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.