Forklift Battery Charging and Safe Installation
Lift truck batteries are quite large and are really expensive pieces of machines. They weigh thousands of pounds. The task of installing and charging these batteries is something that must be really planned out in advanced so as to make certain that these procedures are able to be completed safely and correctly. Maintaining proper handling and a sound charging method can majorly increase the battery's standard life span.
Standard Charging
It is important not to connect the battery to the charger until it is at 20 percent capacity or lower. By charging the battery when it is higher than 20%, the battery's lifespan could actually be shortened. On around every 5th charge cycle, the charger must be set on the weekend or equalize setting, depending on which kind of charger you are utilizing.
The charging cycle should never be interrupted. As soon as the charge cycle is done, you should avoid utilizing the battery for a few hours. By practicing these procedures, you will be able to help ensure 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 could connect the charger to the battery. This is a common error which can inadvertently cause damage to both the charger and the forklift. It is also really vital that the battery amperage must match that of the charger.
Do not ever allow the battery to completely discharge or to deep discharge. This will shorten the battery life significantly and may even prevent the charger from being able to activate. If the battery charger reads that there is no battery activity, it will not start the charge cycle. If this situation happens, a technician would need to be called to be able to re-set the charger prior to charge being able to start.