Methods of monitoring the condition of elevator belts

A method for monitoring a condition of an elevator belt, the method comprising:

• measuring, via a first measuring apparatus, an electrical characteristic between a first pair of adjacent load carrier strands at a first terminal end of the elevator belt to obtain a first measurement;
• measuring, via the first measuring apparatus or a second measuring apparatus, the electrical characteristic between the first pair of adjacent load carrier strands at a second terminal end of the elevator belt to obtain a second measurement;
• comparing the first measurement and the second measurement to a baseline value or previously-obtained first and second measurements, respectively obtained by the first measuring apparatus or the second measuring apparatus;
• and
• alerting a technician that a fault is present and a maintenance operation is required when the comparison of the electrical characteristic indicates a change in the electrical characteristic by a predetermined amount.

A method for monitoring a condition of an elevator belt in an elevator system, wherein the elevator belt comprises a first terminal end, a second terminal end, load carrier strands extending between the first and second terminal ends, with each strand comprising a conductive wire, and a polymer material surrounding the load carrier strands, wherein a measuring connection point is located between each strand at each terminal end, wherein two adjacent load carrier strands form a pair, the method comprising:

• electrically connecting a measuring apparatus between a pair of the load carrier strands at a measuring connection point at each terminal end;
• and
• measuring, via the measuring apparatus, at each measuring connection point an electrical characteristic between at least one pair of load carrier strands such that a change in the electrical characteristic is indicative of damage within one or more load carrier strand
• comparing the first measurement and the second measurement to a baseline value or previously-obtained first and second measurements, respectively obtained by the measuring apparatus;
• and
• alerting a technician that a fault is present and a maintenance operation is required when the comparison of the electrical characteristic indicates a change in the electrical characteristic by a predetermined amount.