How Long Does a Forklift Battery Last?
To make certain that valuable units of electric forklift batteries would have long life, you must perform correct care and maintenance. These industrial grade batteries are heavy, costly and big. The more efficient the battery, the more productive your machine operators could be. Extending the battery life span is truly a top priority, not only because of the replacement cost, but also because of the expense of down time associated with battery issues.
Charging Cycles
Keep in mind that you could only recharge forklift batteries when they are at least 80 percent discharged. The discharge rate differs depending upon different things like for example the number of shifts being worked, the number of hours the forklift is being operated, and the average load weight. For busy operations, nightly charging might be needed. Nonetheless, remember that charging a battery very frequently will wear the battery a lot faster.
Life Span
Brand new forklift batteries are typically built to last 1,500 charge cycles at least. Thus, if the forklift battery is being charged on a daily basis, the battery will last approximately five years. Nevertheless, this is an average estimation. The battery life span could be extended significantly beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with proper maintenance.
Deep Discharge
Make certain that the forklift battery is never discharged totally. Not only could damage to the battery result from what is called "deep discharge", the forklift's electrical components and motor could also sustain damage. This is because the damaged battery could change the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the charger to communicate properly with the battery can be compromised also. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised charger would be unable to charge the battery fully, leading to a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician might be required to return the charger to proper working order.