Learn how to charge your equipment batteries safely and get the most out of them with these battery charging tips.
Avoid Corrosion
A dirty battery may corrode and has the potential for heat build-up, resulting in shorter battery life and other safety hazards.
Avoid corrosion by cleaning battery contacts with a soft cloth, ensuring the battery remains dry, and storing batteries at room temperature. If batteries do corrode, carefully dispose of them.
Contact your local recycle center for tips and information on how to best dispose of and/or recycle dead batteries.
Check Connections
It’s important to check battery connections to ensure that they are secure. Damaged connections and/or cables may require replacement to guarantee reliable power.
Turn Off Charger Before Dislodging
To protect your battery and to keep it functioning optimally, remember to turn off chargers before dislodging your battery.
Keep a Charge
Maximize your battery life by keeping it above 20%. It’s recommended to keep batteries charged above 20% for optimal battery care and to extend your battery’s life.
Use Breaks
Avoid downtime related to battery charge! One way you can achieve this is by using operator breaks or shift changes as an opportunity to charge your battery.
Remember Ventilation
Adequate ventilation is very important for battery care and safety. Remember to store batteries and equipment in well-ventilated areas to avoid hazard.
When charging, keep the battery compartment open to improve ventilation. Refer to your owner’s manual for specific information.
Check Water Levels
Always check your battery’s water levels after charging and add any additional water as needed. This is an important step to ensuring that your battery remains operational and maintains efficiency.
Weekly Charge
Give each of your batteries a weekly equalize charge to keep them operating at their peak performance.
Contact the Experts
Have questions about your battery? Need to purchase a new one? Contact us!
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in September 2018. We updated it for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness in April 2023.