1 ) MONITOR LEVELS
2 ) ONLY CHECK AND TOP-UP WHEN FULLY CHARGED ! - IF REQUIRED
3 ) ENSURE BATTERY AND CHARGER COMPATIBILITY
4 ) ALLOW BATTERIES TO FULLY CHARGE
LEAD ACID BATTERY CARE AND SAFETY GUIDELINES
A good fork lift truck battery maintenance regime will maximise productivity , enhance site safety and help minimise fleet costs .
Here is our top ten list of the everyday things fleet managers and operators can do to get the most out of their lead-acid battery powered equipment .
1 ) MONITOR LEVELS
Maintaining the correct battery fluid levels is an essential part of extracting the full performance potential from any battery . Levels should neither be too low nor too high – top up the cells so that the plates and separators are just covered by electrolyte . However , this is different if your truck has autofill . If the white disc in the clear window has dropped then top up . If the white disc is at the top , then don ’ t top-up . Battery manufacturers recommend that levels are regularly checked . Doing so will also help prevent premature damage or failure . Always make sure that only distilled , deionised water is used when topping-up any lead acid battery .
2 ) ONLY CHECK AND TOP-UP WHEN FULLY CHARGED ! - IF REQUIRED
As the water in batteries is critical to the transfer of energy , the introduction of fresh water must occur at the correct time during its charging cycle , which is after the battery has completed its charge and never before . Electrolyte expands when it gets warm so topping up before a charge can result in spillage of electrolyte .
3 ) ENSURE BATTERY AND CHARGER COMPATIBILITY
There is an important difference between a charger that simply works and one that is specifically designed to correctly charge a given type and make of battery . Check with battery suppliers to confirm that the correct charging equipment is being used . Using incorrect chargers can be extremely dangerous , can damage batteries and may also compromise insurance cover . Always follow the charging procedure shown in your charger ’ s manual .
4 ) ALLOW BATTERIES TO FULLY CHARGE
Batteries will always perform best after a full charge . Avoid the temptation to partially charge them , or to interrupt a charging cycle . Doing so could damage the battery permanently , reducing its capacity as well as potentially shortening its life .