ELEVATOR WITH AN ELECTRICAL LINEAR MOTOR

The invention relates to an elevator having two or more elevator car brakes, each of the car brakes comprising an actuator to control the car brake and each of the car brakes mounted to elevator car and fitted to selectively engage against a guide rail of an elevator car to stop movement of an elevator car or to open to enable movement of an elevator car. The method that can be realized therewith comprises the succession of following steps: an empty car is kept standstill by providing a driving force upwards with all the N movers (24, 26; 126) mounted to the elevator car, and total current Itotof all N movers is determined. One of the car brakes is applied while the others are kept open. The driving current of each of the movers (24, 26; 126) is gradually decreased, and movement of elevator car is observed. When movement of elevator car is detected, the driving current at the moment movement started is recorded, and the recorded current is compared to a reference value, and if the recorded current is higher than the reference value, safety measures with the elevator are performed.