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One could say that the battery is the heart of the forklift. Just as the human heart beats to circulate blood throughout the body, the battery is circulating energy through the forklift. It is important for a forklift operator to understand how the battery works, how to maintain it, and when to know that a replacement battery is needed. He should also understand what accessories are necessary to have on hand to assure that the battery performs well.
How long does it take to charge an electric forklift battery?
Typically, electric forklift batteries take eight hours to charge and need an additional eight hours to cool down before use.
When should I replace my forklift battery?
Physical signs such as corrosion on the battery case, or a rotten egg smell are clear indicators your forklift battery is on its last leg. A forklift that is difficult to handle may be caused by poor response time and a weak battery.
How long will my forklift battery last?
A forklift battery is designed to last an entire eight-hour shift on a full charge, but this can vary based on the age of the battery and how hard the equipment is working. A truck that doesn’t travel much doing minimal lifts might get twelve hours off one charge. Conversely, an older battery on a truck doing heavy lifts might last only three hours. The lifetime of an average forklift battery is five years or 1,500 cycles. The five-year average assumes the battery is charged once per day, 300 days per year with infrequent fast-charging and deep-discharging.
Should I replace or recondition my battery?
The cost of a forklift battery is not insignificant. In fact, the battery represents about 30% of the vehicle’s cost. Reconditioning can save money, but it’s not right for everyone.
Reconditioned batteries: The good, the bad and the ugly
The good: reconditioning a battery saves money in the short to medium term. Also, by using fewer batteries over time, there is an environmental benefit.
The bad: not all batteries can be reconditioned. Each cell in the battery must be tested to verify the voltage. Some models can still be reconditioned at 80%, but past this point an older battery needs to be replaced. Also, reconditioning takes your equipment offline for one to two business days.
The ugly: reconditioned batteries don’t last as long, only three to four hours per charge. For this reason, reconditioned batteries make sense only for single-shift operations where the equipment is used infrequently throughout the day.
What is included in a forklift battery?
The battery includes a battery case that hosts its individual cells; the cells, which are small, self-contained individual batteries consisting of a series of tightly stacked lead plates filled with sulfuric acid; battery bars that link the individual cells to create a complete circuit; and battery cables, which handle the amperage the battery generates.
Can a used battery sufficiently power a forklift?
Yes, it can. You can buy used batteries from local material handling or battery dealers. The batteries are put through a rigorous set of tests and maintenance procedures before it is sold to the public. The restoration process includes cleaning and equalizing the battery as well as filling it with fresh acid. This ensures that the battery will work to its optimum capability.
What are the most common reasons why batteries fail prematurely?
Low water levels, over or opportunity charging, over watering, failing to equalize the charge, and corrosion are five reasons why batteries fail prematurely.
What are the hazards associated with forklift batteries?
Some hazards include fires caused by hydrogen gas, Sulfuric acid/electrolyte leaks that can burn skin and eyes, electrical shock caused by a high rate of current, and the heavy weight due to the use of lead in the battery.
Purchasing new batteries - How we can help!
Wisdom Power is proud of their partnerships with industry leading battery manufactures and suppliers. Wisdom Power can provide a Motive Power solution for all requirements from designing a Greenfield battery room, power management, online battery room management and automatic battery watering, changing systems, sealed maintenance free, right down to test and reports and cell replacements.
Our British Standard product ranges from 46ah – 1380ah.
Whilst our DIN Standard product ranges from 100ah – 1860ah
also respectively passed DIN / N60254-2 and IEC60254-2 standards.
Additionally we provide Industry leading warranty, service and technical support leaves no doubt about our ability to ensure you are dealing with the smartest supplier in the country.
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