Our electric forklift battery needs water. Should I add the water before or after its charge?
You should add water to the forklift battery after its charge. Typically, batteries need watering 1x / weekly.
Adding Water to the Forklift Battery
To illustrate, imagine that you have a full glass of water. You stick a sponge in the water to soak up the liquid and then add a small amount water to the empty glass. If you were to then squeeze the water from the sponge back into the glass with the added water, you’d see the liquid overflow from the glass.
The same process happens when charging your forklift battery. If extra water is added beforehand, it may overflow and dilute the battery’s electrolytes.
The Exception
There is one exception to this rule. If you check the forklift battery plates and notice they are not damp, adding water before the charge is a benefit. Dampening the top of the plates will ensure they won’t overheat and dry out during the charge, causing the forklift battery to lose capacity.
Questions about charging or watering forklift batteries? Contact ProLift to speak to an equipment specialist. ProLift offers planned maintenance for forklift batteries and chargers as well as reconditioning.
Contact Equipment Specialist