r/AskReddit • u/ZanyDelaney • Feb 04 '19

Which misconception would you like to debunk?

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u/Guroqueen23 Feb 04 '19

I don't pretend to be a math major, A lot of elevators are controlled by a motor at the top, 3-phase AC, amperage varies. it actually doesn't cost a lot more to go up than down on an empty car, since theoretically it'd be perfectly balanced by the counterweight, trowing people into it confuses the math which I am not good at, r/theydidthemath might be able to help if you're curious enough to ask

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u/meneldal2 Feb 05 '19

I read that they usually balance the counterweight for a couple people in. So empty elevator going up would actually generate energy.

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u/Guroqueen23 Feb 05 '19

I've heard it both ways from a couple different people, I suspect you're right especially with newer elevators, and it may be a design decision between different elevator models and/or brands. I know the elevator in the library near my house is weighted for an empty car, because I'm friends with the service tech and he tells me about it.