, Ala , AL , Birmingham , Hoover , Tuscaloosa , Bay Minette, Mobile , Monroeville, Anniston , Florence , Huntsville , Auburn , Dothan , Montgomery ,
Alaska
, AK,

Arizona, Ariz, AZ, Chandler, Mesa, Scottsdale, Casa Grande, Sierra Vista, Tucson, Phoenix, City, Avondale, Glendale, Peoria, Flagstaff, Lake, Havasu City, Yuma,

Arkansas, Ark, AR, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Russellville, Hot Springs, Little Rock, Searcy, Jonesboro, Pine Bluff, Texarkana,

California, CA, Calif, Los, Angeles, LA, San, Francisco, Diego, Jose, Oakland, Riverside, Orange County, Merced, Modesto, Stockton, Los Angeles, Downtown, Inglewood, Santa Monica, Torrance, Hollywood, Huntington Park, Montebello, San Jose, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Novato, San Francisco, San Rafael, Fremont, Hayward, Oakland, Davis, Redding, South Lake Tahoe, Fresno, Madera, Visalia, Downey, Long Beach, Whittier, Chula Vista, El Cajon, Lift Truck Batteries, San Diego, Alhambra, Pasadena, West Covina, Daly City, Palo Alto, San Mateo, Bakersfield, Lancaster, Santa Clarita, Eureka, Santa Rosa, Vallejo, Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Santa Ana, Oceanside, Palm Springs, Victorville, Oxnard, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Burbank, Glendale, San Fernando, Monterey, Salinas, Santa Cruz, La Jolla, Linda Vista, Poway, Ontario, Riverside, San Bernardino, Folsom, Roseville, Sacramento, Antioch, Concord, Livermore, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Mission Viejo,

Lift Truck Batteries, Canada, Canadian, Montreal, Toronto, Quebec, Alberta, Calgary, Edmonton, British Columbia, Victoria, Vancouver, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Province, Newfoundland, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario , Toronto, Lift Truck Batteries, London, Ottawa, North Bay, Thunder Bay, Hamilton, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Quebec City, Laval, Montreal, Sherbrooke, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory,

CARIBBEAN, Anguilla, Antigua, Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitt, Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Grenadines, Trinidad, Tobago, Turks, Caicos, U.S. Virgin Islands,

Colorado, Colo, CO, Boulder, Denver, Littleton, Alamosa, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Durango, Fort Collins, Grand Junction,
Connecticut
, Conn , CT, Bridgeport , New Haven , Waterbury , Hartford , New London , Torrington ,

Dakota, ND,
Delaware
, Del , DE, Dover , Wilmington , Milford , Harrington,
Dist. of Columbia , Washington
, D.C., DC,

Lift Truck Batteries, Florida, FL, Fla., Florida, Miami, Naples, Lauderdale, Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, Hialeah, Key West, Miami, Cocoa, Melbourne, Titusville, Gainesville, Leesburg, Ocala, Daytona Beach, Deltona, Lake City, Kissimmee, Orlando, Sanford, Boca Raton, Jupiter, West Palm Beach, Clearwater, New Port Richey, Saint Petersburg, Fort Pierce, Stuart, Vero Beach, Plant City, Tampa, Zephyrhills, Panama City, Pensacola, Tallahassee, Clewiston, Lakeland, Sebring, Fernandina Beach, Jacksonville, Saint Augustine, Bradenton, Punta Gorda, Sarasota, Coral Springs, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood,

Georgia, Albany, Americus, Valdosta, Lift Truck Batteries, Atlanta, Decatur, East Point, Macon, Milledgeville, Swainsboro, Athens, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Griffin, Marietta, Brunswick, Savannah, Waycross,
Guam
, GU,
Georgia
, Ga. , GA, Atlanta ,
Hawaii
, HI,
Idaho
, ID,

