A forklift battery is very costly. They’re normally worth up to about 30% of a new forklift’s total value. High fuel costs can make a battery-powered machine an appealing and cost-effective choice to gas or propane-powered choices, however, you can only discover those cost savings if you take reasonable care of your batteries.
A typical forklift battery supplies you with about 8,000 working hours. But if you don’t tolerate forklift battery maintenance the proper way, then you may need to substitute them much sooner than that, especially adding to your operating costs. To support you, we’ve put together some key information and the best techniques for lengthening and optimizing your forklift battery lifespan.
Avoid running your forklift battery under 20% capacity
To maximize the life of your forklift battery, we suggest not discharging it more than 80%. A deep discharge can damage your battery and your forklift as a whole because doing so can cause its electrical components to run hot and overheat. Low battery life also impairs performance, leading to reduced traction and slower hydraulics. If it does run totally out, then it will need a full, uninterrupted eight-hour charging cycle.
Don’t charge your machine more than once a day with typical charging methods
Opportunity charging or charging with classic chargers during lunch breaks can enormously decrease the overall lifespan of your forklift batteries. Typically speaking, a new battery has about 1,500 charges in it. The more frequently you charge it, even if it’s just for a short time or to “top it off”, the more fast those charges are used up. To obtain the most out of your forklift batteries, we recommend only charging them once per day, and you should never interrupt a charging cycle—always charge it thoroughly.
Regularly check your water levels
Water plays a critical role in the running and life expectancy of lead-acid forklift batteries. During a charge cycle, the water is warmed up and smashes into two gases, terminating hydrogen bubbles at the negative plates and oxygen at the positive. Permitting the water level in a battery to drop too low exposes the plates to the air, forcing the active material in them to dry and become crispy, potentially leading to endless damage.
A critical part of forklift battery maintenance is adding water to it at frequent intervals, typically every five to ten recharges. It’s necessary to only fill up to the level demonstrated within your battery, as overfilling can also lead to severe damage. Furthermore, you should only top up the water after charging, not before. Low-level lights can also be established to add a visual reminder as well.
Understanding Possibility and Fast Charging
Fast charging your forklift batteries decreases downtime, but it can also lead to heat that will reduce their lifespan. But with the proper system in place, a multi-shift operation with the possibility of fast charging could benefit your operation. If you have queries about these charging types, talk to our team. We’ll help you use the proper charger and do it the accurate way to avoid temperature problems while still underestimating your downtime.
Clean your forklift battery every month
An important part of forklift battery maintenance is to cleanse the top of each one monthly, or as often as required to keep it free of contaminated material. Chemical build-up can lead to corrosion, shorten the lifespan, and may nullify your manufacturer’s warranty. You can use battery cleaner or warm water to clean the lids of your batteries.
