The battery charger is often the most neglected component of an electric lift truck system. Operators and equipment dealers alike tend to ignore the fact that the battery charger can be the source of short and long term problems unless it is properly sized, adjusted and operated. The consequences of improper charger operation can be […]
Sizing Up a Battery Charger Read More »
Chargers are a key component in the electric forklift truck power package. An equipment dealer who neglects the charger details runs the risk of not only losing the sale, but also ruining the battery. Consider this: many times the charger included in a “complete package& may not be the appropriate unit for the battery –
Properly Choosing a Used Charger Read More »
As forklift batteries age, they show the effects of long-term use in several ways. Some of these effects are potentially disabling to the battery, or may interfere with safe operation. The driving forces for many battery aging factors are: corrosion or erosion of battery structural materials by sulfuric acid; “positive plate growth”; and long-term heating
Weak Points on Aging Batteries Read More »
Chargers for electric lift truck batteries range from the fairly simple to quite complex, but their purpose is the same: charge a battery of a specific size in an 8-hour shift. The 8-hour charging cycle is a universal standard, but many chargers will accommodate a larger ampere-hour capacity than their nominal rating if allowed to
Battery Charger Control Basics Read More »
Interest is high in reducing battery maintenance time? This is reflected in some forklift owners’ interest in the newly available sealed “maintenance-free” style batteries. These batteries are finding customers despite factors such as very limited field experience for this technology in deep-cycle industrial use, high cost, and a requirement for special chargers that take hours
Simplifying Maintenance with a Watering System Read More »
Time to reach into the “Nobody ever told me that!” file, to share some answers to common questions about industrial fork lift batteries. You may find a few surprises here. “Why is that big forklift battery only 36 (or 24, or 48, etc.) volts?” Of course, I insist that there are no silly questions, but
Battery Questions & Thoughtful Answers Read More »
Continued! Q: My auto control charger will not turn on if I plug in my completely dead battery. Why? A: The charger is looking for a battery voltage that tells it that the right battery is plugged in. As a safety feature, most auto controls will not, for example, allow a 36-volt charger to start
More Battery Charger Questions and Answers Read More »
Get answers now. Should I make sure to completely discharge my battery prior to recharge? Not necessarily. Lead acid electric vehicle batteries (known as “deep cycle types”) are immune to the “memory effect” seen with nickel cadmium rechargeable batteries used in familiar appliances. Nickel cadmium cells benefit from frequent full discharge (to the point of
Battery Questions and Answers Read More »
Conventional lead acid batteries contain a liquid “electrolyte” which is a mixture of sulfuric acid and water. Each cell in a battery resides within its own vented container (known as a “jar”), ensuring that the active material contained in the battery plates is continuously bathed in electrolyte while small amounts of oxygen and hydrogen gas
Battery Watering: Questions and Answers Read More »
When an electric forklift is not performing as it should, a number of possible causes need to be explored. The battery/charger package is definitely a good place to start troubleshooting, as any problem here shows up quickly in the behavior of the forklift. If a forklift has shown a gradual decline in its ability to
Battery Exam: The First Step When Trouble Happens Read More »
