4 tips for safely charging an electric forklift battery

Forklift batteries must be charged correctly to maximize their performance. Here are four tips for charging your forklift battery to ensure you get the most out of your investment.

1. Charge the battery when it reaches 20 percent

You should avoid letting your forklift battery die before charging it. Typically, it’s best to recharge your forklift battery before it dips below 20 percent. In fact, continuing to use the battery past this point can negatively affect its performance and shorten its lifespan.

2. Charge the battery to 100 per cent every time

Most forklift batteries can endure around 1,500 charging cycles before they start to degrade. Therefore, it’s important to charge your forklift battery to 100 per cent every time it’s charged. This is because the battery can’t distinguish between a half charge and a full charge. A partial charge still counts as a charge cycle, which can cause the battery to deteriorate more quickly.

3. Don’t expose the battery to extreme temperatures

Forklift batteries don’t do well in extreme temperatures. In fact, you can reduce your forklift battery’s performance by as much as 50 per cent if it’s exposed to temperatures that exceed 33 degrees Celsius. At the other end of the spectrum, your battery’s performance can drop by up to 30 percent when exposed to below-freezing temperatures. Consequently, it’s important to charge and store your forklift battery in a temperature-controlled environment to prevent premature failure.

4. Use the right charger

You should invest in a charger that’s suitable for the size of your forklift battery, as well as the designated voltage/amperage. You may also want to consider purchasing a charger that shuts off automatically once the battery is fully charged to prevent overcharging, which can negatively impact the battery’s performance.

Lastly, it’s a good idea to check your battery’s water levels at least once a week and wipe down the top and sides of the battery every month.

Handling a forklift battery

Forklift batteries can weigh up to 1,360 kilograms. Because of this, you shouldn’t attempt to move them on your own. It’s important to use special equipment, such as a walkie pallet jack, to manoeuvre forklift batteries. Furthermore, you should wear protective gear to prevent any hazardous liquids from coming into contact with your skin and remove all metallic jewellery to avoid injury.

Forklift sales in Western Canada

ARPAC is Western Canada’s leading material handling retailer. We offer a full range of warehouse products and equipment, including forklifts, tow tractors, battery charging stations and more. To find out more about our products and services, contact us at our locations in Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver or Lethbridge.