Last month I introduced the Horizon advanced lead-acid battery, and as you may recall, one of its strong points (especially for consumer highway vehicles) was its phenomenally rapid recharge cycle: less than 30 minutes. This is fast turn-around for an electric vehicle power pack, but there may soon be a faster way: Use a fuel […]
The Fuel Cell: Advanced Vehicle Power Read More »
An old battery in an electric forklift is often an unknown quantity. It is potentially the weakest link in the material handling chain. If the truck is up for resale, and the battery is undocumented, the unknown can come back to haunt you. Worst of all, the true value of the battery in the transaction
Profit from Knowledge: Battery Tests have Value Read More »
Lift truck batteries are heavy. If one drops from any height, it will hit the ground hard. Is it possible that a battery that has tipped over, or fallen a foot or two, can be returned to service? Often the answer is yes. There have been examples of electric forklifts that have gone over the
When a Battery Falls or is Tipped Over Read More »
Because industrial electric forklifts operate at high currents and low voltages, and use electrochemical cells as a power source, it is not unusual to encounter elevated temperatures somewhere in the system. Excessive heating of components should not be ignored, however, because this indicates a problem that may get progressively worse. Lead acid batteries heat up
High Temperature Warning Signs Read More »
Most industrial batteries do their work sitting in a forklift battery compartment. In many cases the selected battery is a relatively close fit within this space, and the best compartment designs are those that provide means to eliminate any side to side or front to back motion. Battery options for a given truck model can
Battery Compartment Concerns Read More »
An industrial battery charger is a combination of transformers, heat-sinks and electronic circuit boards that may weigh 300 lbs. or more. This somewhat environmentally sensitive collection of parts is usually contained in a vented sheet-metal cabinet of only modest strength and resiliency. The effect of “gentle” nudges from the forklifts that visit these battery chargers
Installing Chargers Properly Read More »
Let’s take a look at some common questions electric lift truck owners and dealers ask about the battery charger: 1. “I have an older charger that makes a very loud buzzing sound. Is this easy to fix?”If the sound comes from the A.C. contactor, the repair can be as simple as either cleaning the dirt and
Q&A: Battery Chargers Read More »
Uncertainty about the capacity of an electric lift truck battery is bad for business- both yours (if you are a material handling equipment dealer) and your customer’s. New batteries are clearly marked with an ampere–hour rating, but that value cannot be used as much of a guideline as the battery ages and is exposed to
The Battery Capacity Discharge Test Read More »
The critical part of a battery’s life cycle is the time it spends on charge. During charging, a battery is exposed to the most vigorous workout that the active material in the plates receive, and it is during this time that the battery experiences the most wear. Abnormal charging conditions expose the battery to accelerated
Proper Battery Charging Read More »
A battery charging room strategy is needed to see that battery charging requirements are not ignored in the rush to meet other production goals. The following plan is a simple outline that provides for proper use, handling, and re-charging of electric lift truck batteries in one customer’s s 2-shift operation. The goals: Demand Charging Benefits
Battery Charging Room Strategy Read More »
