Forklift Battery Safe Installation and Charging
Lift truck batteries are quite large and are really costly pieces of machines. They weigh thousands of pounds. The job of charging and installing these batteries is something which would have to be planned out ahead of time in order to make sure that these procedures could be completed safely and correctly. Maintaining a sound charging method and proper handling can really increase the standard lifespan of a battery.
Standard Charging
It is recommended that the battery is not connected to the charger until it is at or lower than 20 percent capacity. By charging the battery when it is more than 20 percent, the lifespan of the battery could actually be shortened. On around every 5th charge cycle, the charger needs to be set on the equalize or weekend setting, depending on which model of charger you are using.
The charging cycle should never be interrupted. As soon as the charge cycle is complete, you must avoid using the battery for a few hours. By practicing these methods, you can help make sure that you get the maximum battery performance available.
Charger Maintenance
Make sure the charger is turned off before hooking up the battery to the charger. You then can connect the charger to the battery. This is a common error that could accidentally cause damage to both the charger and the forklift. Also, it is really essential that the amperage of the battery should match that of the charger.
The battery should never be allowed to completely discharge or deep discharge. This will ultimately shorten the lift of the battery and can even prevent the charger from being able to start. If the battery charger reads that there is no activity in the battery, it will not start the charge cycle. If this situation occurs, a technician must be called to be able to re-set the charger prior to charge being able to begin.