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Had to choose between a full machine room overhaul or a controller swap on a 1980s Otis unit
This was at a small office building in Tacoma. The old relay logic panel was failing hard, causing random floor calls. The building owner gave me two paths: replace the whole machine room setup for about $25,000, or just swap the controller to a new solid-state one for around $8,000. I went with the controller swap. It took me and my apprentice three days to pull the old relays and wire in the new unit. The tricky part was mapping the old safety chain, but we got it. The car runs smooth now, but I'm watching the old motor and sheave closely. Has anyone else done just a controller swap on an old system and had the drive train hold up okay for a few more years?
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phoenix1495mo ago
But what if the old motor gives out next year and you're back in there anyway? That extra cash up front might've bought more peace of mind...
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aaron8802mo ago
Man, same story almost to the letter with an old Haughton I worked on, thing just kept chugging along.
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mark_green5mo ago
Man, my buddy did that exact swap on a 90s Dover. The old motor ran for another five years, no joke. He said the real test was the brake. Had to adjust it twice after the new controller went in. Saved his client a ton of cash.
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phoenix_martin405mo ago
Five more years on that old Dover motor is wild. I would have bet money on the windings giving out first. Did your buddy have to do any major work on the drive sheave at all?
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