Everything You Need to Know About Forklift Battery Chargers

February 4, 2022 3:33 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

If you’ve ever charged a battery before, you’d probably imagine the process of charging an industrial forklift’s batteries would be a similarly straightforward task. When you notice the juice is getting low, pop the battery into your forklift battery charger for a while and then get back to work. What could go wrong?

Unfortunately, things are a little more complicated than that. In order to get the most out of your industrial forklift battery’s lifespan, frequently recharging just won’t cut it. To improve charging efficiency and safety, as well as the longevity of each battery you buy, there are a few things you should be doing. Read on for our top industrial battery charging tips.

Forklift battery charging

There is a limited number of times you can charge any given forklift battery. It doesn’t matter if you start charging at 80 percent power or 20 percent power—each charge deducts from that number. Once you hit that limit, you’ll start to notice deterioration—the battery won’t charge as fully, the charge won’t hold quite as long as it once did and it may not reach the right amperage anymore. Working with a run-down battery will negatively impact the overall performance of your forklift—and could even lead to damage in your electric forklift systems.

Since we know there is a limit to a battery’s lifespan, establishing a routine maintenance plan will help you ensure you’re getting the most out of your equipment every time you replace it. Include in this plan a timeline for replacing batteries before they fail, damaging your machines along with them. Check to see how many charges your batteries are good for, and go from there.

If your battery has a lifespan of 1,500 charging cycles, determine based on regular use how frequently you need to charge and what a reasonable replacement date is. Establishing a standard schedule for battery replacement in your maintenance plan will help maintain the health of your equipment across the board and keep business running smoothly, without any unexpected hiccups.

So, how do you optimize industrial batteries’ limited lifespan? Here are some key industrial battery charging tips to keep in mind:

  • Prevent sulfate buildup: Lead acid batteries are prone to lead sulfate crystal buildup. As they’re used, lead on the plate interacts with sulfates in the electrolyte, creating lead sulfate residue that can settle on the plate and deplete a battery’s charge by using up its lead material and sulfate supply. Avoid this by regularly inspecting your battery’s electrolyte levels to ensure they’re not depleted, and make sure you’re not letting batteries remain depleted for long.
  • Choose the right forklift battery charger: Make sure you select a charger that’s the right dimension and has the right amp hour (Ah) rating for your batteries. Charging with an incompatible Ah rating can cause sulfated batteries. Not matching your battery’s dimensions will interfere with optimizing performance.

If you’re looking to improve your forklift battery’s longevity and performance, or want to establish a routine battery replacement schedule, set up a free consultation with one of our qualified professionals at Remis Power Systems Inc. We’ll work together to determine the right battery and charging system for your operation.

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