David Hatch

Forklifts are an integral tool for any business operating out of a warehouse. Because battery-powered forklifts have advantages over gas-powered ones, many warehouse operations favor using electric vehicles over ones powered by an internal combustion engine.

However, this also means that proper forklift battery storage is critical for the business’s success. Here is your guide on how to properly store a forklift battery.

Fully Charge Your Batteries Before Storing Them

If you plan on storing your forklift batteries for an extended period, fully charge them before putting them away. Doing so will prevent the onset of sulphation, which occurs when batteries have low levels of electrolytes, causing air exposure and sulfate buildup.

Sulphation can adversely affect your battery’s shelf life and performance capability, so charging your batteries before storage could offer you financial benefits and peace of mind. If you need to replace your battery, be sure to lookout for forklift battery sales online.

Place Them in a Dry Location That’s Free of Frost

Keeping your batteries away from frost and moisture is crucial when storing them properly.

As with exposure to air, moisture and frost can corrode the battery. Also, avoid storing your battery in a hot, humid environment due to the moisture in the air.

Disconnect Your Batteries When They Aren’t in Use

Batteries connected to your forklifts will discharge even if the equipment isn’t on. If the discharge continues, your battery could be under a parasitic load and completely discharge over time. To prevent this from happening, disconnect your batteries if you plan to keep them mounted onto the forklifts.

Give Your Batteries a Refresh Charge Once per Month

When your batteries are in storage, you will want to give them a refresh charge once per month to ensure they are fully charged the next time you need to use them. Batteries that sit for too long may die out if they don’t get charged often enough. Store your batteries in charger racks so you can program the racks to give your batteries refresh charges automatically.

Overall, learning how to properly store a forklift battery will ensure that you always have functional equipment on the job. Now that you know a few tips, you can keep your forklift in working order and continue driving with ease.

Although forklift batteries are rechargeable, they will lose their charge at some point during their lifespan and become unusable. When this occurs, you should consider recycling your forklift battery so that it doesn’t harm the environment, which would happen if you chose to throw it away in a landfill.

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As a forklift operator, you probably know how to charge your battery. However, have you ever wondered which chemicals allow the battery to function?

In this guide, you will learn which chemicals are in a forklift battery, how they function with each other, and the purposes of each chemical. With this in mind, here is an overview of the chemical components of forklift batteries.

The Chemicals in a Forklift Battery

There are two main types of forklift batteries: lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries. They both operate differently and contain separate sets of chemicals. Lithium-ion batteries use a chemical combination of lithium, iron, and phosphate to power the battery.

This chemical combination, along with carbon electrodes, provides a direct line of power for the forklift because the chemicals remain stationary since they are all sealed inside. On the other hand, lead-acid batteries use a chemical reaction to power the forklift, which could lead to a chemical leak.

The chemicals in a lead-acid battery are plates of lead dioxide, soft “spongy lead” plates, and sulfuric acid. The reaction between these chemicals provides voltage to the battery’s two output terminals.

How the Chemicals Interact in a Lead-Acid Battery

Lead-acid batteries contain alternating layers of spongy lead and lead dioxide plates. When these plates come in contact with the acidity of the sulfuric acid, the result is a chemical reaction that imbalances the electrons of each plate.

At the subatomic level, the electrons will flow from the plate with a negative charge toward the plate with a positive charge, seeking to create balance. Since the spongy lead plate attaches to the negative terminal and the lead dioxide plate attaches to the positive one, these two terminals create an adequate circuit for the electrons to power the forklift.

Chemical Reactions in a Lithium-Ion Battery

Although there are several types of lithium-ion batteries, the most commonly used type is the one that manufacturers make out of lithium, iron, and phosphate (LFP). Other types include lithium, nickel, manganese, and cobalt oxide (NMC) and the lithium, nickel, cobalt, and aluminum oxide (NCA) models.

The three main components of a lithium-ion battery are the electrolyte, cathode and anode materials, and the membrane. The lithium salt electrolyte transports positively-charged lithium ions between the cathode and the anode to power the battery. The membrane serves as the barrier between the cathode and the anode so that the battery cell can perform better at higher temperatures.

Overall, forklift batteries have highly complex chemical reactions happening underneath the exterior. After reading this overview of the chemical components of forklift batteries, you should have a greater appreciation for the technology that powers your forklift. If you are looking for forklift truck batteries for sale, be sure to reach out to Green Power Forklift Batteries for high-quality products.

One of the most important aspects of operating a forklift is to change out its battery regularly. Not only will this keep the machine functioning, but it will also keep the driver safe by preventing an equipment malfunction.

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In a warehouse environment, your forklift battery’s capacity and performance play a critical role in workplace productivity. Whether you are a licensed forklift operator or work with a team that operates forklifts, keeping your forklift battery charged at all times ensures that things run smoothly.

However, if you aren’t sure how to test your forklift, you must learn the proper technique for safety purposes. With that in mind, here is a guide on how to properly test your forklift battery.

