Is it normal for a forklift’s battery to be really hot?
What to do about a hot forklift battery
Wow, when I feel the side of the battery in my lift truck, it is really hot. Is it normal for a lift truck’s battery to be really hot?
Have you ever noticed this and asked that question?
Here’s your answer: Normal – yes. Good? No.
Chemical Reaction – Lead Acid Batteries
Charging and discharging forklift batteries will heat up a battery. If you are running the lift truck hard with excessive lifting (and pulling out lots of amps) the battery will heat up. So it is normal for a battery to feel hot on the sides when in used or charging.
Is it bad for a forklift battery to be hot?
It may be normal for a battery to generate heat when charging and discharging, however, heat will shorten the life of a forklift battery. If the standard life of a battery is 2000 cycles (warrantied for 1500), the reason is that a battery can expand and contract only so many times before the components inside the battery wear, become brittle and break.
Cool off a hot forklift battery
So, if you are looking to keep your forklift battery running for any length of time, try to keep it cool. A hot forklift battery needs to be attended to. Allow the battery to cool for a full eight hours after charging. This will extend the life of the battery and provide for a reliable battery to use over time.
If you use your battery on a shift immediately after charging it, the heat build-up will eventually harm the battery and it will lead to its early demise and require a replacement.
Here is a handy tip: Install a fan on top of the battery’s intercell connectors. This will cool the battery effectively. And extend its life.