Should I prefer a rechargeable remote control or a battery-powered one?
The rechargeable ST series zeroes consumable cost and is IP67; on the battery SF series a dead cell is changed in seconds. It comes down to charging discipline.
The decision depends on whether or not you can establish charging discipline on site. If you have a fixed shift routine and a definite point where the remote control will be left every evening, the Li-Po rechargeable model (the LT200 remote in the ST series) removes the cost of buying batteries continually and comes with IP67 protection. If the crew is mobile, the site is dispersed or the remote control changes hands during the day, the model with 3xAAA batteries (the LF200 remote in the SF series, IP64) causes fewer interruptions; a dead battery is changed within seconds.
The difference between the two power approaches is how the failure is remedied
- Li-Po rechargeable (LT200 / ST series): charged at the end of the shift with the AXI-Link 3-pin industrial connector. There is no ongoing cost of buying batteries. Typical Li-Po cells give 300-500 charge cycles; the charging temperature is generally in the 0-45 °C range. If charging is forgotten, the remote control will not work at the start of the shift, so a fixed charging point and a habit are needed.
- 3xAAA battery-powered (LF200 / SF series): when the battery runs out it is replaced instantly with an alkaline battery available anywhere, keeping spares is very easy, and the shelf life is long. On the other hand the capacity of an alkaline battery falls noticeably at low temperature and it creates an ongoing consumable cost.
Comparison
| Criterion | Li-Po rechargeable (ST series) | Battery-powered (SF series) |
|---|---|---|
| Remote control ingress protection rating | IP67 | IP64 |
| What is done when the energy runs out | Putting it on charge | Changing the battery |
| Downtime | As long as the charging time, if there is no spare unit | As long as the battery change |
| Consumable cost | None | Continual battery purchase |
| Cold environment | Mind the charging temperature range | Alkaline capacity falls |
| Weak point | Charging being forgotten | The spare battery stock running out |
The three mistakes most often made in the field
- Not fixing the charging point. If the remote control is left somewhere different every evening, no charging routine forms. Fix the charging unit at a point the operator already passes and leave it there permanently.
- Keeping the spare battery in the vehicle. An alkaline battery that has been waiting in the cold does less work than expected the moment it is fitted; why battery performance drops in cold weather is explained under a separate heading.
- Leaving an unused unit just as it is. On the battery-powered model the battery leaks and ruins the terminals, on the rechargeable model the battery goes into deep discharge. The headings rules for long-term storage and extending Li-Po life deal with these two cases separately.
Recommended practice, and the cases where this distinction is not decisive
If a single shift, uninterrupted use and a central charging station can be set up, the rechargeable model; in environments such as a mobile crew, a dispersed site or a cold store, the battery-powered model is more practical. A battery life value in hours is not stated in the product data; base your planning on measuring your own usage intensity.
- The receiver side is a separate decision. Whether the remote control is rechargeable or battery-powered does not change where the receiver will be mounted; for that, look at the comparison between a panel-mount receiver and an outdoor receiver.
- The behaviour of the machine when the energy runs out does not change. On both types the command is cut and the movement stops; what the crane does when the remote control battery dies does not depend on the type of supply.
- The channel count lies outside this choice. Determine how many movements you will drive independently of it.
In practice, decide like this: if there is a fixed point where the remote control will be left in the evening and someone responsible for following it up, choose the rechargeable one. If not, choose the battery-powered one and keep the spare batteries not in the vehicle but somewhere dry and warm. Whichever model you buy, do not forget that a second remote control saves the shift.
The full topic: Wireless Crane Remote Control Selection Guide