Do's and Don'ts of A Forklift Battery Care

While we have spoken about batteries before, we thought it prudent to highlight below the do’s and don’ts of forklift battery care:

• Lift the battery compartment lid while charging, wherever possible, to assist ventilation and air-cooling.
• Keep the battery top and tray clean and dry at all times ensuring that all intercell connections are clean and covered with a film of petroleum jelly.
• Check the condition of the charging plug, socket, and cable to avoid damage of insulation and burning of contracts.
• Maintain regular reading of specific gravity, voltage and temperature of all cells in Record Book. The voltage reading of all cells should be recorded as part of every change cycle.
• For storage of charged batteries, disconnect main cables connected to it and ensure that ‘freshening’ charge is given to the battery once a month.
• The battery changing room should be well ventilated preferably with air exhaust system to prevent the battery temperature from being exceeded and to allow gas escape from the battery room.
• Batteries with 50% or less charge, should be fully discharged before storing them. Partially charged batteries may deteriorate and can be damaged.
• Battery charge current and voltage limits should not be exceeded.

DO NOT

• Never top up the cells with acid.
• Never use tap water for battery top-up. Impurities in tap water will shorten the life of a battery.
• Never overcharge the battery by recharging more frequently or longer periods than necessary to restore the capacity.
• No naked flames and or smoking is permitted in proximity to the batteries.
• Never keep charged batteries directly under sunlight or in any heated place.
• Never allow electrolyte temperature to exceed 45̊.
• Do not take readings of voltages by piercing cable connector, use top screw connector point as provided, as cables will get damaged and underperform.