Power Units

Three different products are sold as a "power unit" here

The word covers three unrelated things in this category, and they are not interchangeable.

1. Single-lift AC electric/hydraulic power units (5 listings, 3 part numbers)

These are vertical-mount hydraulic power packs: an AC motor, a pump, a plastic-and-steel reservoir and a pressure relief valve (PRV). The end head is prepared for lift-hold-lower applications using a manual lowering valve or solenoid cartridge valves, which are not described as included. The three part numbers stocked are the F2.1F3H1 (2.5 HP, 3.6 gal, 2,850 PRV), the E2.1F3H1 (2.5 HP, 3.6 gal, 2,650 PRV) and the E1.2B3F1 (1.5 HP, 1.6 gal, 2,500 PRV). The F2.1F3H1 and E1.2B3F1 listings state a power up, gravity down function: the descent uses the weight of the vehicle, which the listings describe as using less electricity than the ascent. The E2.1F3H1 listing does not state a descent method; confirm it on that unit's spec sheet.

2. Master power units for banks of parking lifts (3 listings)

The two Autostacker MPU units are a different animal. Instead of one pump per lift, a single central unit feeds a whole row: both the standard and the high-speed MPU are rated to operate up to 12 lifts, and both listings state compatibility with the Autostacker OPT2 and OPT3 series car lifts. The standard MPU uses a 5 HP motor on 208-240V, 50/60 Hz, single-phase. The high-speed MPU uses a 10 HP motor on 208-230/460V, 50/60 Hz, three-phase. The third listing in this group is the MPU Shed, a stainless steel housing that fits either master power unit; it is a separate purchase, not an accessory bundled with the MPU.

3. Mounting and air-supply hardware (2 listings)

The Challenger Lifts 10370-00 Power Unit Stand is a two-piece floor stand that raises the power unit off the ground, described as compatible with inground and short-rise lifts and as replacing the 15060, 03-0196, 03-0389 and CL15061 stands. The BendPak GoAir mini air compressor is not hydraulic at all: it is the small 110V air source that releases the safety locks on a four-post lift and inflates tires.

How to size a hydraulic power unit: the four numbers that matter

Motor horsepower and reservoir volume set the speed, not the capacity

Across the units stocked here the motor is either 1.5 HP or 2.5 HP, and the reservoir is either 1.6 gal or 3.6 gal. The two move together: the 1.5 HP units carry the 1.6-gallon tank, the 2.5 HP units carry the 3.6-gallon tank. In the manufacturer's own words on the E2.1F3H1 listing, the larger pairing exists "to provide an additional boost of power" so that low-rise lifts reach full extension faster. Reservoir volume is a published spec on each hydraulic listing; match it to the value the lift manufacturer specifies for your frame.

Capacity claims here belong to specific units. The E1.2B3F1 listing states that this compact 1.5 HP unit has enough capacity to lift a 10,000-lb truck or SUV, and that on a low-rise car lift it reaches the lift's maximum capacity in about 30 seconds. Do not carry that number across to a different model; check the lift manufacturer's spec for your frame.

Pressure relief valve (PRV) setting

The PRV is the safety threshold, in PSI, at which the valve opens and lets high-pressure fluid bypass until conditions return to normal, then closes automatically. Among the three stocked hydraulic units the settings are 2,500, 2,650 and 2,850 PSI. A higher threshold gives, per the F2.1F3H1 listing, "a larger window of recovery" under heavy loads. A higher threshold is not automatically better: confirm the PRV setting your lift manufacturer specifies in the lift's manual before you order.

Voltage and phase: check this before anything else

Every hydraulic power unit in this category is a 208-230V (or 220V) single-phase machine; the listed frequency is 60 Hz on the BendPak-branded units and 50/60 Hz on the Ranger E2.1F3H1 and E1.2B3F1. There is no 110V hydraulic power unit in this category, and no single-phase 460V option. If your lift circuit is 110/120V, none of these hydraulic units will run on it. The only 110V product on this page is the GoAir mini air compressor.

Phase is the second gate, and it is where the Autostacker units split. The standard MPU is single-phase and will run off the same class of service as a normal two-post lift. The high-speed MPU is three-phase: if the shop does not have three-phase service, that unit is off the table regardless of how attractive the speed is. Two of the hydraulic units also list 50/60 Hz operation (the E2.1F3H1 at 208-230V, 50-60 Hz and the E1.2B3F1 at 220V, 50/60 Hz), while the F2.1F3H1 is listed as 60 Hz. Amperage draw is not published on the hydraulic listings; consult the model's spec sheet or the lift manual for breaker sizing.

Mounting, environment and fluid

The F2.1F3H1 and E1.2B3F1 listings (both brands) state a common set of build specs:

• Vertical mounting. These units are designed to hang vertically, typically on the lift column. If the power unit currently sits on the floor and you want it at working height, that is what the Challenger 10370-00 stand addresses, which its listing describes as "more ergonomic for technicians by raising the power unit up off the floor."
• Totally enclosed motors, described as suitable for humid environments or dusty, contaminated atmospheres, with a heavy gauge steel frame and base and ball bearings.
• Operating temperature range of -13 to 175 degrees F (-25 to +80 degrees C), stated as the minimum and maximum recommended temperatures. That range covers an unheated northern garage and a hot southern bay.
• Fluid: most premium grade petroleum-based fluids can be used, with an optimum operating viscosity range of 15 to 68 cSt. The listings do not state whether fluid ships with the unit; confirm before ordering.
• Reservoirs are supplied in black plastic and steel, with an oil level dipstick, a high-performance cartridge check valve as standard, and heavy-duty start switches with a high IP protection class and silver-plated contacts.
• End head prepared for lift-hold-lower applications using a standard manual lowering valve or solenoid cartridge valves. The listings describe the head as prepared for those valves, which is not the same as shipping with a solenoid installed; confirm which lowering arrangement your lift uses.

