Access Industries Select Stair Lift or ACORN Stair Lift?
Following ACORNs lead, in supplying product direct to the
customer for self-installation is German owned Access
Industries. This is an interesting new competitor in the
direct sales market, in that Access have always criticized
ACORN for supplying the customer direct and providing
significant savings as a result. It seems they have had a
sudden change of heart!
Battery or AC Power?
ACORN stair lifts (and in fact, all modern stair lift
types) are powered by a 24 volt battery pack. Access
Industries Select stair lifts are powered by the domestic
mains supply. So what? You may think.
Safety
Most importantly, the ACORN’s 24 volts DC power supply
is ultra-safe and presents no electric shock hazard whatsoever.
In addition, there are several states where you may not
install AC powered equipment unless you are a fully qualified
electrician.
Trailing Cable
Access Select stair lifts require a trailing cable
to power them. The cable needs to be reeled out and reeled
back in, each and every time the stair lift travels up and
down the stairway. It is not difficult to imagine what all of
this movement does to the cable, over a surprisingly short
period of time. The constant flexing and tensioning causes the
wires in the cable to fail - usually while the stair lift is
in use. When the trailing cable fails, the lift immediately
grinds to a halt - often with the user on board.
Prior to manufacturing our own battery powered stair lift,
ACORN supplied stair lifts almost identical to the Access
Industries design, so we have first hand experience of
this type of equipment. We have lost count of the number of
times we had to replace the trailing cable and cable reel on
this lift type. We very deliberately ‘designed-out’ the need
for a trailing cable on the ACORN stair lift, because we know
it to be so troublesome.
Ride Quality
Battery power has other big advantages too. DC power is
much more controllable. It allows us to provide valuable
features like electronic soft start and soft stop. Aside from
being more comfortable and refined, it is much safer,
particularly for folks with balance problems or those with
arthritis of the neck or back. AC stair lifts have harsh,
jarring starts and stops and the lifts mechanisms are noisy
compared to DC alternatives.
Naturally a battery powered stair lift will continue to
run, in the event of a power outage - an AC unit, like the
Access Select will stop dead if the household power is
interrupted.
Drive Systems
Without exception, all modern stair lift designs utilize a
rack and pinion drive system. The ACORN stair lift employs a
direct drive rack and pinion system that does not require
pulleys and belts. The Access Select also has a rack
and pinion system, though it is not a direct drive. The
Access design also requires a very wide, trough shaped
track that creates a problematic dirt-trap. Day to day
household dust and dander accumulates inside the track and is
difficult to remove.
Some rack and pinion systems require periodic lubrication
of the gear rack - though this is absolutely not the case with
the ACORN stair lift. The ACORN drive system is completely
maintenance free.
As a side note on drive and rail systems, the secret to a
smooth, quiet, gliding travel is surface area contact. The
larger the contact patch, the smoother the ride is going to
be. ACORNs rail profile is tubular rather than trough-shaped.
Using 8 concave rollers affords a surface area contact patch
at least 10 times greater than the wheels installed in the
old-fashioned, trough-shaped system. The result is ACORNs
peerless, smooth, refined and near silent glide, as
opposed to the bumpy, trundling action of the older design.
Controls and Safety Devices
Some stair lifts, ACORN included, feature an easy to
manipulate joystick to control the lift. The ACORN joystick is
mounted on the stair lifts folding armrest. The joystick on
the Access Select is mounted on a fiddly box that is
attached to the unit with Velcro tape. The remote controls
supplied with the ACORN are wireless infra-red items.
Safety is absolutely paramount at ACORN. Our stair
lift is protected by an electro-magnetic braking system and a
self-locking gearbox. The self-locking gearbox alone, as
installed in the Access Select stair lift is not
really a braking system at all. Naturally, every ACORN stair
lift ever made is additionally protected by an over-speed
governor, which guards against the possibility of an
uncontrolled descent.
We consider an over-speed governor to be essential safety
equipment. So do the authorities that determine stair lift
specifications for commercial use
Strangely, an over-speed governor is not even available
on the Access Select model.
Safety Surfaces - In addition, both sides of the
ACORN footrest and the base are protected by pressure
sensitive surfaces that stop the stair lift if it collides
with anything on the staircase. Also the ACORNs carriage is
similarly protected from collision with anything on the rail.
This is not the case with the Access Select stair lift. It has
the most basic protection of the footrest - and none at all to
protect the carriage from crushing anything (or any body
part!) that is on the rail.
ACORN also offers a beautifully engineered hinged rail
system. This enables the lower portion of the rail to be
folded up and out of the way, if the rail presents a tripping
hazard at the foot of the stairs.
Warranty
The warranty on ACORNs motor, gearbox and rail assembly is
a life-time warranty, so confident are we, regarding the
durability and quality of these components. How can we be so
sure? We manufacture these components ourselves in our own
plants. The warranty on the Access Select Motor
assembly is five years.
Ease of Installation
Firstly, The ACORN Superglide is designed with ease of
installation as a priority. There is no stair lift on the
market today that is simpler to install than an ACORN.
The main concern, regarding installation of an Access
Select stair lift is the AC power supply. Some states
prohibit installation of this type of equipment, unless you
are professionally qualified to conduct electrical work.
Aside from physically installing the Access Select,
you may first have to re-hand the unit, if your stair lift is
to go on the right-hand side of the staircase. This entails
reversal of motor electrical cables and removal and
re-installation of the seat post assembly. You may also be
required to shorten - or even lengthen the track!
With ACORN, all of these procedures are taken care of for
you, before your new stair lift leaves our premises. All that
is required is for you to fix the rail to the staircase, mount
the carriage and seat and plug it into a wall outlet. Nothing
could be easier.
Narrow Stairs?
ACORN offers a perch lift alternative, Access doesn’t.
You should also remember that when the stair lift is parked at
the foot of the stairs, the footrest of the Access Select
stair lift is still several inches above the floor. The
mobility challenged user must step up onto this stair lift.
The ACORN stair lift footrest is much, much closer to the
floor, making mounting and dismounting the lift so much safer
and more comfortable.
Summary
As with most things - there is a baffling amount of choice
out there in the marketplace. When choosing a piece of
equipment like a stair lift, it is important to ensure that
you are making like-for-like comparisons. Think carefully when
buying this type of product via the internet. Your first real
opportunity to clearly see the features, engineering (and
limitations) of your new stair lift, are when it arrives on
your doorstep.
ACORN supplies more customers direct, throughout the
world than the rest of the entire industry combined.
Don’t take any chances - make sure you conduct a direct
like-for-like comparison of the features, technology, comfort
and safety aspects of the equipment, before you hand over your
money. |
..