9 Forklift Battery Care Tips

At Shoppa's Mid America, we want to make sure your electric lifts are working at optimum performance by providing you with the tools and service to keep your lift truck battery maintained properly. We understand the need for a reliable lift truck in order to be more competitive in tougher working environments. The ability to work alongside traditional lift trucks, yet doing so in an economically cleaner way, has made electric forklifts a preferred choice in the industry.

Battery Care Tips

In any application, proper care can greatly extend the life of your battery. Here are nine tips to getting the most out of your battery by spending just a few minutes a week.

1 Follow Instructions 
Get started right. Many a battery has had its potential life reduced before it was even started because somebody did not follow directions, and the same goes for chargers. Simple, low-maintenance chargers are available but must be used properly.

2 Make Sure Connections Are Sound 
A loose connection can cause dangerous arcing or sparking. It can also create a power-robbing, high-resistance connection. Play it safe and double check connections periodically.

3 Water Regularly After Charging 
Add water after charging. Charging increases the electrolyte level in cells and can cause overflowing if watered before charging. Overflow of electrolyte can corrode the battery tray, the battery compartment in the truck and other metal surfaces it contacts, besides decreasing the output of your battery. 

4 Keep It Clean 
Batteries should be kept clean and dry. Brush or wash off any dirt that may accumulate. If electrolyte is spilled on the top of the battery, neutralize it immediately with a solution of baking soda and a low-pressure supply of clean water. 

5 Don't Lay Tools On Top 
Battery gases are explosive. Short circuits can cause sparks, which may result in an explosion and possible damage to covers and jars. If a short does occur, check the shorted cells immediately before the battery is put back in service. 

6 Keep Vent Plugs In Place 
Vents allow gas to escape, and they keep foreign objects from accidentally falling into the cell. Remove vent plugs only to add water or to take hydrometer readings. Otherwise, keep securely in place. 

7 Keep It Cool 
A normal charge can increase the temperature of a battery by 15 degrees or more. Usually, this is not a problem. But, if you’re using your battery around a furnace or if your charger room is hot, it can be an issue. If that is the case, charge the battery in a room that is cool and well ventilated. 

8 Don’t Overcharge 
Don’t let anybody kid you—No amount of overcharging can increase battery capacity. Here are some signs of charger trouble: (1) Unusual rise in battery temperature after an eight-hour charge (anything over a 25-degree increase in charge). (2) Continuous running of charger. (3) Continuous running at a high rate. Talk to us about switching to an automatic stop/start (“smart”) charger. 

9 In Case of An Accident 
Check a battery thoroughly if it is involved in an accident. If it's damaged, fix it properly since a damaged battery can continue to deteriorate even when not in use.

Let Shoppa's Mid America be your one-stop-shop for backing up your investment with our battery washing and preventative maintenance programs, as well as our trained technicians who are ready to properly handle your battery needs.