Lift Truck Batteries, Illinois, Ill., IL, Aurora, Naperville, Chicago, Heights, Cicero, Rockford, Joliet, Waukegan, Skokie, Gary, Kenosha, Chandler, Pembroke, Pines, Peoria, Athens, Champaign, Quincy, Springfield, Bloomington, Moline, Peoria, Chicago, Belleville, Carbondale, Mount Vernon, Aurora, Naperville, Wheaton, Calumet City, Cicero, Tinley Park, Chicago, Joliet, Kankakee, Rockford, Elgin, Evanston, Waukegan,

Lift Truck Batteries, Indiana, Ind., IN, Indianapolis, Gary, La Porte, Rensselaer, Angola, Fort Wayne, Wabash, Franklin, Indianapolis, Noblesville, Elkhart, Logansport, South Bend, Kokomo, Lafayette, Muncie, Evansville, New Albany, Terre Haute,

Lift Truck Batteries, Iowa, IA, Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Ames, Des Moines, Fort Dodge, Davenport, Decorah, Dubuque, Marshalltown, Mason City, Ottumwa, Council Bluffs, Sioux City, Spencer,

Kansas, Kans., KS, El Dorado, Newton, Wichita, Emporia, Garden City, Hutchinson, Lawrence, Salina, Topeka, Kansas City, Leavenworth, Overland Park,

Kentucky, Ky., KY, Bowling Green, Owensboro, Paducah, Bardstown, Frankfort, Louisville, Ashland, Pikeville, Somerset, Covington, Lexington, Richmond,

Louisiana, La., LA, Baton Rouge, Lift Truck Batteries, Donaldsonville, New Roads, Alexandria, Monroe, Shreveport, Lafayette, Lake Charles, New Iberia, Gretna, Kenner, New Orleans, Hammond, Houma, Morgan City,
Maine
, ME,
Maryland
, Md. , MD, Baltimore , Frederick , Hagerstown , Bethesda , Salisbury , Annapolis , Bowie , Frederick , Hagerstown , Annapolis , Baltimore , Salisbury ,

Lift Truck Batteries, Massachusetts, Mass., MA, Boston, Amherst, Pittsfield, Springfield, Brockton, New Bedford, Worcester, Boston, Cambridge, Quincy, Lynn, Waltham, Weymouth, Fitchburg, Lawrence, Lowell,

Lift Truck Batteries, Michigan, Mich., MI, Detroit, Troy, Cheboygan, Muskegon, Traverse City, Farmington Hills, Pontiac, Troy, Battle Creek, Benton Harbor, Kalamazoo, Dearborn, Detroit, Grosse Pointe, Coldwater, Jackson, Lansing, Mount Clemens, Sterling Heights, Warren, Grand Rapids, Holland, Ionia, Ann Arbor, Livonia, Monroe, Flint, Lapeer, Port Huron, Marquette, Menominee, Sault Sainte Marie, Alpena, Mount Pleasant, Saginaw,

Lift Truck Batteries, Minnesota, MN, Brainerd, Duluth, Moorhead, Hutchinson, Saint Cloud, Willmar, Mankato, Rochester, Worthington, Minneapolis, Richfield, Saint Anthony, Eagan, Red Wing, Saint Paul, Coon Rapids, Elk River, Plymouth, Apple Valley, Bloomington, Minnetonka,
Mississippi
, Biloxi , Gulfport , Pascagoula , Hattiesburg , Jackson , Meridian , Columbus , Greenville , Tupelo ,

Lift Truck Batteries, Missouri, Florissant, Kirkwood, Saint Louis, Branson, Joplin, Springfield, Cape Girardeau, Columbia, Jefferson City, Chesterfield, Festus, Saint Charles, Kirksville, Maryville, Sedalia, Independence, Kansas City, Saint Joseph,
Montana
,
Nebraska
, Grand Island , North Platte , Scottsbluff, Lincoln , Norfolk , Omaha ,
Nevada
, NV, Henderson , Las Vegas , Laughlin, Carson City , Elko, Reno ,

