How does a Counterweight Elevator System work?

[@kjoubert729]

Thank you very very much. This is so useful to me.

[@MohammadShafinulHaque]

You're welcome. I am glad that it was helpful to you.

[@Sarchitta]

nice!!

[@MohammadShafinulHaque]

you are welcome.

[@raechen5259]

thank you! I have a question: in an actual elevator, since the counterweight is the same as the empty car, when a person enters, the car will go down. But what if the person wants to go up? how do you add load to the counterweight part in an actual elevator?

[@MohammadShafinulHaque]

Very good question Rae. The counterweight is the same as the empty car plus half of the full load. So, we can write counterweight = (weight of the empty car + half of the full carload). However, in a scenario where the counterweight is the same as the empty car and a person enters the car, what will happen? Well, the entire elevator system is controlled by a motor; so when a person enters the car and presses the down button due counterweight the downward force by the car is less and easy for the motor. When a person wants to go up, the required pulling force is also less because of the balancing counterweight. In general, the counterweight remains fixed and not variable.

[@raechen5259]

@@MohammadShafinulHaque Thank you so much! I absolutely learnt a lot.

[@MohammadShafinulHaque]

@@raechen5259 you are welcome.

[@rarleyposting5546]

The counterweight is actually heavier than the elevator.

[@MohammadShafinulHaque]

@@rarleyposting5546 Yes, the counterweight = ( weight of the empty elevator + half-weight of estimated full load). Thus the counterweight is heavier than the empty elevator.

[@csizimiron2873]

Good!

[@MohammadShafinulHaque]

Thank you

[@jcu121579]

Can we, by any chance before delivery, transfer the counterweight from 1 side to the other...

[@MohammadShafinulHaque]

First, we need to think what would be the benefit of that compared to added complexity. Having a counterweight on one side has pros/cons during up and downward motion, as explained in the video. However, there exist design for variable counter weight (at least two counterweights) that can adjusted based on need.

[@allananonimozeta9345]

Cheers

[@MohammadShafinulHaque]

Cheers

[@venkatapraneethmarella2223]

Let us say mass of elevator alone is 100 kg and counter weight is 150 kg, now what is preventing elevator to hit top of the elevator system? is motor preventing it to happen, if so how?

[@MohammadShafinulHaque]

Hi Marella, one way to do that is by using a motor break, you can find the torque knowing the weight.

[@zhai21]

What is the impact if the third pulley is added in the system?

[@MohammadShafinulHaque]

Did you mean the third pulley visible in the system? Since the third pulley is also a fixed pully it will not change the relative velocity of the system but it will add some friction.

[@vegasofficial2431]

What happens if the counter weight is 100% the same weight to be lifted.

[@MohammadShafinulHaque]

Very good question Deepak. First, for an elevator, the number of persons or objects in the car will not be the same all the time but vary thus it is not possible to have exactly the same counterweight of the weight to be lifted. Second, if for an instance the weight and the counterweight become the same, the system would be fully balanced, and it will be easier for the motor during lifting and going down.

[@masoprid3]

im here from Mr Ballen

[@MohammadShafinulHaque]

Thank you