Best Practices For Maintaining Your Forklift Batteries

Always remember to properly maintain your motive power batteries for optimum performance! The suggestions below are meant for flooded lead-acid forklift batteries utilizing conventional charging methods.

Watering:

• Proper Water Level: Top of strap

• Weekly: Check water level after a charging cycle

• Bi-monthly: If watering system present, manually check cell's water level and watering system functionality

Equalizing (EQ):

• Ensure charger is properly programmed for the battery

• Every 5th charge, run a full EQ cycle

• Let battery rest for 8 hours after EQ and top off electrolyte

Temperature:

• Operating / charging temperature range: 60° - 110° F

• Delay charging if battery is outside of safe temperature range

• Do not leave batteries in cold storage area when not in use

Discharging:

• Batteries are designed to use 80% of their total stored energy

• Irreversible damage occurs after 80% of energy is used

• Always recharge when low battery indicator turns on

General Maintenance:

• Top of battery should always be kept clean and dry

• Every month, you should:

  • Inspect and clean top of battery

  • Inspect cable and charging plugs