Lift Truck Batteries, New, Jersey, NJ, N.J., Atlantic, City, Trenton, Atlantic, New Brunswick, Long Branch, Cherry Hill, Vineland, Camden, Elizabeth, Summit, Newark, Paterson, Northern, Jersey City, Hackensack, Bayonne, Hackensack, Jersey City, Atlantic City, Trenton, Willingboro, Long Branch, New Brunswick, Toms River, Camden, Cherry Hill, Vineland, Elizabeth, Flemington, Phillipsburg, Morristown, Newark, Paterson,

Lift Truck Batteries, New York, NY, NYC, Syracuse, Utica, Brooklyn, Queens, Minneola, Hicksville, White Plains, Yonkers, Manhattan, Bronx, Staten, Long, Island, Albany, Rochester, Crown, Cat, Clark, Raymond, Hyster, Yale, Toyota, Nissan, Lift Truck, Forklift, Binghamton, Elmira, Riverhead, Islip, Buffalo, Niagara, Falls, Poughkeepsie, New York City – Manhattan, Syracuse, Utica, Watertown, Long Island, Nassau, Hempstead, Levittown, Valley Stream, Albany, Glens Falls, Plattsburgh, Batavia, Geneva, Rochester, Binghamton, Elmira, Oneonta, Long Island, Suffolk, Commack, Islip, Southampton, Buffalo, Jamestown, Niagara Falls, New York City, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Middletown, Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, New Rochelle, White Plains, Yonkers, New York City,
New Mexico
, NM,
North Dakota
ND

North Carolina, N.C., NC, Greenville, New Bern, Rocky Mount, Greensboro, Lexington, Winston Salem, Charlotte, Concord, Gastonia, Asheville, Boone, Hickory, Fayetteville, Jacksonville, Wilmington, Chapel Hill, Goldsboro, Raleigh,

Crown, Cat, Clark, Raymond, Hyster, Yale, Toyota, Nissan, Lift Truck, Forklift, Ohio, OH, Cleveland, Euclid, Lakewood, Akron, Canton, Youngstown, Lima, Mansfield, Toledo, Lorain, Mentor, Parma, Cincinnati, Hamilton, Middletown, Columbus, Reynoldsburg, Westerville, Marion, Portsmouth, Steubenville, Bellefontaine, Dayton, Springfield,
Oklahoma
, Okla. , OK, Norman , Oklahoma City, Stillwater , Ada , Enid , Lawton , Bartlesville , Muskogee , Tulsa ,
Oregon
, Ore. , OR, Astoria , Portland , Salem , Eugene , Medford , Pendleton,

Crown, Cat, Clark, Raymond, Hyster, Yale, Toyota, Nissan, Lift Truck, Forklift, Pennsylvania, Pa., PA, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Bethlehem, Scranton, Harrisburg, Levittown, McKeesport, Reading, Williamsport, Lancaster, Uniontown, New Castle, Erie, State College, Lansdale, Levittown, Philadelphia, Bethel Park, McKeesport, Pittsburgh, Pottsville, Scranton, Williamsport, Allentown, Reading, West Chester, Harrisburg, Lancaster, York, Indiana, New Castle, Washington, Altoona, Erie, Johnstown,
Puerto Rico
, PR,
Rhode Island
, R.I., RI,

South Carolina, S.C., SC, Aiken, Columbia, Rock Hill, Charleston, Florence, Hilton Head Island, Anderson, Greenville, Spartanburg,
South Dakota
, SD,

Tennessee, Tenn., TN, Chattanooga, Johnson City, Morristown, Franklin, Murfreesboro, Nashville, Dyersburg, Humboldt, Jackson, Knoxville, Oak Ridge, Sevierville, Covington, Memphis, Somerville, Clarksville, Columbia, Cookeville,

