CM Electric Chain Hoists

CM Electric Chain Hoists Buying Guide

Start with the model, because CM builds one for each job. The five electric hoists here are not interchangeable, so match the model to the work before you touch capacity. The CM ShopStar is the light spot hoist: compact, lightweight, and built for 250 to 1,000 lb picks at a workstation, on a production line, or in an auto shop, from around $2,370. The Lodestar is the workhorse to 3 tons that earned CM its reputation, offered single or three phase. The Lodestar XL is the heavy end of the line, faster and higher capacity for plants that lift near rated load all shift. The Lodestar VS adds a variable frequency drive and onboard diagnostics for placement work, and the BatteryStar goes cordless for sites with no power. Every one of these lives in the wider electric hoists range if you want to compare CM against Harrington and Bison.

Size the capacity to the whole lift, then round up. The rated capacity has to cover everything hanging from the hook: the load, plus any sling, shackle, or lift beam between the hook and the load. Total the worst case, add margin, and round up to the next rating rather than buying right at your maximum. The ShopStar covers 250, 300, 500, 600, and 1,000 lb work where the loads are small and the moves are frequent. The standard Lodestar runs 1/8 through 3 tons, which handles the great majority of shop and stage lifting. When the loads climb past that, the Lodestar XL picks up from 2 tons and runs to the heavier end of the line at three phase power, with double reeved units and lifting speeds to 30 ft per minute for the busiest cells.

Single phase or three phase. Power source is the split that decides where the hoist can plug in. Single phase 115 or 230 volt hoists run on ordinary shop circuits, which is why the ShopStar and the smaller Lodestar single phase units suit garages, workstations, and light industrial bays with no three phase service. Three phase 230/460 volt is the production choice: it feeds the higher capacities, and dual speed models give you a fast speed for travel and a slow one for spotting a load into a fixture. The ShopStar and Lodestar are both offered either way, and the Lodestar XL is three phase only. If your building has three phase power and the hoist runs all day, buy three phase; if it does not, single phase keeps you off an electrician's schedule.

Duty class is the spec that predicts lifespan. Two hoists of the same tonnage can be built for very different lives, and the ASME HST performance standards capture that as duty classes H1 through H5. H2 covers light, infrequent service, H3 is a standard shop rating, and H4 means high volume handling of loads near rated capacity with running time up to half the work period. Both the CM Lodestar and the ShopStar carry an H4 classification, which is most of why they outlast bargain hoists of the same capacity, and the Lodestar VS exceeds H4. Size capacity to the heaviest lift with the usual margin, then confirm the duty class covers your busiest hour. Underbuying duty is the expensive mistake: the hoist passes every load test, then eats brakes and windings a year into heavy service.

Variable speed and cordless: two special cases. Two of these models solve problems the standard hoist does not. The Lodestar VS carries a Magnetek IMPULSE G+ Mini variable frequency drive for infinitely variable speed, or a two step setup, and you can plug a laptop into the control panel to read fault codes and condition monitoring without opening the case. Buy it when precise placement and uptime tracking justify the premium over a fixed speed unit. The BatteryStar takes the assignments with no power at all: a 1 ton cordless hoist with a wireless remote, a standard 20 ft lift that options up to 60 ft, and swap-in batteries, made for temporary lifts and remote job sites. Both keep the zinc plated Star Grade load chain and USA build the Lodestar line is known for.

Suspension, trolleys, and end stops. A top hook hangs the hoist from a fixed point, and that is all many installations need. When the load has to travel, the hoist rides a trolley on the beam flange, so match the trolley to your flange width and pick push, geared, or motorized travel to suit how often the load moves. Whichever you run, the Universal Beam Trolley End Stops in this collection bolt to the beam ends and keep a rolling trolley from running off the rail, fitting flange widths from about 3.2 up to nearly 25 inches. One reminder that catches people out: the hoist and trolley weight count against the capacity of the jib crane or portable gantry they hang from, so include them when you rate the overhead structure. For hand chain and lever units, see manual hoists and trolleys.

ASME B30.16 and the inspection rhythm. Electric chain hoists are governed by ASME B30.16, and the CM units here are built to meet it, with NEMA 4X control stations on the Lodestar for weather and washdown areas. The standard sets a two part inspection rhythm: frequent visual checks in service, daily to monthly depending on how hard the hoist works, plus documented periodic inspections on intervals that tighten as service gets heavier. Keep the rated load marked on the hoist, never exceed it, watch the load chain for wear and stretch, and confirm the upper and lower limit switches stop travel where they should. File your proof of periodic inspection with the manual, and address any brake or chain fault before the next lift rather than after it.