How Long Does a Forklift Battery Really Last?
To make certain that valuable units of electric forklift batteries will last, you should carry out proper care and maintenance. These industrial grade batteries are really heavy, expensive and large. The more efficient the battery, the more effective your machine operators could be. Extending the battery life span is truly a top priority, not only because of the cost of replacement, but also because of the cost of down time associated with battery problems.
Charging Cycles
batteries of forklifts should be recharged only when they are at least 80 percent discharged. The rate of discharge varies depending on different factors such as the number of shifts being worked, the number of hours the forklift is being operated, and the average weight of loads. For busy operations, charging every night may be required. However, keep in mind that charging a battery too often would wear the battery a lot faster.
Life Span
New forklift batteries are usually made to last 1,500 charge cycles at minimum. Therefore, if the battery is being charged every day, the battery would last roughly five years. However, this is an average estimate. The battery life span can be extended a lot beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with proper maintenance.
Deep Discharge
Make sure that the battery of the forklift is never discharged totally. Not only can damage to the battery be caused by what is known as a "deep discharge", the forklift's electrical components and motor could also sustain damage. This is because the battery that is damaged could change the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the battery charger to properly communicate with the forklift battery could also be compromised. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised battery charger will be unable to completely charge the forklift battery, causing a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician may be required to return the battery charger to proper working order.