How Long Does a Forklift Battery Last?
To make certain that expensive units of electric forklift batteries will have long life, you should carry out correct care and maintenance. These industrial grade batteries are big, heavy and costly. The more efficient the battery, the more productive your equipment operators could be. Extending the battery life span is really a top priority, not just because of the cost of replacement, but also because of the cost of down time associated with battery problems.
Charging Cycles
batteries of forklifts must be recharged just when they are at least 80 percent discharged. The rate of discharge varies depending upon different factors like for instance the average weight of loads, the number of shifts being worked and the number of hours the forklift is being operated. For busy operations, nightly charging may be needed. However, bear in mind that charging a battery too frequently would wear the battery a lot faster.
Life Span
Commonly, a new forklift battery will last at least 1,500 charge cycles. Therefore, if the forklift battery is being charged on a daily basis, the battery will last approximately five years. Nonetheless, this is an average estimate. The battery life span can be extended significantly beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with correct maintenance.
Deep Discharge
Make sure that the battery of the forklift is never discharged completely. Not only can damage to the battery result from what is called "deep discharge", the forklift's electrical parts and motor can sustain damage too. This is because the battery which is damaged can change the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the charger to communicate properly with the forklift battery can also be compromised. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised battery charger can not completely charge the forklift battery, causing a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician might be needed to return the battery charger to good working condition.