Butler Mobility IPL User manual

Document 24 Page 1 of 4 Rev 6, 29 Dec 2010
Phone: [phone] Toll-free: 888-847-0804 in[email protected]
INCLINED PLATFORM WHEELCHAIR LIFT USER GUIDE
Thank you for purchasing a Butler Mobility Inclined Platform Wheelchair Lift (IPL). Your lift
has been carefully manufactured specifically for your location and you can expect many
years of trouble-free service.
Your IPL is a heavy duty, industrial-strength piece of precision equipment. It has many
safety features, including devices to stop the platform if it encounters an obstacle on the
stairs in either direction, or in the unlikely event that a chain should break, or the platform
should exceed a safe speed.
The Butler Mobility IPL is very safe and operates quite smoothly, but will stop abruptly if an
obstruction is encountered or the emergency stop is activated. With the capability of lifting
500 to 750 lbs to considerable heights, its rails and platform are heavy and it has a powerful
motor.
Good judgment should be used in determining whether the person(s) for whom the
equipment is needed is (are) able to use the lift without an attendant. It is important
to read the information below and use the equipment responsibly.
1 Boarding the Lift
A. Position: The correct position for the wheelchair is with either the front wheels or
the rear wheels between the two guide strips.
B. Brakes: After properly locating the chair on the platform, always engage the brakes
on both rear wheels of the wheelchair. Users of a wheelchair with a joystick should
switch off power to the joystick.
C. Overhead clearance: Passengers on the lift have the highest overhead clearance
when their back is closest to the stairway. Consider these tips if there is any
question of having enough headroom on the platform:
If entering the lift from the bottom of the stairs: ride onto the platform backwards
and stop with the rear wheels between the two guide strips.
If entering the lift from the top landing: face forward and center the rear wheels
between the two guide strips.
D. Standing passenger: If an attendant or other passenger is riding the lift, he or she
must stand close to the rear of the platform (close to the staircase) and be mindful of
room overhead.
2 Operating the Lift
A. Joystick: The primary control is a three-position joystick mounted on the control
tube, within easy reach of the wheelchair user (see Figure 1). The switch’s center
position is off. Tilt the switch toward the top of the stairs to go up. Release it to stop
the platform. Tilt the switch toward the bottom of the stairs to go down.
If you wish to change direction while riding the lift, allow the platform to come to a
complete stop before proceeding in the opposite direction.

Butler Mobility IPL User Guide
Document 24 Page 2 of 4 Rev 6, 29 Dec 2010
Figure 1: Platform Controls
B. Emergency Stop: Push the button (see Figure 1) to stop or disable the lift and pull it
out to start or enable the lift again. The Emergency Stop button will latch when
pushed in, and must be manually pulled back out. The lift will stop very suddenly.
C. Call switches: There is a call-send switch at the top of the stairs to bring the lift to
the top of the stairs or to send it down. There is also a call-send switch at the bottom
of the stairs to move the lift up or down. These switches may be keyed.
Figure 2: Upper and Lower Call
D. Keyed controls: if your lift is equipped with keyed controls, the rider must turn the
key clockwise (to the right) before using the joystick or either call button. The key
cannot be removed from the switch when it is in the on position.
E. The platform will automatically slow down and then stop at the top and bottom of the
stairs. The installation technician will assure that the stopping points are properly
adjusted.

