Installing an AmeriGlide Stair Lift: Part III Installing the Chassis and Wiring

Published by Stephen on July 11, 2009 Under stair lifts

Move the Chassis to the Top of the Stairs

Once the track has been secured to the stairs, the chassis assembly should be brought to the top of the stairs. The chassis is fairly heavy, so it might be necessary for two people to carry it up the stairs. Do not lift it by the plastic shrouding, as this part of the AmeriGlide stair lift is not designed to be weight bearing.

Remove the end cap of the stair lift.

Installing the Wiring and Chain

The AC Stair Lift uses a trailing cable, which is surrounded in a plastic chain. This plastic chain ensures that the power cord moves effortlessly, without kinking. The power cord will already be encased in the plastic chain. It is important that the chain is as long as the metal track. If it is too long, this can cause bunching, so measure both the track and the chain and make any adjustments to the chain that might be necessary.

Ultimately, the chain will slide down the middle section of the track, forming a “U,” but first the power cable needs to be connected to the chassis. One side of the chain is simply a shielded electrical wire. This end will be connected to the junction box, which is connected to the houses power.

The other side has a metal mounting bracket and three electrical connections, one female and two males. The male connectors are all of different sizes. Connect the three wires from the power cable to the three connectors in the bottom of the chassis. Once connected, slide both ends into the chassis and secure the metal mounting bracket on the end of the chain to the chassis. Remember that the chain only bends in one direction and that it will be slid down the track, forming a “U” shape.

A flat metal hook will need to be screwed onto the other end of the chain, which only consists of the shielded electrical wire. This hook will attach to the top of the track, securing the other end of the chain in place. The shielded wire, which extends from the edge of the chain, should be fed under the track, it is important that it does not bunch up under the cap or extend too high.

Installing the Chassis onto the Track

The chassis is now ready to be slid onto the top of the track, but first feed the chain down the track. Sliding the chassis onto the track should be done slowly and with care. It is possible for it to be done by a single person, but it is easier with two. There are four rollers, two on each side of the chassis, which allow the track to be slid onto the track.

This outer shielding of this wire should be stripped, revealing three individual wires. These will need to be stripped as well and fed through the side of the power junction box. Following the wiring diagram, connect these wires to the wires in the junction box. The junction box can then be secured to the bottom of the track, in a manner similar to that of the mounting brackets.

Installing the Junction Box

After the junction box has been secured, there are only a few more steps left. Remove the plastic shrouding by the footrest. The footrest and seat bar need to be straightened and leveled. Remove the three bolts securing the footrest and seat bar and twist it, so that the footrest is level. Screw the bolts and washers back into the chassis and level the footrest again before tightening the three bolts back down.

There is also an electrical connection located under the footrest shroud. This connection is used by the AmeriGlide stair lift to determine how it moves up and down the stairs. Depending on which side of the stairs the lift is installed too, this connection might need to be switched. It will be labeled RH and LH. For a left hand installation, ensure the LH connector is attached. For a right hand installation, ensure the RH connector is attached.

If the seat height needs to be adjusted, do so now, otherwise reconnect the plastic shrouding. Slide the chair onto the top of the chassis, depressing the swivel arm, which allows the chair to turn. In order for the lift to move, the chair must be facing the wall, but when transferring into and out of the chair, the seat can be swiveled.

The AmeriGlide stair lift should now be ready to go, it needs to make contact with the gear though, so it might be necessary to push lightly down on the chair.


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