The E2.1F3H1 listing states only the enclosed motor, the end head, the relief valves, the start switches and the temperature range; mounting, reservoir construction and fluid viscosity are not published on it.

The Autostacker MPU listings do not publish reservoir volume, PRV setting or operating temperature. For those units the published specs are motor horsepower, voltage, frequency, phase, lift count and lift-series compatibility; anything else should be confirmed against the model's spec sheet.

Certifications declared on these listings

Certification is declared at two different levels on the hydraulic units, and the distinction matters if an inspector asks.

• Unit level: the shared specification table printed on the Ranger listings shows the F2.1F3H1 and E2.1F3H1 as UL/ETL, and the E1.2B3F1 as CE. On the BendPak-branded listings the same status appears in the headline spec line, which reads "UL/ETL Listed" for the F2.1F3H1 and "CE Approved" for the E1.2B3F1.
• Motor level: the five BendPak- and Ranger-branded hydraulic listings describe the enclosed AC electric motors as UL Recognized. Only the BendPak F2.1F3H1 listing adds "CSA Certified" (with an asterisk in the source), so CSA should be confirmed on the unit's own nameplate before relying on it. That is a component listing on the motor, not a listing of the complete power unit.

No product in this category declares ALI, ASME or OSHA certification. ALI certification applies to the lift itself, not to a replacement power unit, so if ALI status is a requirement at your facility it has to be verified on the lift, and you should confirm with the lift manufacturer that swapping in a non-original power unit does not affect it. Nine of the ten listings carry a California Prop 65 warning; the Challenger stand does not.

Comparison: the 10 items in this category

Prices are the list prices shown on the product pages and are subject to change; confirm current pricing and lead time on the individual listing.

A note on two inconsistencies in the manufacturer copy

Two things in the supplied product copy do not line up, and it is better to say so than to repeat them.

First, the BendPak-branded F2.1F3H1 page contains a paragraph that reads "Every hydraulic power pack manufactured by Ranger Products," and the Ranger-branded E2.1F3H1 and E1.2B3F1 pages contain paragraphs that credit BendPak. Ranger is a BendPak brand and the marketing text is shared between the two lines. Where the marketing paragraph and the product name disagree about brand, go by the product name and the specification table, which are the reliable fields.

Second, the specification table reproduced on the Ranger listings covers the wider factory family and lists six models: F2.1F3H1, E2.1F3H1, E0.8B8F1 (1.6 gal, 1,900 PRV, 1.5 HP), E3.7K3H2 (8.5 gal, 2,400 PRV, 2.5 HP), F3.2G3H1 (4.2 gal, 2,650 PRV, 2.5 HP) and E1.2B3F1. Only three of those six, F2.1F3H1, E2.1F3H1 and E1.2B3F1, are carried as items in this category. If your lift calls for one of the other three, ask us rather than substituting on your own.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know which power unit my lift takes?

Match four things to the lift manufacturer's spec: motor horsepower, reservoir volume, PRV setting and the voltage/phase of the circuit feeding the lift. As the F2.1F3H1 listing puts it, each power unit "is as unique as the lift it fits," and in most cases one unit fits several different lifts. The part number on the tag of the failed unit is the fastest answer; if the tag is unreadable, send us the lift make, model and serial number.

Will one of these run on 110V household power?

No. Every hydraulic power unit in this category is 208-230V or 220V single-phase. The only 110V item here is the GoAir mini air compressor, which runs on 110VAC at 2 A with a 10 A fuse value.

What is the difference between the standard and the high-speed Autostacker MPU?

Speed, motor size and electrical service. The standard unit is a 5 HP single-phase machine on 208-240V; the high-speed unit is a 10 HP three-phase machine on 208-230/460V. Both are rated for up to 12 lifts and both list compatibility with the OPT2 and OPT3 series. If the building has only single-phase service, the standard MPU is the one that will actually run.

Does the power unit come with hydraulic fluid, hoses or a lowering solenoid?

The listings do not state that fluid is included, and fluid should be purchased separately in the 15 to 68 cSt viscosity range. The end head is described as prepared for lift-hold-lower applications with a manual lowering valve or solenoid cartridge valves, which describes the porting, not an included solenoid. Hoses and fittings are not listed as included on any item in this category. On the Autostacker side, the MPU Shed housing is a separate purchase from the master power unit it fits.

Why does the same part number appear twice under two brands?

Parts 5585280 and 5585435 are each listed once as BendPak and once as Ranger, at the same price and under the same GTIN. It is the same hardware sold into two brand catalogs. Order whichever listing matches the badge on your lift; if you are unsure, either will ship the same part number.

What should I expect on delivery?

All 10 items are flagged for free shipping, and the Autostacker listings specify that shipping is free to direct points within the 48 contiguous states. Nine of the ten listings state that it is the buyer's responsibility to unload the freight at their location, so plan for a forklift or enough hands at the dock. Those same nine listings also note that BendPak or Ranger charges sales tax in California. Product literature is available on several listings: flyer PDFs on the three Ranger units, and two manuals on the GoAir compressor.