Getting trapped between floors in a dark elevator during an abrupt power cut is one of the most frightening experiences for apartment residents, elderly citizens, and office occupants.
In multi-story residential towers across Bangalore—from high-rises in Sarjapur and Bellandur to apartments in Hebbal and Kanakapura Road—reliable elevator power continuity is a vital safety requirement.
In this guide, we examine the differences between Automatic Rescue Devices (ARD) and Continuous Full-Operation Elevator UPS Systems.
1. Automatic Rescue Device (ARD) vs Dedicated Elevator Inverter
Many apartment builders install basic ARD units, but residents are often unaware of their severe limitations:
What an ARD Does:
- When power fails, an ARD unit slowly drives the lift to the nearest floor, opens the doors to allow passengers to exit, and then shuts down completely.
- The elevator remains inoperable for the entire duration of the power cut until grid or diesel generator power is restored.
What an ESSMA Full-Operation Elevator UPS Does:
- Seamlessly takes over the elevator’s 3-phase motor within milliseconds.
- Keeps the elevator fully operational for multiple hours, allowing continuous movement of residents, delivery personnel, and emergency medical responders.
- Eliminates the noisy, polluting, and expensive need to fire up a massive 100kVA diesel generator for a single passenger lift!
Technical Challenges in Elevator Power Backup
Elevator motors are highly dynamic inductive loads with unique electrical characteristics:
1. High Inrush Starting Current (Breakaway Torque)
Starting a fully loaded elevator car requires up to 400% of rated motor current for the first 1 to 2 seconds. A standard domestic inverter will trip instantly on overload.
- ESSMA Elevator UPS systems feature heavy-duty industrial IGBT switching modules rated for 4× peak inrush currents.
2. Regenerative Braking Energy
When an empty elevator travels upward, or a full elevator travels downward, the motor acts as a generator, pumping electrical current back into the power supply.
- Inferior inverters suffer DC bus overvoltage and explode under regenerative back-EMF!
- ESSMA designs custom dynamic braking chopper circuits that safely dissipate regenerative power without damaging internal electronics.
Recommended Elevator UPS Capacities
| Lift Capacity / Motor Rating | Typical Floor Count | Recommended ESSMA Elevator UPS |
|---|---|---|
| 4–6 Passengers (3.7 kW / 5 HP Motor) | G + 4 Floors | ESSMA 7.5KVA Heavy-Duty System |
| 8–10 Passengers (5.5 kW / 7.5 HP Motor) | G + 8 Floors | ESSMA 10KVA 3-Phase Dedicated UPS |
| 13–16 Passengers / Stretcher Lift (11 kW) | High-Rise Hospital / Tower | ESSMA 15KVA – 20KVA Industrial System |
Key Benefits for Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) in Bangalore
- Massive Diesel Fuel Savings: Running a 100kVA DG set costs ₹400–₹600 per hour in diesel. An ESSMA Elevator UPS runs on ultra-efficient tubular battery power at a fraction of the cost.
- Zero Noise & Zero Exhaust Pollution: Operates silently inside the elevator machine room.
- Instant Automatic Takeover: Residents inside the elevator experience zero jerk, zero light flicker, and uninterrupted motion.
Contact ESSMA for Apartment & Commercial Lift Backup
Upgrade your residential society’s elevator backup to reliable, silent, factory-direct UPS power.
Contact our Bengaluru infrastructure team at +91 98451 24627 to schedule an elevator motor load inspection.