Butler Mobility IPL User Guide
Document 24 Page 3 of 4 Rev 6, 29 Dec 2010
3 Owning the Lift
A. Battery Backup: The battery backup or Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) is an
integral part of the lift. It allows the lift to operate approximately 10-15 times,
depending on the height and the load, without household electricity (mains power).
Plug the UPS DIRECTLY into a dedicated 120V outlet (a circuit breaker wired with
only one outlet); do NOT use an extension cord. See Paragraph 4F, “Uninterruptible
Power Supply”, below.
The UPS will go through a self-check when plugged in. Press and hold the ON/OFF
button to select the UPS mode if the Line Power LED is flashing. Plug the power
cord from the lift’s power unit into the outlet on the UPS. Contact the factory if the
red battery charge indicator is on for more than 12 hours.
B. Repair/Adjustment: Never tamper or allow anyone to tamper with any of the
equipment, including the connectors on the power unit and the various safety
switches. Only an authorized repair person should make adjustments or repairs.
C. Cover: Never operate the lift without the cover on the power unit. Shock hazards
and pinch points are present.
D. Children: Any lift to which children have access should have keyed switches to
prevent them from playing with the unit. If you do not have keyed switches, please
contact your dealer or the factory to install them.
4 Lift Features and Details
A. End Ramp: Your lift may have a folding end ramp. The lift will stop if the ramp does
not begin to retract as the lift leaves the lower level. This is a safety feature, and you
will be able to travel back to the lower level. In the unlikely event that the ramp does
not fully raise and lock in its upright position when the platform raises off the floor, do
not use unit until repaired.
B. Apron Switch: The bottom of the platform has a lightweight fiberboard “apron”
which floats inside the platform’s frame. Downward travel will stop if anything gets in
the way of the apron, although upward travel is allowed to move away from the
obstacle.
C. Rear Bar Switch: The bar between the platform and the steps is spring-loaded.
Upward travel will stop if anything causes the bar to press back towards the platform,
although downward travel is allowed to move away from the obstacle.
D. Over-travel Escape: The lift will be stopped by the over-travel switch if the upper
limit switch fails to operate. To recover from this, first depress (press in) the platform
emergency stop and then press the over-travel escape switch on the bottom of the
upper call-send station (reference Figure 2). The platform will travel slightly
downward until the over-travel switch closes or for a maximum of one second.
Normal operation may then be resumed by pulling the platform emergency stop
switch back out.
E. Slow travel zones: These zones extend approximately six inches from the bottom
and top limits. Their function is to make sure that the platform starts and stops
safely and comfortably at the top and bottom of the stairs. (“Soft start, soft stop.”)
Note that if you reverse direction while within these slow travel zones, the lift will
travel slowly for the rest of the trip. This is to assure the lift stops smoothly at the
correct place. On the next trip up or down, the lift will travel at the normal speed.

Butler Mobility IPL User Guide
Document 24 Page 4 of 4 Rev 6, 29 Dec 2010
F. Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS): The UPS provides temporary operating
power to the lift during periods of power loss and line voltage regulation during
periods of high or low voltage. It also has power, overload, and battery status
indicators (see Table 1).
Plug the UPS DIRECTLY into a dedicated 120V outlet (a circuit breaker wired
with only one outlet); do NOT use an extension cord.
The UPS will go through a self-check when plugged in. Press and hold the
MODE button to select the UPS mode if the Line power LED is flashing.
The battery should be tested by a qualified technician annually and replaced as
necessary. Batteries usually need to be replaced every 2 years.
Contact the factory if the red Battery Charge indicator is on for more than 12
hours.
Test UPS operation ONLY BY OPENING THE BREAKER DEDICATED TO
THE LIFT –unplugging the UPS will result in an ungrounded lift and
possible damage to the UPS and lift.
Table 1: UPS Switches and Indicators
INDICATOR /
SWITCH
FUNCTION OR DESCRIPTION
MODE button - Press and hold for approximately two seconds if Line
Power LED is flashing to select the UPS mode.
Line Power –Green for normal UPS mode, flashing when in “Charge
only mode” to indicate no backup available
Voltage regulation –on if UPS is correcting for high or low line voltage
Overload –RED light for overload while on battery power
Battery Power –YELLOW when on battery power
Battery Charge –RED for low charge
Horn (alarm) –press to cancel alarm
Many Butler Inclined Platform Lifts have been giving trouble-free service for over 30 years.
In the event your lift ever shows signs of malfunction, we strongly urge you to engage an
authorized dealer or a factory representative for service. Attempting to adjust the lift without
the required knowledge and experience may be dangerous to the user and could damage
the lift.