Allen Bradley Safety Lifeline 3 user?

Hi,

We are working on a project for AB Safety product - Lifeline 3.

Has anyone here come across this product? I'd like to know about their installation difficulty, and how's the tensioner work.

Anyone please feedback. Thx.

I just installed 4 and will install 12 more next week. The Lifeline 3 has to be pre-tensioned to use as a cable-pull style switch. It can also be used with a breaking line, which requires repairing/replacing the line once it's been activated. The switch comes with four contacts in three (I think) configurations. We use ours for E-Stops on a conveyor system. The installation and accessories documentation found at ABs website are exactly what is sent with the switch.

Rube said:

I just installed 4 and will install 12 more next week. The Lifeline 3 has to be pre-tensioned to use as a cable-pull style switch. It can also be used with a breaking line, which requires repairing/replacing the line once it's been activated. The switch comes with four contacts in three (I think) configurations. We use ours for E-Stops on a conveyor system. The installation and accessories documentation found at ABs website are exactly what is sent with the switch.

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Hi Rube,

Nice to hear from an experience user here, because I'll be installing them in near future. So, maybe can get some words or precautions from you. Our line is also a conveyor line, it's not for machine barricade purpose.

I've some doubts and questions throw back from our customer, really appreciate if you can spare me 2 - 3 minutes clarify me. I do tried to search the web for installation manuals/guide/step by step, but no luck, do you mind link me there? What I found is the catalog only.

1) For a straight distance of 20 feet (about 7m), the BOM that we required are 440E-A13080 (1 set) and 440E-D13118 (2 units)? Besides that, is there any other required part?

2) The installation kit, 440E-A13080 comes with a 10m cable, if we only require 7m, can we cut off the cable manually?

3) For installation of a distance of 7m, how many meters should the cable be? I believe the tensioner is used to adjust the tension of the cable by coiling them inside, so how many meter/length the tensioner can coil the extra cable in it?

4) Based on the catalog, for a distance <10m, only ONE lifeline 3 and one tensioner spring is required, can be put TWO lifeline 3, in order to make the system more sensitive?

Thanks a lot.

Regards,
CK Chew

CK,

I have also install several lifeline 3 and lifeline 4 systems. I will try to answer your questions and add some of my 2 cents worth.
1. You will need 1 installation kit (440E-A13080), I'm not sure what the D13118 (2 each) are, not in my catalog.
2. Yes the cable can be cut to length.
3. I install the system with the slack removed from the cable and then use the tensioner to take up the slack. I have seen maybe 1 foot worth of cable inside the coil.
4. Don't try to make the system more sensitive. These are sensitive enough (too much so for my conveyor system). If you install 2 of these in such a short distance, you will see that they will "fight" each other and be a bear to adjust. The spring inside the estop is not that exact enough for this (In my opinion).
As for the AB installation kit, I do not use some of the items that are included since I disagree with their choice of material. The eye-bolts in the kit are P-bolts that are just a bent over straight piece of metal. Our standard states to use solid eye eye-bolts. This will prevent the cable from getting pinched in the open space. Also, I install a light on the e-stop to identify which one is tripped. I have several miles of conveyor with a multitude of e-stop switches. They are currently the Fairway style, but I am changing them out to the AB lifeline 4 (which is very similar to the lifeline 3).
I hope this helps.

Bruce,


1) The catalog number is referring from the lifeline 3 catalog.

2) If we just use one Lifeline 3/4 How about the spring quality? We are planing to use two swithc L3/4 because we are affraid of the sensitivity after 2 - 3 years, affraid the spring lose it's tension

What do you think?

Thx.