5 Things to Know Before Buying a Forklift Battery
Finding the right power solution for your warehouse forklifts can be challenging. Inefficient solutions, for example, can cause you to carry more industrial batteries than you really need. The wrong battery will also lead to high maintenance costs and poor performance. Low-quality forklift batteries are also prone to running dry fast and may experience leaks and cause other problems that impact efficiency and safety at the job site. With that being said, it is imperative that you increase your knowledge of forklift batteries before buying one. Here is what you need to know.
What voltage does your forklift use?
The first thing you need to do before you start shopping for forklift batteries is to collect some stats. The first thing you should do is know the voltage your forklift is designed to use. Part of matching the forklift battery to your forklift is knowing the design specs of your forklift. Forklifts typically use 36 volt or 48-volt batteries. The wrong choice of battery size can significantly damage your equipment or cause inefficiency.
If you have several lift trucks types in your warehouse, you need to know the recommended battery size of all of them. Never assume there is such a thing as a one-size-fits-all. Every forklift is unique so purchase a battery that suits each truck.
Measure battery compartment dimensions
There is nothing more frustrating than buying a high-quality forklift battery only for you to realize it cannot fit the battery compartment of your lift truck. Finding the right voltage is one thing but you will still have to make sure the battery fits in your truck. That is why the next thing you need to do is take the measurements of the battery compartment. Write the dimensions of the width, depth, and height in inches. You then need to have these dimensions with you when shopping for a forklift battery. A pro tip here is to measure the size of the battery compartment and not the size of the old battery.
Know the amp hour capacity of the forklift battery
You need to check the ampere-hour (AH) capacity rating on the current forklift battery before you start shopping for a new one. The AH capacity rating shows the maximum power and run time. To get optimal performance, you need to always go for the battery with the highest-rated amp hour that is approved for use in your lift truck.
Know the minimum counterweight requirement
Knowing the minimum and maximum recommended battery weight is very important when buying a forklift battery. Installing a battery that is underweight may cause stability problems and this can be dangerous. You can get the information on the counterweight requirements on the owner’s manual or forklift’s data plate.
Check the connection type, cable lengths, and cable position
The final thing you need to do is know where the battery plugs into the forklift, how long the cables are, and the position and color of the connectors.
If you need help finding the right battery for your forklift, call Industrial Batteries – best forklift batteries in Toronto at 1-905-965-4288