How Long Does a Forklift Battery Really Last?
To make sure that valuable units of electric forklift batteries will last, you must carry out correct care and maintenance. These industrial grade batteries are really heavy, expensive and large. The more efficient the battery, the more effective your equipment operators could be. Extending the battery life span is really a top priority, not only because of the replacement cost, but also because of the expense of down time connected with battery problems.
Charging Cycles
Bear in mind that you can just recharge forklift batteries when they are at least 80% discharged. The discharge rate differs depending on different things like for instance the number of shifts being worked, the number of hours the forklift is being used, and the average load weight. For busy operations, nightly charging might be required. Nevertheless, bear in mind that charging a battery too often would wear the battery a lot faster.
Life Span
Brand new forklift batteries are normally made to last 1,500 charge cycles at least. Hence, if the forklift battery is being charged daily, the battery will last about five years. Nevertheless, this is an average estimation. The battery life span could be extended a lot beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with proper maintenance.
Deep Discharge
Make sure that the forklift battery is never discharged completely. Not only can damage to the battery be caused by what is referred to as a "deep discharge", the electrical components and motor of the forklift can sustain damage as well. This is because the damaged battery could alter the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the charger to properly communicate with the forklift battery could be compromised as well. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised battery charger can not charge the forklift battery fully, resulting in a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician may be required to return the battery charger to good working order.