Date: 4/29/2021
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What Can I Monitor With OLI & HoistMonitor®?
If you’ve heard of the Overhead Lifting Information (OLI) app before, you know that it provides real-time reporting on equipment conditions, key hoist events and hoist usage to your mobile iOS or Android device via a hardware key in your HoistMonitor®.
Today we look at some of the specific conditions and events that you can monitor with OLI and HoistMonitor.
Report On Faults
When your HoistMonitor has detected a situation that prevents the hoist from lifting or lowering the load to maintain the safety of the equipment and its operators, it’s called a fault. OLI displays faults and their description in the events log. Some examples of faults are:
- Overloads
- The hoist brake not opening
- The hoist motor temperature rising above the permitted level
- Electrical faults related to the hoist’s electrical components
Depending on the detected fault, the HoistMonitor may automatically prevent hoisting and/or lowering to ensure everyone in the area is safe.
Service Alerts
If you’re shown a service alert, it means at least one calculated condition monitoring value has exceeded the corresponding design value. OLI displays the related service alert in the conditions screen. Service alerts won’t stop your equipment from operating, but they do help to predict maintenance timing. Service alerts can help predict when wear items – like brakes and contactors – need replaced.
Loads and Overloads
Overload alerts help avoid lifting an object that weighs more than the rated capacity of the hoist. OLI will reflect the number of overloads the hoist has recorded over time. Beyond overloads, other valuable load information includes:
- The amount of weight the hoist is picking up in real time
- The average weight the hoist has moved over its lifetime
- The maximum weight the hoist has recorded
Designed Working Period
The Designed Working Period (DWP) indicates the period in which the equipment can be safely operated, provided the equipment has been used and maintained in line with original design of the application. OLI uses real data gathered by the HoistMonitor to display an easily understood calculation of the remaining DWP. Facility managers can use this data to more easily predict and schedule maintenance, saving valuable downtime and potential harm to the hoist.
Starts, Stops and Runtime
Is your hoist running at peak efficiency, both in terms of operation and overall longevity? OLI shows data from HoistMonitor like:
- Run time value
- Number of starts and stops
- Duty cycle calculation
Together, these factors help you understand how your crane and hoist are being used and can help you change operations or components to get the most out of your equipment.
Sudden Loading Supervision
The HoistMonitor is programmed to force slow speed lifting if it detects a sudden load condition. Sudden load conditions could occur if the bottom block or the load snags or catches on a fixed object during lifting. This causes a potentially unsafe situation, leading to an overload that would display as a fault in your OLI app. Switching to slow speed before the overload occurs reduces impact and possible damage to the equipment or surrounding machinery.
Keep Your Data Close At Hand With OLI
With the Overhead Lifting Information app, it’s possible to create reports and collect valuable usage information from the ground – no need to stop production to collect the information you need! Want to learn more about HoistMonitor and OLI? Give us a call at 800-955-9967 or contact us online.