How Long Does a Forklift Battery Truly Last?
To make sure that expensive units of electric forklift batteries will last, you must perform correct maintenance and care. These industrial grade batteries are big, heavy and expensive. The more efficient the battery, the more effective your machine operators can be. Extending the life span of the battery is really a top priority, not only because of the replacement cost, but also because of the cost of down time connected with battery problems.
Charging Cycles
Bear in mind that you could just recharge batteries of forklifts when they are at least 80% discharged. The rate of discharge differs depending upon different things like the number of shifts being worked, the number of hours the forklift is being used, and the average load weight. For busy operations, nightly charging may be needed. Nonetheless, bear in mind that charging a battery very frequently would wear the battery a lot faster.
Life Span
Brand new forklift batteries are usually built to last 1,500 charge cycles at least. Thus, if the forklift battery is being charged daily, the battery will last approximately five years. Nonetheless, this is an average estimation. The battery life span could be extended a lot beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with correct maintenance.
Deep Discharge
Make sure that the forklift battery is never discharged completely. Not only could damage to the battery be caused by what is known as a "deep discharge", the electrical parts and motor of the forklift could sustain damage too. 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 can be compromised too. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised charger would be unable to charge the battery fully, causing a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician may be needed to return the battery charger to good working condition.