If you’re wondering whether a stairlift will work in a power cut, the answer is yes. Modern stairlifts operate from two 12 volt batteries usually which are housed in the base unit. If there is a power cut, the batteries will be good for several journeys before they run down.
The length of time they will last will depend on how much you use your stairlift and in what condition the batteries are before the power cut. This is why it is useful to keep on top of stairlift maintenance and have them regularly serviced.
Will A Stairlift Work In A Power Cut – How Many Trips?
Usually a stairlift will work for 10-20 trips before the battery becomes an issue and wears down. However this depends on a number of things:
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Battery condition: Older batteries may provide considerably fewer trips.
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Staircase length: Longer staircases use more battery power.
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Straight or curved stairlift: Curved stairlifts may use more energy depending on their design but especially with steep climbs.
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User weight: Heavier loads can reduce the number of journeys.
- Battery capacity: Different stairlift models use different batteries and have different backup capabilities.
If Your Stairlift Has Stopped Working
We often get call outs for stairlifts that have stopped working and one of the most common problems is power. Stairlifts are trickle charged from the mains so if there’s a problem with the power this is usually it! Whether the battery is failing to hold charge because of its age, or if there is a problem with the charger or mains power source, these are the most common issues.
Sometimes during a power outage the circuit breaker can trip. This cuts the power to the charger and the batteries will stop charging. You may not notice this straight away, which is often why we get call outs. Check your mains circuit breaker and the plug socket your charger is plugged into. This is often the culprit.
You can briefly unplug your stairlift and try another appliance in the socket to check whether the socket is working properly, such as a light. If not, it’s likely that a circuit breaker has tripped in your fuse box.
See also our article on stairlift troubleshooting.
Stairlift Trips With A Power Cut
Every stairlift model is slightly different and it’s impossible to say exactly how many trips you can make when there’s a power cut. A steeper stairlift will draw more power from the battery if it has a steep climb in the rail like in the picture below. This stairlift rail (below) climbs steeply to get the footplate high enough to avoid the corner steps.
A heaver user too will require more power and will likely wear a battery down more quickly.
The number of trips will depend on your model and age of the stairlift, whether it’s straight or curved and how many floors you need to travel between.
Summary
Will your stairlift work in a power cut? Yes most stairlifts are designed to be powered by batteries and not the mains. Mains chargers are used though to trickle charge the batteries continuously, so a power cut will stop this process from continuing. Providing the power cut doesn’t last long, you should be fine for a day or even two, depending on your use of the stairlift and other parameters mentioned here:
- The weight of the user
- The condition of the batteries
- Pitch of the rail – if it is very steep
- Number of floors you typically cover in a single journey
More information can be found on our YouTube channel.
Give us a call on 0800 046 3438 if you’re having any problems with a stairlift.