Savaria Telecab Through-Floor Lift in San Diego & Orange County, CA
Telecab and Telecab 17 for Two-Story Homes
The Savaria Telecab: a two-floor lift with no shaft to build
The Savaria Telecab is a through-floor lift. A compact cab travels up through a cut-out in the floor, driven by a roller-chain hydraulic system housed in an attached tower. You do not build a hoistway. It serves two stops, travels up to 23 feet and runs at 20 feet per minute. There are two models: the Telecab at 500 pounds and the Telecab 17 at 845 pounds.
Advantage Elevator is a Savaria Elite dealer, so we sell, install and service the Telecab from our Carlsbad and Costa Mesa offices. A through-floor lift costs less than a traditional elevator. We quote it after a free measure, because the price depends on your floor opening, cab size and options. Pricing depends on the model, number of stops and construction — see what a home elevator costs.
- Two stops, up to 23 ft of travel, 20 fpm
- Telecab 500 lb; Telecab 17 845 lb
- Dedicated 110 VAC, 20 A circuit, no machine room
- CSLB C-11 #1027832, 4.9 stars on 300+ Google reviews
Savaria home elevator at a bedroom landing
Elevator controller concealed behind a cabinet door
Advantage Elevator crew and service fleet, Carlsbad
Why a Telecab works for two-story homes
No hoistway to build
A faster, less invasive installation
Capacity to match the household
Telecab and Telecab 17 specifications
These figures come from Savaria’s published specifications. Final dimensions depend on your floor opening and the options you pick, and we confirm them on your written quote.
| Item | Telecab | Telecab 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Stops | 2 | 2 |
| Capacity | 500 lb | 845 lb |
| Travel | Up to 23 ft | Up to 23 ft |
| Speed | 20 fpm | 20 fpm |
| Cab size | 30 x 46 x 78 in (up to 36 x 59 optional) | 30 x 46 x 80 in (36 x 54 x 80 optional) |
| Floor cut-out | Minimum 36 x 60.5 in | 60.5 x 35.25 in (68.5 x 41.25 in for the larger cab) |
| Minimum overhead | 96 in (92 in with local variance) | Confirmed on quote |
| Drive | 2:1 roller-chain hydraulic, 24 VDC 3 hp motor and pump in attached tower | Same |
| Power | 110 VAC, 20 A dedicated | 110 VAC, 20 A dedicated |
| Machine room | None | None |
Options include a larger cab, an automatic door, a second door, a call station, a UPS battery backup and Savaria Link.
Who the Telecab suits in Southern California homes
Aging in place in tract homes. Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Poway, Carlsbad’s Calavera Hills and La Costa, and Rancho Bernardo are full of two-story homes from the 1970s through the 1990s. The original owners often want to keep the bedrooms upstairs. A Telecab lets them do that without a remodel that moves rooms around.
Narrow beach-area lots. In Leucadia, Cardiff, Ocean Beach and Huntington Beach, lots are tight and rebuilds are tall. A through-floor lift avoids giving up a closet stack.
Homes with a recovering family member. After surgery or an injury, a household may need a lift for months or years. The Telecab is a reasonable middle step between a stairlift and a full elevator.
If you need three or more stops, or want a larger cab, look at a Vuelift or a hoistway elevator such as the Eclipse. For a smaller, lighter option, see the Luma.
Power and space requirements
The Telecab needs a dedicated 110-volt, 20-amp circuit. It does not need a machine room. You do need a floor opening in the shape and size above, with the cut-out directly above the lower landing, and clear overhead of 96 inches, or 92 inches with a local variance. The attached tower holds the drive. We measure the upper and lower floor on the free visit and confirm the layout in the written quote.
Finishes and options
The cab is a compact, finished enclosure. You can add a larger cab, an automatic door, a second door for a walk-through arrangement, a call station, a battery backup that lets the lift lower during an outage, and Savaria Link. Talk to us about which of these matter for the person who will ride most often. Our shaftless home elevators page compares the Telecab with other options.
Warranty, installation and timeline
Savaria provides a 36-month warranty against defective parts through the dealer, which requires regular maintenance. Our maintenance plans include a full inspection and safety-device testing and satisfy that requirement.
Installation starts with the free measure. We cut the floor opening, run the dedicated circuit, set the tower and cab, test the controls and finish with a test ride. We handle the building permit and inspection coordination with your city’s building department. Because there is no hoistway, the work is shorter than for a traditional elevator; your quote includes a schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Telecab cost?
A through-floor lift costs less than a traditional elevator, and we quote it after a free measure because the price depends on your floor opening, cab size and options. Pricing depends on the model, number of stops and construction — see what a home elevator costs.
What is the difference between the Telecab and the Telecab 17?
The Telecab carries 500 pounds. The Telecab 17 carries 845 pounds and has a slightly different cab and cut-out size. Both serve two stops over up to 23 feet.
Does the Telecab need a hoistway?
No. It travels through a floor opening, with the drive in an attached tower. You do not build a shaft.
What power does it need?
A dedicated 110 VAC, 20 A circuit. There is no machine room.
Can it serve three floors?
No. The Telecab serves two stops. For three or more floors, look at a hoistway elevator or a Vuelift.
Think a Telecab fits your home?
Free measure in San Diego and Orange County. (833) 865-7887.