Crown, Cat, Clark, Raymond, Hyster, Yale, Toyota, Nissan, Lift Truck, Forklift, Texas, Tex., TX, Dallas, Ft, Worth, Houston, Alamo Heights, San Antonio, Universal City, Dallas, Irving, Plano, Killeen, Temple, Waco, Abilene, Brownwood, San Angelo, Corpus Christi, Kingsville, Victoria, Beaumont, Galveston, Jasper, Alpine, Midland, Odessa, Austin, Georgetown, San Marcos, Houston, Pasadena, Sugar Land, Amarillo, Lubbock, Plainview, Arlington, Cleburne, Fort Worth, Eagle Pass, Kerrville, New Braunfels, Longview, Sherman, Tyler, Dell City, El Paso, Sierra Blanca, Huntsville, Liberty, Nacogdoches, Denton, Mineral Wells, Wichita Falls, Brownsville, Laredo, McAllen, Angleton, Bay City, Bryan,
Utah
, UT, Logan , Saint George, Vernal, Ogden , Provo , Salt Lake City ,

Crown, Cat, Clark, Raymond, Hyster, Yale, Toyota, Nissan, Lift Truck, Forklift, Virginia, Va., VA, Bluefield, Bristol, Martinsville, Charlottesville, Danville, Lynchburg, Fredericksburg, Harrisonburg, Roanoke, Alexandria, Arlington, Manassas, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, Petersburg, Richmond, Tappahannock.
Virgin Islands
, V.I., VI,
Vermont
, Vt. , VT,

Washington, Wash., WA, Mercer Island, Richmond Beach, Seattle, Auburn, Kent, Tacoma, Bellingham, Olympia, Vancouver, Bellevue, Everett, Renton, Kennewick, Spokane, Yakima,

West, Virginia, W.Va. , WV,

Crown, Cat, Clark, Raymond, Hyster, Yale, Toyota, Nissan, Lift Truck, Forklift, Wisconsin, Wis., WI, Kenosha, Racine, West Bend, Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, West, Allis, Janesville, La, Crosse, Madison, Eau Claire, Superior, Wausau, Green Bay, Oshkosh, Sheboygan,
Wyoming
, Wyo. , WY,

GB Industrial Battery

Ohio Industrial Battery & Charger

Batteries for Forklift, Locomotive and Solar Applications

Industrial Power

GB Industrial Battery OHIO - English version

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Industrial Power Products – Ohio

Service Area: Cleveland, Euclid, Lakewood, Akron, Canton, Youngstown, Lima, Mansfield, Toledo, Lorain, Mentor, Parma, Cincinnati, Hamilton, Middletown, Columbus, Reynoldsburg, Westerville, Marion, Portsmouth, Steubenville, Bellefontaine, Dayton, Springfield and Surrounding Areas.

	How to Order		Order Online		Price List		Contact Us
	Battery Measurements		Standard Plugs		Optional Plugs		Battery Cover Styles

What to expect from

Quality: Made in the USA, for over 50 years.

All batteries are delivered fully charged and ready for immediate use.

Price: Factory Direct Wholesale Pricing.

Free delivery in the Continental US and Canada, batteries and chargers - excluding parts & accessories.

Leasing and financing options are available and encouraged.

Availability: The fastest delivery in the industry: 5 to 10 days, anywhere in the US or Canada.

Optional battery or charger installation is available anywhere, usually $75hr USD.

Customer Service: A dedicated sales team with an average of 10 years of battery experience.

Forklift Battery Applications:

New Batteries

· Superior long lasting flat plate grid construction.

· Vibration resistant - No fragile tubes.

· Standard 1.285 specific gravity = Lower operating temperature, longer life.

· Trays: Durable Baked-On Powder Coat Finish.

Product Range:

· 45 to 170AH per plate.

· 5-Year Heavy Duty Batteries.

· 7-Year Extended Duty Batteries.

· Low Maintenance Batteries.

· UL Approved “EE” (spark proof) batteries.

Order Online

Reconditioned Batteries

· Half the price of new batteries.

· Warranty: 1 Year.

· An alternative for extremely light duty applications.

· Subject to Availability – Call or E-mail for availability.

Automatic Battery Watering Systems

· We stock: BFS, Flow Rite, Philadelphia Scientific and Water Master brands.

