Tried a new way to check my load chart on a windy day

I always thought the wind rating on the chart was a hard stop, but last week in Kansas City with 25 mph gusts, I double-checked the crane's computer against my manual. The computer gave me a green light for a lift the book said was a no-go. Turns out the computer factors in my exact boom length and angle, which changed the whole calculation. Has anyone else had the on-board system disagree with the paper chart?

3 comments

3 Comments

rileyl676d ago

My old car's tire pressure light used to do that. The manual said 35 psi, but the dashboard computer would adjust the warning based of the outside temperature. It makes sense that a crane's system would be smarter than a static chart, but that's a big difference to see on a job site. I mean, you'd hope they'd update the paper stuff to match.

riley_bell6d ago

Always bring both the paper chart and trust the computer readout. We had a lift last year where the chart said we were good for 8,000 pounds, but the on-board system flagged a wind gust and dropped the limit to 6,500. Sticking only to the paper would have put us over. Now the first thing we do is cross-check. If they don't match, we hold the lift and call the office to get a revised chart printed.

clairebaker6d ago

Yeah, I was the same way... always treated the paper chart like the final word. Seeing the computer give a different answer would have made me really nervous at first. But it makes sense, the real-time data has to be more exact than a worst-case table. Kind of makes you wonder how many other rules of thumb are out of date now.