How Long Does a Forklift Battery Really Last?
To be able to make sure that expensive units of electric forklift batteries would last, you should perform correct care and maintenance. These industrial grade batteries are really heavy, costly and big. If the battery is more efficient, the more effective your machine operators can be. Extending the battery life span is a top priority, not just because of the replacement cost, but also because of the expense of down time connected with battery issues.
Charging Cycles
Don't forget that you could just recharge batteries of forklifts when they are at least 80 percent discharged. The discharge rate varies depending upon different things such as the number of shifts being worked, how many hours the forklift is being operated, and the average weight of loads. For busy operations, charging every night may be required. Nonetheless, remember that charging a battery very often would wear the battery more quickly.
Life Span
Typically, a brand new forklift battery would last at least 1,500 charge cycles. Thus, if the forklift battery is being charged every day, the battery will last about five years. Nevertheless, this is an average estimate. The life of the battery could be extended a lot beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with correct maintenance.
Deep Discharge
A battery of the forklift must never be allowed to become totally discharged. Not only can damage to the battery result from what is called "deep discharge", the forklift's electrical components and motor could sustain damage also. This is because the damaged battery could alter the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the battery charger to communicate properly with the forklift battery could also be compromised. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised charger will be unable to charge the battery completely, resulting in a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician might be needed to return the battery charger to proper working condition.