· High pressure or gravity feed.

· Highly recommended for batteries that must be removed for watering.

· Factory installed option on new batteries.

· Available aftermarket through our parts department – easy installation.

· 5-Year Warranty.

New Chargers

· Single Phase or Three Phase

· AC Input Voltages: 120VAC to 600VAC, 50 or 60hz

· 10-year warranty

· A wide range of Fully Automatic Digital Charge Controls to suit your needs.

· Stackable

· UL and cUL listed

· Call or E-mail for availability. Branch Locator / N. America

Product Range:

· Edison “Minit Charge” Systems (Starting at $20,000 USD)

· 100% 6hr Rapid Chargers

· 100% 8hr

· 80% 8hr.

· 12, 14 and 16-Hour Single Shift Chargers.

· Multi Circuit – 2 to 6 chargers per unit.

· Multi Cell Shop Chargers – 2 volt to 72 volt.

Reconditioned Chargers

· Subject to Availability – Contact our Web Sales Staff.

· Warranty: 1 year.

· Call or E-mail for availability. Branch Locator / N. America

Locomotive Batteries:

32V Unitized Batteries

· 2395 amps to 3415 amps @ the 5 second rate to 1.00 VPC.

· 450 to 650 AH @ the 8 hour capacity to 1.75 VPC.

8V Individual Batteries

·1665 amps to 3415 amps @ the 5 second rate to 1.00 VPC

·330 AH to 650 AH @ the 8 hour capacity to 1.75 VPC.

Battery and Charger Parts / Accessories:

Charger Parts

· Fuses – AC and DC.

· Capacitors, Resistors and Diodes.

· Control Transformers.

· Replacement Charger Controls.

Battery Accessories

· Vent Caps.

· Watering Systems.

· Battery Monitors.

· Eyewash Systems.

· Battery Roller Stands.

· Battery Spill Kits.

· Battery Watering Guns.

· Replacement cables and cells.

We accept most major Credit Cards.

A Global Leader in Traction Battery Technology

Knowledge Base: Glossary of Battery and Charger Terms and Definitions.

Battery Products

What gives GB Industrial Batteries their superior level of quality?

Our Advanced Design Separator and Paste Formulation, together with lower internal resistance, performance engineering and careful assembly, work together to make GB the best deep cycle industrial batteries available. Our exclusive separator is designed to deliver superior electrolyte distribution, lower water usage and reduced positive shedding, so our batteries last significantly longer. Our proprietary paste formulation is the key ingredient to long battery life.

What are Gel, AGM and SLA / sealed lead acid batteries?

Gel cell or sealed lead acid batteries have basically the same chemistry as conventional wet or “flooded cell” batteries. The battery electrolyte is in a gelatin form (GEL) or is absorbed into a glass matt (AGM). The battery is then sealed with epoxy. They are exceptionally leak resistant and may be used in any position, but cannot be re-hydrated when they eventually begin to dry fail. Applications include UPS devices, emergency lights, and wheelchairs. These batteries contain 2 volts per cell with common voltages of 4, 6, and 12 volt. They are not recommended for use in deep cycle or forklift applications.

Does GB offer a Gel, AGM or SLA “Maintenance Free” / “Low Maintenance” battery?

We did from 1996 to 2001, but determined that they could not withstand normal use for more than 3 years, making them an impractical solution to conventional lead acid batteries. They are not cost effective in forklift applications for the following reasons; A) more than double the cost of conventional, B) they require a special charger, and C) the short 3yr life expectancy vs. 7yrs for conventional batteries.

To make your new or existing forklift battery virtually maintenance free, we recommend installing an Automatic Battery Watering System and Water Level Indicator Light. This can be accomplished for approximately $20 per cell, plus (1) $50 indicator module (installed). The benefits are:

· Weekly battery watering takes just one to two minutes.

· No user contact with the battery or vent caps.

· No safety equipment required (such as eye wash systems and protective gear).

