How do I know if my forklift battery is bad?
Below is some advice about when and why your battery for your electric forklift truck may need replacing.
A well maintained fleet as any warehouse operations manager will know is very important. A warehouse needs to continuously operate at peak efficiency. Modern warehouses often use Electric / Battery Powered forklift trucks to create a clean atmosphere for workers minimising the risk that combustable fuel powered forklifts are associated with.
Sooner or later your forklift batteries will need replacing like anything they have a life expectancy and will no longer sufficiently charge in faxt unstable output from degraded batteries can possibly cause damage to forklift systems. Maintaining your batteries is a must.
Obvious signs your battery is bad are as follows.
Excessive Battery Sulfation
Often the catalyst solution in batteries is sulphuric acid and water, over time the water evaporates and needs to be replaced, if not replaced the sulphuric acid solution may collect on the battery plates.
Fast Battery Drain
Another good sign your battery is in bad shape is a fast drain after recharging. Keep a log of working battery time it can help you keep track of failing batteries and when to replace them within your fleet. Batteries should ideally be charged when the vehicle gets to around 25% of full charge. This will maximise the battery life.
Dim Displays &. Reduced Performance
You may notice dim lights and dash or performance issues when lifting items. This can also be a sign your battery is failing. Always check the connections on your battery / forklift before assuming it is the battery as this can also effect performance.
Damaged Battery Terminals / Corrosion
Keep terminals clean and give your battery a check over during regular maintenance checks. Damaged / Corroded terminals can effect battery performance. Batteries can be repaired so before replacing check on any repairs that can be made.