Quick Guide for Choosing the Right Forklift Battery

The type of forklift battery you choose will have an impact on the overall efficiency of your lift truck. That is why you have to be very cautious when buying a battery. This post takes a quick look at the top considerations you should make to find the best battery for your forklift.

Check the brand and manufacturer of the battery

Where the battery was made has a significant impact on performance and durability. When it comes to the purchase of forklift batteries, you should always avoid batteries that were made overseas in countries with a reputation for making cheap products. Even if the battery was manufactured locally, you also need to pay attention to the reputation of the manufacturer. An important point you should always remember is that a low forklift price is often too good to be true.

Only buy batteries that have a warranty

The mistake most people make when buying forklift batteries is that of choosing a battery solely because it is from a manufacturer with a good reputation. What you need to remember is that manufacturing defects can be dreadful. Considering forklift batteries do not come cheap, you should focus more on batteries that are accompanied by a fair warranty cover. Always read through the warranty to know what is covered before you make a purchase.

Another important thing you have to consider is where the battery will be serviced if it is faulty. Will it be sent for repair or can a local technician come to your facility to take care of the problem? If it has to be sent away, it means your forklifts will be down longer than needed.

Does the battery have to be watered?

After every 5 to 10 charges, some forklift batteries have to be de-ionized or distilled water to be added. The purpose of the water is to protect the active materials in the battery from drying out and becoming brittle. Needless to say, failing to water the battery accordingly may cause the battery to be damaged permanently or have a shortened useful life. You will be able to find low-maintenance as well as maintenance-free forklift batteries.

Existing charging system

Chargers are not created the same. Your average 48-volt battery charger will not be compatible with every 48-volt battery out there. The case is the same for the 36-volt charger. You also have to remember that most chargers cannot be converted from one voltage to another. With that in mind, it is imperative that you check the nameplate data as well as talk to a battery supplier about charger compatibility. If you are moving to a lithium-ion battery you will most likely not be able to use your existing charger.

Reconditioned forklift batteries

Last but not least, you have to think about buying a brand new and a reconditioned forklift battery. These are less expensive and work in the same way as a new battery. The only drawback is the reconditioned battery only lasts about 4 hours until you have to recharge. As a result, reconditioned batteries make sense when you don’t use your equipment frequently.

If you need help finding the right battery for your forklift, call Industrial Batteries – best forklift batteries in Toronto at 1-905-965-4288

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