· Narrow isle trucks do not require removal of the battery for watering.

· Accidental overfilling, acid overflow and corrosion are eliminated.

· You will achieve the maximum number of cycles and productivity, usually 7yrs or more.

· The optional battery water level indicator light further reduces maintenance by eliminating unnecessary water level checks, and allows operators and management to easily monitor water levels at a glance.

GB Battery Watering Systems: Pricing and additional information.

Example: Automatic Battery Watering System

image038-small-2in

Automatic Watering System | Filler is Easily Accessible | 5gal. Reservoir | Water Level Indicator

Does GB ship their batteries filled and charged?

Yes, all GB industrial batteries ship filled with electrolyte, fully charged and ready for immediate use, including international export shipments.

Do I use the cables and plug from my old battery on my new battery?

No, all new and reconditioned batteries ship with the correct cables and plug installed.

Will my new battery be compatible with my existing charger?

Yes, provided your existing charger was sized correctly for your forklift at the time of purchase.

Does GB charge for delivery or freight?

No, freight is included within the continental United States on new and reconditioned batteries and chargers. We only charge for installation (if requested) @ $75/hr in most markets.

Where is my nearest GB Industrial Battery Sales Office?

Please see our global branch locator page to locate the nearest GB Industrial Battery distributor.

The five most common reasons for Premature Battery Failure:

1. Low water levels

From our experience, this is the number one cause of battery failure.

Charging batteries that are as little as 1” low on water can cause damage to the entire battery that can never be repaired. It dries and burns the uppermost portion of the “plates”, causing high resistance that is permanent, and effectively isolates the portion that remained submerged.

Even when the proper water levels are restored, the damaged portion continues to cause high resistance and the battery runs much hotter from that point forward, causing accelerated water loss and further plate damage due to overheating.

2. Over Charging and Opportunity Charging

Industrial batteries are typically designed to last at least 1,500 charge cycles, over a five to fifteen year period. Each time you charge a battery, regardless of how long, it constitutes one cycle.

Consistently charging a battery twice per day, during lunch breaks for example, is known as Opportunity Charging, and reduces the useful life of a battery by 50%.

The additional heat generated by opportunity charging a battery usually reduces the run time equal or greater in proportion to the amount of charge it actually received, making the practice completely ineffective and costly.

Routinely charging the battery before it is 80% discharged is another common form of over charging. For example, if you only use the battery a few hours a day, it’s best to use it until it is truly in need of charging before actually plugging it in. Remember, each charge constitutes one cycle, so try not to charge unnecessarily.

3. Over watering

Commonly occurs as a reaction to low water levels, but is a major problem unto itself.

Flushes the electrolyte from the cells and gradually dilutes the acid to the point that the battery can no longer function properly. In many cases this can be remedied sending the battery out to have the acid adjusted, but the battery’s life will still be shortened somewhat.

Causes tray corrosion (listed below).

4. Failing to Equalize Charge

Batteries should receive an Equalize Charge once every 10 cycles.

Almost all chargers are equipped with an Equalize feature. On older chargers, this setting is usually referred to as Weekend or Weekly charge.

Selecting this setting adds 3 additional hours to a normal charge, ensuring all of the cells in the battery reach full charge, and the allowing extra time for the electrolyte to mix during the Gassing Stage.

Failure to equalize causes reduced battery run time and eventual failure, due to Sulfation, Stratification, and an imbalanced capacity between the cells.

5. Corrosion

Batteries should be rinsed or washed at least once per year to prevent corrosion.

Even when the proper water levels are consistently maintained, sulfuric acid vapors escape during charge. These vapors leave an oily sulfuric acid residue on the top of the battery around the vent caps. Over time, the water in the residue evaporates leaving full strength, concentrated acid that is much more concentrated than the diluted acid inside the battery.

The concentrated acid is very conductive. As it gradually accumulates and spreads out, it eventually makes contact between the intercell connectors across the top of the battery. This results in shorting between the cells, causing the battery to self-discharge, and additional heat during charge and use.

