​3 Factors Affecting Your Forklift Battery

18th Dec 2019

Questions: What are some of the things to avoid to keep my forklift batteries operating at maximum efficiency?

The forklift battery is a very important component of the electric forklift since it is its main source of power.

Therefore when it is not properly handled it can lead to major down times that will eventually impact the business bottom line.

In this article, we look at three ways you might be causing damage to your forklift battery.

Opportunity Charging

Opportunity charging is where the forklift is charged several times during the work cycle.

Even though this sounds like a great idea it normally reduces the useful life of the battery since each forklift battery is designed to survive a fixed amount of charging cycles. The immediate effect of opportunity charging is the impairment of proper charging of the forklift.

Always ensure you charge your forklift once it has depleted up to 80% of its charge.

Improper Watering

You can damage your forklift batteries by either watering them at the wrong time or watering them with the wrong kind of water.

The ideal time to water your forklift batteries is after the charging process. Doing so will prevent the water from flowing out of the cells and damaging the battery's exterior.

It is also very important that you water the batteries using water free of impurities or distilled water to prevent the build-up of impurities on the battery plates.

Wrong Battery Chargers

If you want your forklift batteries to last long you need to ensure you are using the right charging system. In most cases, the use of the wrong chargers for your battery usually leads to sulfation.

You should establish the compatibility of the chargers with the forklift battery using the amp-hour ratings.

Article Summary

Three factors that can possibly cause damage your forklift battery;

Charging the forklift battery many times through opportunity charging.

Watering the battery before or during charging or using impure water.

Using improper chargers to charge your forklift batteries. 

Forklift Tire Company is one of the largest suppliers of forklift tires in the USA. We are happy to help you find the right tires for your forklift truck. Visit our online store here for great discounts or email us at sales@forklifttire.com, our customer service team is ready to assist you