DCPS > Forklift Batteries & Industrial Batteries > Top 10 Forklift Battery Maintenance Tips
Forklift Battery
- Top 10 Forklift Battery Maintenance Tips
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1.
Watch the Electrolyte Levels Always keep the level of the forklift battery electrolyte at the proper level. Add distilled water to raise the electrolyte level. Using other water may add undesirable minerals to the electrolyte, reducing the life of the forklift battery. Never add water to any discharged battery. Only add water after your battery has been fully charged. 2.
Avoid Overcharging Any frequent need to add water may indicate that the battery is being overcharged, so the vehicle's charging system should be checked. Maintenance free batteries are sealed, resulting in electrolyte levels which can't be adjusted, although there are vents for gases to pass through. 3.
60 to 90 Degrees Fahrenheit Extreme temperatures are not friendly to storage batteries. Extreme cold will reduce the power available, and will make the battery case brittle and easily broken. Extreme heat will result in electrolyte loss due to evaporation. Batteries should be stored at temperatures between 60 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit and recharged monthly to maintain their charge. 4.
Keep Them Clean & Dry Batteries should be kept clean and dry. Moist accumulations of dirt on a battery may cause it to lose its charge due to current flowing through the moist dirt from one post to the other. 5.
The Connections Battery connections should be put together clean and dry. The connecting surfaces should be clean, shiny, and snug fitting, but not so tight that they must be forced together by hammering or severe twisting. This will damage the the connections and shorten the life of the battery.
6.
Preventative Maintenance Utilize a scheduled service to regularly check on your batteries and keep them watered properly. Our technicians have the experience to spot problems and know how to get them reigned in. We can help with questions too. Learn more about the our Preventative Maintenance program, to help you get the most out of your forklift batteries.
7.
Battery Storage (The Battery Room) The HVAC and design of the area where you store your batteries is very much a part of their maintenance. Lead acid batteries go through a chemical reaction; the lead plates interact with the electrolyte and while this makes the battery work, there is another reaction that needs to be managed: hydrogen accumulation. To avoid risk of fire or explosion make sure they are ventilated properly. Our battery experts can bring their experience to the design of your battery room. Contact us for help designing this space.
8.
Battery Testing If you notice sulfation (white build up), at the top and sides of your batteries and sulfuric "rotten egg" smell contact DCPS Support. We will test your battery's cells to and report on how they're performing. This testing allows us to locate and replace bad battery cells and will get you answers. 9.
Charge Your Forklift Batteries Correctly If your team is charging partially drained batteries, they may be damaging the batteries. Educate your team to charge batteries only at the end of the day or when the battery is drained. 10.
Get Help If you're not sure how to conduct maintenance, or wash/water your forklift batteries, we can lend a hand. Schedule our battery technicians to come to your location. We have a mobile battery wash truck that makes maintenance easier. We can bring your battery back to our full-service battery shop for diagnostics and service. Request service or call 800-326-0691.