Understanding the Role of Limit Switches

Ever wonder how your Counterweight Assist Hoist (CWA) knows when to stop? You’ve got counterweight limit switches to thank for that! While they might not be the most glamorous part of your stage equipment, these switches are essential for keeping your rigging safe and preventing costly damage. 

What is a CWA Hoist? 

Before we dive into the switches themselves, let’s quickly recap what a CWA hoist does. It’s essentially a motorized helper for your counterweight system. Instead of manually hauling on ropes to raise and lower scenery, the winch does the heavy lifting. This is a huge advantage in terms of speed, efficiency, and reducing the risk of strain injuries for your crew. 

The Role of Limit Switches 

Now, imagine what would happen if that hoist just kept running. Your counterweight arbor could slam into the top or bottom of its travel, potentially damaging the equipment, the scenery, or even causing a serious injury to those on stage. 

That’s where limit switches come in. They’re strategically placed at the upper and lower limits of the arbor’s travel. When the arbor reaches a limit, the switch is triggered, sending a signal to the motor to shut off. 

Double the Protection: Overtravel Limit Switches 

In the world of theater, redundancy is key. That’s why we equip our CWA winches with not just two, but four limit switches. 

The first pair are standard upper and lower limit switches. The second pair are called “overtravel” limit switches. These act as a backup system. If, for some reason, a primary limit switch fails, the corresponding overtravel switch kicks in to prevent any overshooting. 

Peace of Mind for Your Stage 

To make installation a breeze, our electricians wire the motor control cabinet, while the limit switches themselves are shipped with a simple junction box that mounts behind the wall. The ports for upper and lower limits, as well as upper and lower travels, are clearly marked, making it nearly plug-and-play for your team.

At Thern Stage Equipment, safety is our top priority. That’s why we engineer our CWA hoist with this robust limit switch system. It’s one less thing for you to worry about, so you can focus on putting on a spectacular show. 

Do you have questions about counterweight limit switches or other safety features of our counterweight rigging? Our team is here to help! Contact us today.