Tips to Improving your Forklift Battery's Life Span

The use of electric forklifts has increased over the last decade due to the rising fuel costs and environmental awareness. Electric forklifts present huge benefits in terms of savings which can be eroded if no close attention in the absence of proper battery care, among other mentionable forklift parts. Preventative maintenance checks on your forklift battery allow you to increase its lifespan by up to 40%, effectively cutting down maintenance costs and bolstering safety significantly.

5 tips to attaining maximum battery life potential

Invest in OEM batteries

Regardless of how good your forklift maintenance is, the quality of your forklift battery largely determines its life span. Invest in good quality batteries for your forklift to make sure that it performs efficiently and you don’t have to frequently replace it. Accurate Forklift offers forklift batteries from reputable brands, among other OEM forklift parts.

 Do not let the battery go below 20%

When your battery has discharged 80% of its power, it is a good time to recharge it. The discharge meter for most batteries will reach the critical level when 80 percent of its power has been used. Going beyond this mark can reduce the truck’s performance since hydraulics and traction will be compromised. The forklift’s electrical components will also start overheating, which is not good for the motors and other components.

Refrain from quick recharges

Even in a system where the charging protocol is well designed, forklift operators tend to sometimes perform quick battery recharges during lunch breaks, a phenomenon known as opportunity charging. In as much as this reduces downtime in full shift operations, the battery’s efficiency to charge will be reduced and at some point, it may even stop charging altogether, at which point a new battery will have to be purchased.

Check the water level in the battery 

Water is very important in maintaining good battery health. The water gets heated up, and with time, the water its level will decrease. Regular checks of the water level is required to prevent formation of a brittle and dry surface on the plates which can cause permanent damage to the battery. Top up with distilled water without overfilling the battery as and when necessary.

Clean the battery

One of the main reasons why forklift batteries fail before their time is sulphonation. This is a natural process wherein white sulfuric acid crystals get attached to the lead plates and diminish its capacity to accept and hold a charge. The presence of white crystals on the head plates even when cleaning is done regularly, means your battery and forklift are no longer operating to their full potential and you should consider buying a new battery.

Get OEM forklift parts at Accurate Forklift

Inspect your electric forklifts’ batteries to make sure it operates optimally. Make sure to replace it as soon as becomes damaged beyond repair or proves defective. Contact Accurate Forklift for premium quality and competitively priced batteries and all your forklift parts. We provide a comprehensive selection of forklift parts for all the popular makes such as Toyota, Nissan, Caterpillar, and Hyster. Call us today for the best deals on forklift parts for sale in Atlanta. We are a one-stop-shop for all things forklifts including salvage forklift parts in Atlanta. Contact us today at 770-692-1455 or mail to sales@accurateforklift.net to get answers to all your questions on forklift parts for sale.