Essentials of ARD Elevator Emergency Rescue Device

Essentials of ARD Elevator Emergency Rescue Device: A Comprehensive Analysis from Installation and Debugging to Troubleshooting

During elevator operation, sudden power failure or phase sequence loss is one of the main reasons for passengers being trapped in the elevator. To ensure passenger safety and enhance the intelligence level of elevator systems, Automatic Rescue Devices (ARD) have emerged. ARD is used as a backup power source for charging when the mains power is normal. Once an abnormal mains power is detected, it immediately switches to emergency operation mode, drives the elevator controller to run the car to the nearest floor at emergency evacuation speed, and opens the door to release people. This article will take the MCTC-ARD-C-4015 ARD as an example to systematically explain its technical specifications, installation wiring, debugging process, maintenance points, and fault diagnosis, providing a complete technical manual for elevator maintenance engineers.

Product Overview and Working Principle

The core function of ARD is "monitoring switching rescue reset". When the mains power is normal, the ARD is in standby charging mode, and the internal battery pack is charged with constant current and constant voltage; At the same time, ARD will directly connect the mains power to the elevator control cabinet, and the elevator will operate normally. When ARD detects that the three-phase 380V input voltage is below the threshold or a phase loss occurs, the internal relay will activate, cutting off the mains input. The inverter circuit will take power from the battery and output a single-phase 380V/50Hz emergency power supply to the elevator control cabinet. After receiving the "emergency operation start signal", the elevator controller controls the elevator to run at a low speed (usually 0.3-0.5m/s) in the direction of light load to the nearest level position. After opening the door and delaying for a period of time, the ARD automatically closes the output and completes the rescue.

This design fully complies with the requirements of GB/T 26465-2019 "Safety Code for Manufacturing and Installation of Fire Elevators" and relevant international standards for emergency rescue devices in elevators.

Technical specifications and model rules

1. Model interpretation

Taking MCTC-ARD-C-4015 as an example:

MCTC: Product series identification.

ARD: Emergency rescue device.

C: Design code.

40: Suitable for elevator rated power? The actual corresponding battery capacity and inverter power should refer to the selection manual for details.

15: It may be a battery capacity code (such as 15Ah? But the technical parameters show 12V × 3 × 7Ah, which means three 7Ah batteries connected in series are 36V, and then stepped up to 380V through inverter).

2. Core parameters (taking MCTC-ARD-C-4015 as an example)

Project specifications

Input voltage three-phase 380-440VAC, 50/60Hz

Output voltage (emergency) single-phase 380VAC, 50 ± 5Hz

Battery parameters 12V × 3 × 7Ah (36V in series)

Protection function output short circuit, overcurrent, battery protection

Working environment -10 ℃ to+40 ℃,<95% RH, no condensation

Storage temperature -20 ℃ to+60 ℃

Protection level IP20

Vibration tolerance<5.9m/s ² (0.6g)

Altitude<1000m (if exceeded, reduce rating or consult manufacturer)

3. List of main components

Component specifications/models

Circuit Breaker (MCB) ARD3T153U1

Drive board ARD3T153M1

Battery LECOH DJW12-7.0 (12V 7Ah)

Contactor Siemens 3RT6028-1AN20380VAC/38kW

Air switch Delixi DZ47NC10400V/3A

The battery adopts three 12V 7Ah maintenance free lead-acid batteries connected in series, with a total nominal voltage of 36V and an actual working voltage range of about 30V~42V. The battery life is usually 3-5 years, depending on the ambient temperature and the number of charge and discharge cycles.

Installation points: Position selection and mechanical fixation

ARD is usually installed next to the control cabinet in the elevator machine room or shaft. The installation environment must meet the following requirements:

No conductive dust, corrosive gases, flammable gases, metal powders, oil mist.

The ambient temperature ranges from -10 ℃ to+40 ℃. If it exceeds this range, temperature control measures must be taken.

Reserve sufficient maintenance space, especially for battery replacement channels.

