How Long Does a Forklift Battery Last?
To be able to make certain that expensive units of electric forklift batteries will have long life, you must carry out proper care and maintenance. These industrial grade batteries are really large, heavy and costly. If the battery is more efficient, the more productive your equipment operators could be. Extending the battery life span is a main concern, not just because of the cost of replacement, but also because of the cost of down time connected with battery issues.
Charging Cycles
Remember that you can only recharge forklift batteries when they are at least 80 percent discharged. The rate of discharge varies depending upon various things such as the number of shifts being worked, how many hours the forklift is being used, and the average weight of loads. For busy operations, charging nightly may be needed. However, remember that charging a battery too often will wear the battery a lot faster.
Life Span
New forklift batteries are normally made to last 1,500 charge cycles at minimum. Thus, if the battery is being charged daily, the battery will last roughly five years. However, this is an average estimate. The battery life span can be extended a lot beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with proper maintenance.
Deep Discharge
Make certain that the battery of the forklift is never discharged totally. Not only can damage to the battery result from what is known as a "deep discharge", the forklift's electrical components and motor could also sustain damage. This is because the damaged battery could alter the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the charger to properly communicate with the battery can be compromised also. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised charger would be unable to charge the forklift battery completely, causing a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician may be needed to return the battery charger to proper working condition.