Even though battery trays have a baked on powder coat finish, they will easily corrode if the residue is not rinsed off. The corrosion will become progressively worse until it is either removed, or it destroys the battery.

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Other reasons an industrial battery could fail prematurely:

CABLE CORROSION – REPAIRABLE: This is a commonly overlooked problem which causes reduced run time and all of the classic symptoms of a bad battery or cell. Many times this is the only problem, and replacing the corroded cable increases run time dramatically.

CAUSE: If the battery is not rinsed periodically, acid penetrates the seal between the cable head and the insulation and begins to oxidize and corrode the copper conductors. The cable gradually swells over time as the copper breaks down, deteriorating the connection gradually until the battery no longer accepts a charge.

Examples of Battery Cable Corrosion: Swollen near terminal, copper is replaced by blue corrosion.

Positive Plate Growth – NOT REPAIRABLE: The true sign that a battery has reached the end of its useful life, and is in need of replacement. Typically begins to occur after 5 years. As batteries age, the positive plates begin to soften and expand in size. This causes internal pressure inside the battery cells. Most manufacturers now use floating bushings on the positive cell posts to allow for this gradual expansion and reduce stress on the cells internal components. Eventually, as the battery reaches the end of it’s normal useful life, the internal pressure is great enough to push the positive posts well beyond normal tolerances and can begin to distort the cell covers and vent wells. Positive plate growth is normal and should be considered as a wear indicator. If your battery is no longer holding a charge and shows signs of plate growth, it should be replaced, not repaired.

Batteries can fail and be beyond economical repair without showing noticeable signs of plate growth. However, plate growth is a sure, visible sign that the battery is beyond economical repair.

Positive plate growth typically occurs after 5 years or 1,500 cycles. If it occurs in less than 5 years, it is most likely due to opportunity charging or over charging, which should be addressed when replacing the battery.

This condition usually affects the Positive posts only, and will give an uneven, slanted appearance when viewed from the side, looking across the top of the battery.

Examples of Positive Plate Growth:

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Additional Information – Forklift Batteries:

SHORT RUN TIME: Progressively shorter run times could be caused by a malfunctioning battery OR charger. It is best to have both checked if you begin to experience shortened run time or suspect a problem.

·EQUALIZE CHARGE: Industrial batteries must receive an equalize charge at least once per month, or permanent damage will result. Never equalize more than once every 5^th charge cycle, or damage will result. Reason: Selecting equalize mode on your charger adds 3 additional hours of charge time to that charge cycle, ensuring all of the cells reach 100% charge. Equalizing too often or too little will shorten battery life.

WHEN TO ADD WATER, AND HOW MUCH TO ADD: Water can be added before or after charging. Add just enough water to cover the perforated element protector (visible at the bottom of the vent well). Never overfill. Reason: The water level rises up to one inch during the last (3) hours of recharge due to “gassing”. The visible water level before charging is always lower than after charging. Any excess water will simply overflow and cause corrosion and damage your lift truck. See “Proper Battery Care” for more information.

·NEVER ALLOW BATTER WATER TO RUN LOW OR DRY: Water should be added every 5 to 10 charges or permanent damage will result.

WHAT KIND OF WATER TO USE: In general, normal city water will suffice, but if you have any doubts about purity of the local water supply, A) contact the GB battery supplier in your area B) get a chemical analysis of the water C) use distilled water.

ADDING ACID: Never add sulfuric acid to a battery. If an acid spillage occurs, contact the GB battery supplier in your area.

SPECIFIC GRAVITY (SPGR): See SPGR chart below.

OVER DISCHARGING: Never over discharge batteries. More is not necessarily better when it comes to recharging batteries. Most battery manufacturers warrant their batteries for up to 1,500 cycles of charge and discharge provided, among other things, that the battery is never discharged beyond 80%. This normally coincides with an eight-hour shift. Trucks fitted with extra equipment such as clamps, high speed lifts, etc. will need a higher capacity battery to ensure the battery is not discharged beyond 80%. Lift truck interrupts are available to detect the correct discharge level and are recommended by battery manufacturers as a means of ensuring batteries are not over discharged. The best way to ensure batteries are not being overcharged is to periodically (once a month) check the temperature of the center cell on a battery at the end of regular charge. If the temperature of the electrolyte is more than 36° F above the ambient temperature, call your battery technician— there is a problem.

