Some Relay Porn for Y'all. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: kolbep
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2013, 05:29:17 am
content: This is an Elevator Controller from 1970'sI just love the Clacking Sounds when the relays click in and out as the Elevator travels (Yes, the system is still in operation).

author: peter.mitchell
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2013, 06:30:20 am
content: Nice!For some reason I have 2 pictures of an elevator control system on my phonehttps://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/677635/20101027_001.jpghttps://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/677635/20101027_002.jpgAll the logic and sensors were on the "cards" and the control/drivers were in the box, i noticed a brown burn on the PCB - wasn't my job to fix it, i was looking for another cabinet.It kind of weirded me out to have such massive PCBs with nothing on them, i mean, if it had slots for additional cards, i would understand... but just not populating the slots? surely it didn't save them that much money?

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2013, 04:05:24 pm
content: 10 floor Schindler controller, still mostly original as well. Nice, got exactly the same at work, just 3 levels, and still mostly original aside from replacement contactors in places as the originals wore out. Has been working perfectly since 1967 when it was installed, still original motor and controller.

author: edpalmer42
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2013, 06:40:06 pm
content: If you like relays, you'll love old telephone switching systems.Ed

author: kolbep
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2013, 07:24:30 pm
content: This one is a ground floor + 10 Floor.They are Actually going To Replace The 2 Lifts with Inverter Driven Units (Apparently these Ones Keep on Giving Hassles). Only Major noticeable Changes i can See Are A Replacement 380/23v Transformer, as Well as the Wirewound variable resistors Being Disconnected, As well As Some wires that have Been Changed.I Was there To Install isolators For The New Units, As Well As Extractor Fans In The Motor Room.took some photos Of The wiring Diagram For These Panels. If Nybody Wants the Diagram, Pm Me If You Would Like me To Send To You. I Am Going Through It, just Out Of Interest Sake, But It Is Very Complicated, as The Relays, Etc on The Diagrm only Have Designators, And Not The Actual Function.Btw I Do Not Know Why My Tablet Is Capitilising The First Letter Of Every Word.Quote from: SeanB on April 16, 2013, 04:05:24 pm

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2013, 12:36:39 am
content: How do they guard against "bugs"?

author: AlfBaz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2013, 12:41:38 am
content: I scored this job once, it was a relay controller panel for the rear ramp of a "roll-on roll-off" cargo ship. The original panel stood about 6' tall and had to be changed out in a four day window. Spent most of the time gathering info, building, programming and testing the replacement in the shop and sweating like crazy during the change over. Ended up happening without a hitchThe hydraulic system that controlled this door was amazing and provided most of the analogue feedback and control of the door

author: aargee
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2013, 01:07:40 am
content: I remember as a young engineering student working in a Telstra/Telecom exchange in the early '80s, still all relays. What a racket!It was really weird early in the mornings when occasionally no one was making a call and the exchange fell silent. Some of the techs would call the US to listen to a bedtime story phone service every morning at smoko - back when ISD calls cost a small mortgage!

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2013, 03:54:52 pm
content: I would not change over to the inverter, as you will then have to budget for replacing it all ( including motors, controllers and all associated wiring etc) every 10 to 15 years. Just keep up with the maintenance on the original, Schindler has hundreds of these still running, and have a range of spares that fit it, along with the needed upgrades to make it comply. If they are ripping it out then I would like the relays, they will keep my one running for the rest of the century at least.

author: kolbep
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2013, 07:13:34 pm
content: Hi SeanB.I really do not have any involvement with the Lifts themselves.The Body Corporate had already decided to go ahead with the upgrades, I was only contracted by the Body Corporate to install Ventilation Louvers in the Lift House Door, and Extractor Fans from the Lift House Room to the Outside. This was requested by the company that is going to be installing the Inverter systems for the lift upgrade.The System has been running fine for the past 40 years (minus the occasional glitches, and wearing out), and I expect with some caring maintenance, that the system could go on for many more years.I will keep my ear out as to what will happen to the old controllers. If I do hear anything, I will pop you a line.The newer lifts are all electronic, you can look at a few LED's, hook a Laptop up to the PLC, and see what is going on. I just think that the oldschool Relays and Noise is much cooler. (If you are on the top floor, you can just listen for the relays, and you can tell what the lift is doing.Quote from: SeanB on April 17, 2013, 03:54:52 pm

author: kolbep
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2013, 07:29:44 pm
content: Here are some photos of another lift controller in Queensburgh Durban (1st Inspection September 1974), Which has been out of service for I would recon at least 10 years (6 Floors):

author: kolbep
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2013, 07:31:04 pm
content: And Some More of the same lift (Damn you 3Mb Limit!!!)

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 18, 2013, 06:23:28 pm
content: They did not want to pay the bills to run it then. Nice Sabiem controller, you can see just how the different manufacturers use different designs and basically the same circuits for the controllers that are the same range of ages. Same down to the designations, as they are stipulated in the designs. The modern ones often can be connected to a computer, but have enough display capacity and onboard controls so that you can service them without a laptop. I hope never to see one that has an internet connection. BOFH time for sure.

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2013, 10:58:00 am
content: Here's another lift installation, from an abandoned hospital building in Sydney.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2013, 02:46:17 pm
content: Dc drives, Ward Leonard units. Still some in operation here, most are going strong until they need new commutators, when most are replaced. They are still rewound and repaired by a local motor rewinder.