A weighted assembly that balances the elevator car and reduces the traction motor load during normal operation.
Full Definition
The counterweight travels in the opposite direction to the car within the hoistway, connected by the suspension ropes over the drive sheave. Its mass is typically set at car tare weight plus 40–50 % of rated load, minimising the out-of-balance torque demand on the traction machine. Guide rails, separate from the car rails, keep the counterweight aligned. Counterweight buffers in the pit absorb impact if the car overshoots the top landing. EN 81-20 §5.5 defines minimum clearances around the counterweight.