AVOIDING SPARKS: Batteries produce and store hydrogen gas, which is highly explosive. Never weld near a battery. Never place metal objects on batteries. Such objects can cause a short circuit between adjacent cells and result in possible injury to those close to the battery. Similarly, people charged with caring for or operating batteries should not wear any metal jewelry.

UNDER-SIZED CHARGERS: A charger that is more the 100AH less than the your battery’s rated capacity. Will result in an undercharged battery with significant reduction in operating life. Your local GB vendor has all the information to ensure the battery and chargers are precisely matched.

OVER-SIZED CHARGERS: A charger that is over 100AH more than your battery’s rated capacity. Can overcharge and overheat your battery, reducing the operating life of your battery.

WHEN TO REPLACE A BATTERY: Repair or replace batteries when capacity that has fallen below 80% of its rated capacity. Continuing to operate a bad battery can damage a truck's electric motor and electronics. Failing batteries also require recharging more frequently, wasting hundreds or thousands of dollars in energy per year, depending on the size of your fleet.

RECORD KEEPING: We recommend that each forklift, battery and charger in your fleet be given a unique number for easy identification and tracking purposes. Keep regular records on the maintenance of batteries. For instance, keep a log of ever time a battery is watered and equalize charged, or at minimum, each time an operator complains of short run time and whenever cells or cables are replaced. These records will be invaluable when it comes to predicting when battery replacement will be necessary.

·FORMULAS:

Charger Model# Breakdown: Example, Model GB100-3-18-750 = GB brand, 100% rated, 3 phase, 18 cell (36 volt), 750AH (Ampere Hour).

Battery Model# Breakdown: Example, Model 18-125-13 = 18 cells (x2 = 36 volt), 125AH per plate, 13 negative plates.

Calculating AH Capacity: Negative plates per cell – 1, / 2 x AH per plate = AH (Ampere Hour).

Example, 18-125-13: 13 – 1 = 12, / 2 = 6 x 125 = 750AH

Calculating KWH Capacity: AH x Volts (2v per cell) = WH (Watt Hour) / 1000 x .97 (efficiency factor) = KWH (Kilo Watt Hour)

Example, battery model 18-125-13, 36V / 750AH: 750 x 36 = 27,000 / 1000 = 27 x .97 = 26.19KWH.

Battery Capacity Calculator

STATE OF CHARGE: Typical no-load voltages vs. state of charge:

Sample voltages are for a 12-volt / 6 cell battery system (figured at 10.5 volts = fully discharged, and 77 degrees F). For a 24-volt battery multiply by 2, for a 36-volt battery multiply by 3, 48-volt battery multiply by 4. VPC is the volts per individual cell - if you measure more than a .2 volt difference between each cell, you need to equalize, or the battery is beginning to go bad, or it could be sulfated. These voltages are for batteries that have been at rest for 3 hours or more. Batteries that are being charged will be higher - the voltages while charging will not tell you anything, you have to let the battery sit for approx. 3hrs. For longest life, batteries should stay in the green zone. Occasional dips into the yellow are not harmful, but continual discharges (or “cycles”) to those levels will shorten battery life considerably. It is important to realize that voltage measurements are only approximate. Note the large voltage drop in the last 10%.

State of Charge	12 Volt battery	Volts per Cell
100%	12.7	2.12
90%	12.5	2.08
80%	12.42	2.07
70%	12.32	2.05
60%	12.20	2.03
50%	12.06	2.01
40%	11.9	1.98
30%	11.75	1.96
20%	11.58	1.93
10%	11.31	1.89
0	10.5	1.75