insulated box with a car battery & resistor. In this case a night light bulb might be another choice.

Sketch
http://i67.tinypic.com/t9jmac.gif
http://oi67.tinypic.com/t9jmac.jpg

Is this in a lower area available to the disabled who enter the structure? Isn't the upper elevation warmer? Can't it be stored at a warmer lever and "called" to the lower level?

Stairway is in an enclosed space with little insulation from the outside air. Temp at top probably warmer, but still not much warmer than outside air. Only switch for this model is on the arm of the chair.

add insulation.

I'm no HVAC expert, so I'd like to know how insulation would help in this situation.

The device is stored in an enclosed unheated space. What purpose would
insulation serve?

Good question. If the lift were used every 15 or 45 minutes, the
insulation might keep it warm in between those times, but it's
probably used 2 or 4 times a day, and not every day, so it's going to
get cold no matter how much insulation there is.

Sort of like insulating the hot water pipes to the far end of the
house. The water still gets cold in an hour or two.

On Thursday, February 18, 2016 at 9:24:56 PM UTC-6, Snuffy "Hub Cap" McKinney wrote:
"bob_villain" wrote in message ...
On Thursday, February 18, 2016 at 10:47:13 AM UTC-6, Snuffy "Hub Cap" McKinney wrote:
I'm looking at adding a resistor or bulb inside an Acorn stair lift motor housing to keep the temperature about 40degF. The unit is in an unheated area and temps get too low for the motor to turn normally. I considered an electric blanket or pad but having an elderly person messing with something on the stairs is not a good idea. Also, there's the issue of having a separate part and cord to deal with.

Cheat this out and see what you think. I have done this when setting up electronic devices in remote locations, installed in an insulated box with a car battery & resistor. In this case a night light bulb might be another choice.

Sketch
http://i67.tinypic.com/t9jmac.gif
http://oi67.tinypic.com/t9jmac.jpg

Is this in a lower area available to the disabled who enter the structure? Isn't the upper elevation warmer? Can't it be stored at a warmer lever and "called" to the lower level?

Stairway is in an enclosed space with little insulation from the outside air. Temp at top probably warmer, but still not much warmer than outside air. Only switch for this model is on the arm of the chair.

I can't tell from the video...if the motor is a gear-head, could you use a low-temp grease in the gearbox?