Nowadays, batteries play an important role in our life, especially in our vehicles.
The battery is a necessary device on a vehicle. It has the ability to store electrical energy as chemical energy and discharge to provide electric power in the form of electricity. The principle of the battery’s operation is the application of chemical effects as electrical current. In the process of vehicle operation, the battery will be integrated and continuously discharged.
Forklifts are one of the types of vehicles that use a battery. Today, in Tips for Using and Maintaining Batteries in Forklifts, I would like to introduce to you some tips on how to use and maintain the battery for your forklift.
Tips on using batteries for forklifts
- New batteries usually have a thin plate on the tight-sealing lid. If your plate has vents, you should only remove it when using the batteries.
- Using the electrolyte solution (diluted H2SO4 solution with the density of 1.28g), poured into the battery compartment to the mark on the bottle, you should wait for about 10-15 minutes to infuse fluid into the electric plates.
- If you see the liquid level unevenly drops in the chamber, you must add the liquid back in equal parts in all compartments.
- Do not use a density of solution that is too low or too high. If you do, it will have bad impact on the life of the battery.
- Recharge battery by charger machine with the electric power that is 1/10 indicated the on the battery cover.
- The temperature the of the battery during the charging process can’t be higher than 50° C. We can use a thermometer or a heat gun to check the temperature of the battery cover during charging.
- You shouldn’t charge the battery near any source of ignition, in order to prevent fires and explosions. The H2 released will combine with oxygen in the air, causing a fire.
- After charging is complete, if the fluid level drops, you should add distilled water to make equal in all compartments. (Note that it only needs to be filled up to the mark UPPER.)
- Cover the battery and clean the outside of the flask with water daily before replacing in the vehicle.
Tips for maintaining the battery in the forklift
The battery used in the forklift for a long time needs to be properly maintained in order to last. You’ll need to periodically check (every 2 months). Your check-up will require you to check the level of liquid in the compartment and then add it, as well as power cycling the battery with charger.
- Do not let the liquid level in any compartment fall below the bar LOWER. Add distilled water to reach the proper level.
- When removing the cover to clean the outside of the battery, you should avoid dirt falling into the compartments of the vessel.
- Charge the batteries when you notice weak power (such as when it can’t operate the machine), or after adding distilled water.
- The time it takes to recharge the battery are based on the actual percentage of the battery that needs to be recharged. The coefficient is measured and calculated as follows: 1.2-1.5 added to ensure batteries are charged fully in the estimated time.
- Do not cover the lid of the compartment when the battery is charging.
- If the battery will not be used for a long time, it should be fully charged and kept in a cool, dry place.
- Due to self-discharge of the battery, you should charge once per month when stored.
- When taking the battery out of storage, it will need to be fully charged before using it again.
Conclusion
I hope the tips I have brought you in this Tips for Using and Maintaining Batteries in Forklifts will be the most effective and useful ways for you to extend your battery’s life expectancy. If you have any question, please drop a comment below to ask. We will reply as soon as possible. Thank you!
I thought it was interesting that the temperature the of the battery during the charging process can’t be higher than 50° C or 122° F. This would probably be somewhat common sense, but I was surprised that it is even possible to get the battery to that temperature. Is it normal for a forklift battery to warm up like that?