Stannah lifts with 'Ding-Dong' arrival "door bells" at Premier Inn

Admittedly, musical door bells would have been more interesting, but it's still unusual to have these mechanical solenoid door bells connected to a lift.
These must be on the car top, and are easily heard on any floor regardless of where the lift is.

I found the lift machine room fairly easily, and it was unlocked. I did open the door, but to be honest, risking getting caught in there wasn't worth it considering all a hyraulic lift motor room is, is just "a tank of oil with a pump and a control box" - nothing really worth looking it. This was right next to reception and in a busy corridor, so it was a bit risky to venture in anyhow! If it had been a traction lift then i'd been in there filming!

DESCRIPTION OF A SOLENOID DOOR BELL
It's a bit like a xylophone with a solenoid as a hammer (look up 'xylophone' on the net if you don't know what it is).
The door bell, in it's basic form, is two plates of metal which when hit, vibrate. There are two lengths of plate: a small plate that makes a higher tone (when hit) and a larger plate which makes a deeper tone (when hit).
These plates are mounted in a box, one of the left, one on the right. Between these plates is a 'hammer' that hits the small plate first (which gives a ding), then hits the larger plate second (which gives the 'dong').
A solenoid moves the "hammer" (which is really just a bar of metal that moves left and right). This hammer only gives the metal plates a quick touch in both directions, otherwise it would stop the dampen the tone by stopping the vibrations.
Here is the sequence...
Solenoid gets power - it shoots across and strikes the small plate (DING), when de-powered, the solenoid is spring loaded and returns to it's original position, but hits the DONG plate on it's return.
Ok, hope you understand my description! It's an old fashioned door bell essentially!
(I love explaining things by the way!)

Category:

Education

Tags:

• elevator
• lifts
• lift
• travel
• inn
• hotel
• winda
• stannah
• hall
• lantern
• call
• button
• otis
• kone
• Aufzug

[WarthogMist08]

That continuous noise of doorbells in the corridoor sounds really eerie! I'm not keen on Stannah passenger lifts personally - they specialise in stairlifts! Premier Inn - everything's premier except the price... and the lifts!!

[mrmattandmrchay]

At least Premier Inn give you shampoo bottles and more TV channels that Travelodge! Travelodge have cut back on everything!

The company is paying anyhow!

I agree with your comment on Stannah.

[MrUNIXman]

I thought all premier inn hotels lifts would be locked may be I was wrong, I have come across some hotels with lifts requring a key card.

[jdtayloruk]

What is interesting is two other lifts I know of around my area have it to, I think this could be a cheaoper option but one near me oddly only sounds it after a button has been pressed, whicxh isn't of much help to anyone.