Installation method

ARD supports both wall mounted and floor standing installations, with specific dimensions varying depending on the model. Taking MCTC-ARD-C-4015 wall mounted as an example:

Width 248mm, height 383.4mm (including installation ears), thickness approximately 151mm.

Installation hole spacing: A=217mm (horizontal), H1=383.4mm (vertical top hole spacing), H2=480mm (bottom hole spacing), B=430mm (bottom plate width).

The gross weight is about 15kg.

Installation steps:

Use expansion bolts to fix the hanging plate to the load-bearing wall.

Hang the ARD onto the mounting plate and tighten the bottom bolt.

Ensure that the equipment is vertical and the tilt angle does not exceed 5 °.

Remove the front cover

Before carrying out electrical wiring, the front cover must be removed:

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the fixing screws at the four corners of the front cover.

Carefully remove the front cover to expose the internal terminal block and battery compartment.

Detailed explanation of electrical wiring

The wiring of ARD is divided into two parts: the main circuit and the control circuit, which must be strictly distinguished to avoid equipment damage caused by misconnection.

1. Main circuit terminal (J10)

Terminal identification function description

L1, L2, L3 three-phase mains input connected to elevator machine room three-phase 380V power supply

PE protective grounding wire

R. S, T emergency output connected to the power input terminal of the elevator control cabinet

Key warning: It is strictly prohibited to mistakenly connect the mains input line to the output terminals R, S, T, otherwise the internal inverter circuit of ARD will be directly burned.

2. Control circuit terminals (J6/J3, 10 positions in total)

Terminal signal name and function description

24V external 24V interface can provide 24V power supply for X1 input

Y1 emergency operation start signal output to elevator controller, informing to enter emergency mode

M1 phase sequence signal ARD is disconnected when it exits the emergency state

M2 short-circuit signal is used to short-circuit the elevator door lock circuit (depending on the plan)

CAN/CANL CAN communication reserved communication port (for expansion or monitoring)

X1 emergency communication signal high level valid (10-30V). After receiving the signal, ARD considers the emergency operation completed, stops outputting, and exits the emergency state. If this signal is not received within 3 minutes, ARD will automatically stop outputting.

3. DIP switch (K1/K2)

When leaving the factory, K1 and K2 have been configured according to the three-phase 380V model, and users are not allowed to make changes on their own. If you need to adapt to three-phase or single-phase 220V input, you must contact the manufacturer to change the parameters or model.

Switch function (schematic):

K2 ON, K1 OFF: 380V input

K2 OFF, K1 OFF: 220V input? Please refer to the equipment nameplate for details and do not move it randomly.

4. Suggestions for practical wiring operation

The main circuit cable should use at least 2.5mm ² copper core wire (calculated based on power, around 15kVA).

Control cables use shielded twisted pair cables (such as RVSP 2 × 0.75), with a length generally not exceeding 10 meters.

The grounding terminal PE must be reliably connected to the machine room grounding strip, with a grounding resistance of ≤ 4 Ω.

A 1.5m long control cable is included with the equipment for connecting to the elevator controller, and the remaining cables are provided by the user.

Debugging and functional verification

1. Check before powering on

Confirm that all bolt terminals have been tightened.

Confirm that the polarity of the battery connection wire is correct (red positive, black negative), and the total voltage of the three batteries connected in series should be 30-42V (depending on the charging status).

Disconnect the switches (if any) from the ARD output terminals R, S, T to the elevator control cabinet, or temporarily remove the output lines to avoid damaging the elevator controller during load debugging.

2. Normal state testing

Close the three-phase mains input circuit breaker and observe that the ARD panel power indicator light (usually green) should be constantly on.

The measurement output terminals R, S, and T should have a three-phase voltage of 380V (direct to the mains).

Measure the battery terminal voltage: It should be in float charging state, approximately 40.8V-41.4V (13.6-13.8V per block).

3. Emergency simulation testing

Disconnect the mains power input (pull down the circuit breaker or simulate phase loss).

ARD should detect power loss within 1-2 seconds, activate the internal relay, and start the inverter.

