An actuator system, preferably for patient lifters, includes at least one actuator driven by an electric motor, a control unit having a power limiting circuit, and at least one handset having a plurality of keys. The actuator system is arranged such that the threshold value of the maximum permissible power in the power limiting circuit may be changed, and that this change may be performed via a key on the handset. Thus, it is possible to subsequently adjust the cutout limit safely and easily via a key on a handset, so that the cutout limit may be adapted to the actual application into which the actuator system is to be incorporated. For reasons of safety, it is preferred to use a separate handset for changing the threshold value.