FAQ
How long will my forktruck battery work / day?
Most trucks are offered with a choice of small, normal or large batteries varying in capacity by a factor of 2:1. It can generally be reckoned that the normal battery will cope with any work load which the truck is fast enough to carry out in eight hours, allowing half of the time on the job and an equal time in local manoeuvring or at rest. Highly intensive usage or a need to run a truck for 12 hours or more on one battery will dictate the largest battery which can be fitted.We have charts available which will help calculate the energy used in travel, lifting, accelerating etc. these will more easily define the battery capacity you need or whether you need spare batteries.
How quickly can a battery be recharged?
With modern technology (Lifespeed), a battery can be recharged from 80% D.D in 3 hours. However, there is a price to pay in terms of battery life and cost.The more normal is 8 or 12 hours which should be carried out with specific charger curves. Battery life will suffer if you try and “pump” too much current in a short time.
Do I need ventilation?
Yes, a battery emits hydrogen gas which is very explosive. Ventilation can be natural or forced by fans. There is a standard chart for this, but the calculation is complicated and needs to be carried out by experts.
How often should my battery be topped up?
On average every 2 weeks for normal applications. In a hard application weekly is recommended. Autotopping systems are available, but you need to ensure these are operating correctly as they are not foolproof. There is no substitute to checking the cells manually when topping up. Deionised water is recommended.
What do I expect in a battery guarantee?
Traction batteries are usually guaranteed for four years on the basis of cycling one in every 24 hours. The guarantee considers a cell to have failed when its output falls to less than 80% of its rated capacity. Terms of replacement vary slightly from company to company, but generally there will be little cost to the customer for any servicing or replacement during the first year, unless made necessary by abuse. A sliding scale then applies. There is money saved by the user if he cares for his batteries, because usable life can easily be made to extend beyond the guarantees indemnifying the manufacturer against abuse by the user. However, major suppliers of batteries tend to interpret the guarantee generously. Occasional boost charging over a lunch break is now accepted practice, whereas cannibalising a battery will still invalidate the guarantee.
What is the charger input current and can I reduce my costs?
Input current varies from charger size to charger size and from standard to high frequency units.
It is important that you apply the correct circuit breaker size.
Modern HF pulse chargers can reduce power and CO² output as well as increasing top up periods. This needs to be balanced against cost and reliability.
Current input can be calculated for you. We need to know
- Battery Voltage.
- Battery Capacity.
- Is charger 1 phase or 3 phase.
- HF or 50Hz.
Can you advise on all general recommendations pertaining to batteries / chargers?
Yes – any question you have we should be in a position to answer correctly.
How do I maintain my battery?
There is a list of simple procedures to correctly maintain your battery. These are available on request.
Is there a standard for the battery / charger room?
No, but there are industrial recommendations in terms of space, ventilation, wash stations etc. which is available on request
