We’re surrounded by batteries that need to be charged, from smart phones to cameras, remotes and yes- your forklift. For every battery type there is a charging and maintenance process that needs to be followed to get the most out of your batteries- and the process is likely different for each type of battery.
There’s a LOT of bad information about the correct way to drain and charge your batteries. We’re going to set the record straight right here:
Advancement in battery technology have made it realistic to discharge your battery to as low as 30%, place it on a charger for a couple hours, and return to work. This is a drastic change from what you may have been told.
Your forklift likely has systems on board to monitor the amount of charge in your battery. Most lifts have a battery discharge indicator, and a “lock out” feature that disables parts of the lift and only allows travel at low speeds if the battery power dips below a specific level.
Follow and trust these systems to manage your battery life. Continuing to operate a lift with a depleted battery CAN cause irreparable damage to the power supply.
Maybe the most important part of the charging process is “equalizing” the batteries. As your batteries are charged and discharged during typical use, the voltage in the individual batteries will start to drift apart. This “equalization” process, charging the batteries at a low rate, allows all the battery cells to “equal” out to their optimal voltage capacity. Maintaining this ratio between batteries help your power supply operate at its’ capacity. Check with your battery manufacturer and/or our experts on the specifics and how regularly you may need to equalize your batteries.
Regularly check the fluids in your batteries. There are several ways to keep track of the fluid levels- one of which is to visually peek into the call/vent cap and determine if the water is near the bridge/plates. There are lighted, electronic monitors available as well. Ask us about these, too!
Extreme weather conditions can and do affect your battery life. Heat can cause damage to the cells, cold batteries can take longer to charge- and if you don’t have a charger specific to cold environments your batteries will never be appropriately charged and could suffer damage over time.
It’s a lot to think about. We work around these batteries all day, every day and no one in the industry knows more than we do. Ask us your questions and we’ll help you get the most out of your batteries.