How Long Does a Forklift Battery Really Last?
To be able to make certain that valuable units of electric forklift batteries will last, you should perform correct care and maintenance. These industrial grade batteries are heavy, costly and big. The more efficient the battery, the more effective your equipment operators can be. Extending the battery life span is a main concern, not only because of the replacement cost, but also because of the cost of down time connected with battery problems.
Charging Cycles
Don't forget that you can just recharge batteries of forklifts when they are at least 80 percent discharged. The rate of discharge varies depending on different factors like for instance how many hours the forklift is being operated, the average load weight and the number of shifts being worked. For busy operations, charging every night might be needed. Nevertheless, keep in mind that charging a battery too often will wear the battery more quickly.
Life Span
Brand new forklift batteries are normally made to last 1,500 charge cycles at minimum. Therefore, if the battery is being charged on a daily basis, the battery will last roughly five years. However, this is an average estimation. The battery life span could be extended a lot beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with proper maintenance.
Deep Discharge
Make certain that the forklift battery is never discharged completely. Not only could damage to the battery result from what is called "deep discharge", the forklift's electrical components and motor could also sustain damage. This is because the damaged battery can alter the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the charger to properly communicate with the forklift battery could also be compromised. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised charger would be unable to completely charge the forklift battery, leading to a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician might be needed to return the battery charger to proper working condition.