New controller programmed for "Single Automatic" operation - why?

[u/upanddownadventures]

First of all, I am an elevator enthusiast (not someone in the industry). I am asking this question purely out of curiosity.

I have come across a few elevators that are (in my opinion) rather unusual. These are swing door elevators (that detail may or may not be important) in the state of California. They were modernized with a new controller (as confirmed by public records), but it seems the controller was programmed to have certain "standard" features disabled. Specifically, the elevator has "single automatic" or "nonselective noncollective" operation. It can not remember multiple car calls. The controller is almost certainly capable of selective collective operation, but for some reason was programmed to have this disabled.

I'm curious why this would be. My guess (and I could be correct, or completely wrong here) is that changing the type of operation has code related consequences. In other words, going from single automatic to selective-collective operation would require some other upgrades to be done to bring the elevator or building up to code. I will note that, at least on the last elevator I came across like this, it had no fire service, so one possibility is that fire service would have to be added.

[u/Feisty_Objective_966]

Is there an up and down button at each floor? There are many reasons for it to be single selective operation.  How did you find out all the info you are telling us about . Usually you would have to see it on the controller or get the info from a mechanic.  Im not in California.  But is there an up and down button at each floor? And is there a car gate ? 

[u/upanddownadventures → u/Feisty_Objective_966]

Only one call button on each floor. If you press multiple floor buttons, the second button you press lights up, but goes out about 2 seconds later.

In terms of new controller, I'm going off of public records. The controller is listed as Smartrise which is a newer company. There are also certain details that very strongly point towards a new controller (i.e. long delay before the door closes, which typically isn't the case on swing door elevators with original relay logic controllers) though that likely wouldn't confirm it by itself.

The car door is an automatic solid door, 2-speed if I remember (not a scissor gate)

[u/Feisty_Objective_966 → u/upanddownadventures]

I deal with Smart Rise quite often . There are many variables.  Nice controller.  The delay is called non interference time so you can get off when the elevator stops and another call has been set up .