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Whether you are a forklift operator or manage a warehouse, maintaining a safe environment is always the most important duty. Though workplace accidents involving forklifts are extremely common, they are still preventable.

Forklifts are getting safer to operate every year, and lithium-ion batteries are one of the reasons why this is happening. Here are a few of the reasons why lithium-ion batteries make your forklift safer.

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When you are trying to move large amounts of heavy inventory with little effort, a forklift is the best tool for the job. Although many run on fuel, battery-powered forklifts are better for the environment and allow for more versatility in the workplace.

However, did you know that there are numerous types of forklift batteries? Here is our guide to the different types of forklift batteries.

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Electrical safety on the job goes deeper than simple common sense. What may seem like an everyday task can quickly turn dangerous without the proper considerations and efforts. Besides basic safety when handling structural wiring components, employees must be aware of standard electric equipment, such as forklifts and their associated components. It’s your job to ensure you take the proper safety precautions while charging your forklift battery. Failure to do so puts fellow workers at risk in the worst-case scenario. And at best, it may ruin the battery and waste company assets.

Utilize the Correct Safety Equipment

When handling electrical equipment, it’s important to don the correct personal protective equipment. The amount of coverage necessary depends on the degree of work you plan to conduct. For handling batteries of any type, hand, arm, and face coverage is the bare minimum. In the case of electric batteries, choose rubber insulating gloves to prevent shock. Rubber insulated sleeves and shoulders effectively ensure accidental contact with the upper arms doesn’t result in injury.

As with anything involving acids, protective face gear is critical. In particular, you should protect your eyes against splashes with safety glasses or something even more robust. Ideally, you should wear a hard hat with an accompanying face shield. Besides this, managers and business owners should ensure they purchase the correct equipment. For example, choose only forklift truck batteries for sale from reputable dealers and refurbishing businesses and select only the corresponding charging equipment.

Be Aware of Conductive and Flammable Materials

Another crucial safety precaution while charging your forklift battery is to mind potentially hazardous elements. As a general rule, you should remove conductive metals from yourself while handling electric batteries. Personal effects, such as jewelry, can lead to accidents while this task is underway. Likewise, keep batteries clear of areas with exposed conductive metallic or flammable components.

A cement or brick space is ideal, so long as the area can maintain a regularly cool temperature. It should also be free of regular exposure to UV rays or excessive direct sunlight. Flame-resistant personal protective gear should be available to accommodate anyone with additional concerns.

Use Battery Charging Best Practices

As noted, using the correct equipment is vital for battery safety. Although some batteries may look alike, there are subtle differences that make different parts not wholly compatible. Always choose the battery that corresponds to the forklifts you use at the business. Likewise, only utilize matching charging equipment with the correct battery.

If multiple battery types are necessary at one location, organizing is key. Separating batteries and their matching equipment into different areas will help ensure confusion and accidents don’t occur. Lastly, forklift batteries make use of water to function correctly. You must restore their water levels with deionized water before using them. However, don’t refill batteries before charging them.

The forklift is one of the essential tools in the arsenal of warehouse workers. Often what goes wrong with these machines is a fault in the battery. Without a functioning forklift available, work quickly becomes backed up while the crew scrambles to find the solution. By using these maintenance tips to extend the life of your forklift battery, you can rest easy, knowing your forklifts will always be at the ready.

Store the Battery Properly

Believe it or not, batteries are not as durable as they immediately appear. Whether it’s a tiny coin cell battery or a full-sized forklift battery, they all require the same care and consideration. Like many relatively delicate items, it’s important to store the battery in a cool and dark space. Most importantly, batteries in storage should be kept at a relatively moderate temperature. Changes in light, the intrusion of extreme hot or cold weather, and of course, moisture all will negatively affect the lifespan of a batytery6 before it can even be used.

Watch the Water Levels

Forklift batteries are a little more complex than the average variety. Many different types require the manual addition of fluids, namely water. It’s essential that much like a car’s cooling system, these fluids are regularly checked and maintained. The best maintenance tips to extend the life of your forklift battery are those surrounding good upkeep habits. Create a routine to regularly check and top off the water levels in your batteries.

Regularly Clean the Batteries

The same as with any vehicle or heavy machinery, batteries are subject to the hassles of aging. Most notably, aging batteries often begin to show signs of corrosion. Besides being unsightly, the acidic corrosion is not especially safe to leave be. Too much corrosion will cause a permanent degrading of the battery by reducing the power output substantially. What’s more, given enough time, corrosion will cake onto the terminals of a battery. Severely corroded terminals may not spark at all, rendering the battery unusable until forklift battery suppliers properly refurbish it.

Only Use Corresponding Equipment

Another key element to protecting a battery is to ensure only matching equipment is ever used with it. While it might be tempting to grab any available charger, it should be noted using the wrong specifications will cause problems. While chargers might all look alike, few manufacturers have exactly matching components. Besides potentially bending or breaking the battery’s charging or terminals, it can also shorten a battery’s life. The wrong voltage or imbalanced charge due to incorrect plugs may even burn up a battery altogether.