A Primer On Equalizing Charging Your Forklift Battery

Industrial & Manufacturing Blog

Standard lead-acid forklift batteries have plenty of unique care requirements to consider. One of those requirements involves performing an equalizing charge to the battery on a regular basis. The following explains the necessity of equalizing charges and how to safely perform one on your lead-acid forklift battery.

Why Equalizing Charges are Necessary

Over time, slight differences in electrolyte content within each battery cell can cause some cells to take less charge than others. This imbalance can eventually rob the battery of its full charging potential. An equalizing charge essentially brings all of the cells back to an equal charge.

An equalizing charge can not only resolve issues caused by lead plate sulfation, but it can also reverse stratification of the acid and water within the electrolyte mixture.

What You'll Need

To properly perform an equalizing charge, you'll need a forklift battery charger that's capable of performing equalizing charges. Keep in mind that not all chargers are equipped with this feature. Some chargers offer manual voltage settings for equalizing charges, while others adjust the voltage for an equalizing charge automatically.

For safety reasons, you'll also need to perform this process inside a battery charging room. Make sure that the battery room is well-ventilated, as the electrolyte may bubble during the equalizing charge. Don't forget to wear gloves and other appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling or working around lead-acid forklift batteries.

How to Perform an Equalizing Charge

The following offers a step-by-step guide to perform an equalizing charge on your forklift battery:

  • Make sure that all loads have been removed from the battery before connecting it to the battery charger.
  • Once the battery is connected to the charger, set the charger for the appropriate equalization charge level, as recommended by the battery manufacturer.
  • Start the charging process. During this time, keep an eye on the specific gravity of each cell, as it will increase throughout the charging process.
  • Stop the charging process once the specific gravity of the cells stops increasing. At this point, the specific gravity of all cells within the battery should be uniform with one another.
  • After charging, replace any water that evaporated during the charging process.

New lead-acid forklift batteries will need to undergo an equalizing charge every 10 charges. Older batteries will need to undergo this process every 5 charges. Avoid interrupting the equalizing charge cycle if at all possible, as this could eventually shorten the life of the battery.

For more information, contact U.S. Lift & Warehouse Equipment Inc or a similar company.

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