Consider the Fast Charge Option
When it comes to recharging the forklift battery, there is an old rule of thumb that goes something like this: use the battery for a shift of around 8 hours, charge it for 8 hours and then let it cool and rest for another 8 hours. This formula has changed for many work operations which run more than one 8 hour shift. The fast charging alternative has become an extremely common option to traditional charging and since its development; lots of businesses have opted to make the switch.
What Are the Advantages of Fast Charging?
Less Charging Time
Where the typical charger and battery was concerned, re-energizing a battery from a 20% state of charge up to a complete 100% charge used to take about 8 hours. Fast charging could now accomplish this same charging in roughly an hour to an hour and 30 minutes! Many businesses use scheduled lunch and break times to complete this vital job.
Easier Refills
The fast charge batteries will usually require a single-point watering system. This system means that users do not have to remove the battery from the forklift to be able to water it.
Temperature-Sensitive Design
These new fast charge batteries have a thermistor located next to the center cell in order to monitor temperature. Once the temperature gets to a specific level, the charge rate is reduced and sometimes even stopped so as to make sure the battery does not overheat. This method could unfortunately lead to an undercharged battery. There are several particular fast charge brands of batteries which use extra thick posts, copper inserts and inter-cell connectors in order to reduce heat generation and increase conductivity because of the higher current. These features help to enable the battery to accept a higher charge rate for a longer period of time.
The overall productivity of these machines has been significantly better since the invention of the fast charge battery system. In the past, companies used to require more than one equipment when they were operating around the clock; now they can utilize one lift truck twice as much in a day and save much money by utilizing the fast charging batteries.