The output terminals R, S, and T should display a single-phase voltage of 380V/50Hz.

Observe that the Y1 terminal should have a 24V (or contact closed) signal output to the elevator controller.

The elevator should be able to run at emergency speed (usually 0.3m/s) to the nearest floor and open the door.

If the elevator controller sends a high-level (24V) signal to the X1 terminal of the ARD after opening the door, the ARD should immediately stop outputting and exit the emergency state.

If X1 signal is not received, ARD will automatically cut off the output after 3 minutes to prevent battery damage caused by excessive discharge.

4. Municipal power restoration test

Reconnect the mains input, the ARD should automatically switch back to mains direct mode, the battery will resume charging, and the Y1 signal will disappear.

The elevator has resumed normal operation.

Maintenance and battery replacement

1. Regular inspection items

Check the battery terminals for corrosion and looseness once every quarter.

Use a multimeter to measure the float voltage of each battery, and the deviation should not exceed 0.3V.

Clean the heat dissipation holes and fans (if any) to ensure good ventilation.

Check if the circuit breaker and contactor are functioning properly.

2. Battery replacement steps

When the battery capacity drops significantly (emergency operation time<30 seconds) or is used for more than 4 years, the battery should be replaced.

Preparations:

Disconnect all input power sources of ARD and wait for the internal capacitor to discharge (at least 5 minutes).

Prepare maintenance free lead-acid batteries of the same specifications (12V 7Ah, recommended original LECOH or brands with the same specifications).

Operating procedures:

Loosen the two tight screws on the bottom cover, push the bottom cover downwards and flip it to the appropriate position with the help of the hinge, and fix the cover with the buckle on the hinge.

Remove the two screws on the upper part of the battery compartment, push down the battery cover, and disconnect the battery connection cable (remove the negative pole first and then the positive pole).

Remove the old battery from the battery compartment.

Insert the new battery and connect the cable (positive pole first, negative pole later) to ensure correct polarity.

Replace the battery cover and tighten the screws.

Loosen the buckle, reset the bottom cover, and tighten the non loosening screw.

Reinstall the front cover and secure the four screws.

Notes:

Waste batteries are classified as hazardous waste and should be handed over to professional organizations for recycling.

After replacement, a complete emergency test is required to confirm that the new battery can support the elevator to run up to the same level.

Fault diagnosis and status indication

There are multiple status indicator lights on the ARD panel (refer to Figure 8 for specific locations). Due to incomplete listing of indicator light tables in the original text, the following is a summary of typical status meanings based on common elevator ARD products:

Measures for handling the meaning of indicator light status

The power indicator light (green) is constantly on and the mains power is normal. The ARD is in standby mode and charging is normal

The power indicator light is off and there is no input power. Check the input circuit breaker and power supply line

Emergency indicator light (yellow/red) flashing. Emergency inverter running normally (simulated emergency test)

The battery indicator light (red) is always on. The battery voltage is too low or there is a battery fault. Measure the battery voltage; If it is less than 30V, it needs to be charged or replaced

The fault indicator light (red) flashes to output short circuit, overcurrent, and over temperature. Disconnect the output load and check if the power module of the elevator control cabinet is short circuited; Restart after cooling down

Communication indicator light (green) CAN communication status does not need to be paid attention to when in normal use

Common faults and troubleshooting:

Possible causes and solutions for the fault phenomenon

The mains power is normal but there is no output from ARD. The internal contactor is not engaged and the control board is faulty. Check the voltage of the contactor coil; Power on again after cutting off the power

During emergency situations, the elevator does not run and the Y1 signal is not output to the controller. The controller does not respond. Measure whether there is 24V at the Y1 terminal. Check the controller parameter settings

After emergency operation, if the X1 signal is not received and does not automatically exit, check the X1 wiring; Simulate X1 high-level test ARD response

Improving ventilation due to overheating during battery charging and aging of batteries in high temperature environments; Replace the battery

After the restoration of mains power, ARD is still in emergency mode. Phase sequence detection error and control board fault check whether the input power phase sequence is correct; Power off and restart