Battery-powered equipment is all over the construction industry. But when powering heavy-duty equipment and machines like those in the construction industry, a lot is riding on the battery’s ability to keep up. Construction job sites have a variety of heavy-duty equipment like excavators or compact track loaders (CTL). If your battery is not well taken care of, it might not be able to work at its highest performance. If your equipment isn’t working, your crews can’t work either.
These are some of the biggest tips when it comes to sustaining your battery-powered construction equipment. In addition to tips on maintaining your batteries, it’s necessary to understand the full reasons behind having your battery working at full capacity.
Battery Value
There are many ways to maintain your battery, but it’s important to first understand why a well-maintained battery is valuable. Machines like electric CTLs and excavators need a lot of power and you can’t risk that equipment going down on the jobsite. For this reason, it is vital that you keep up with your battery maintenance.
If you are not regularly caring for your batteries, you are likely susceptible to any of the following:
Risk of malfunction or failure
Lowered efficiency
Risk for costly replacement
If your battery is not consistently monitored and subjected to condition checks, it might be failing. If a battery has an issue and it isn’t being addressed, it will continue to struggle until some sort of failure occurs, and this can put your workers, your equipment, and your project at risk.
A weakened battery can result in equipment malfunction or even failure. This kind of issue can cause major delays in your project and easily become costly. Not to mention, if your equipment fails, your crew could be put in danger.
To avoid efficiency drops, expense spikes, worker injury, and equipment damage, you must take care of your batteries consistently and frequently.
Caring for the Battery
Now that you know the importance of taking care of your battery, you need to know the best ways to accomplish that. In general, it is significant that you conduct regular inspections and check for anything visible and obviously wrong.
Keeping Things Charged
Ensuring that you are following all guidelines when it comes to charging your battery is a huge aspect of keeping it well-maintained. Make sure you read through the manufacturer’s instructions to get a full understanding of how often to charge it, how long you can leave it charging, what types of chargers are acceptable, etc. Little things that you might not think about when it comes to charging can make or break your battery’s ability to perform and its longevity.
Cleaning Things Up
Like any of your machines, batteries need to be cleaned frequently and well. If your battery gets dirty and stays that way for a considerable amount of time, it can prove detrimental to its capabilities. For a battery in particular, they are susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion can weaken the battery’s ability because it is interfering with the energy conduction. In addition to weakening the power, the corrosion can result in a shorter battery life.
Make sure that the battery is kept clean and free of corrosion as this could deplete the battery and its lifespan.
Safe Storage
If you have extra batteries or batteries that are not in use, you should be properly storing them. This means that you can’t just place them under the extra equipment or perhaps on a shelf in a bathroom. Batteries have to be kept in specific conditions in order to sustain the battery’s life.
Keep all extra batteries in a dry and cool place. Batteries are best preserved in this type of environment and have a better chance of lasting.
Test it Out
A great way to be sure that your battery is working properly and to the best of its ability is to test it. Along with regular cleaning and charging your battery, you will want to habitually test your battery.
A basic load test will help you avoid unexpected battery failure. With regular battery testing, you are likely to be aware of the status of the battery and how much power it can hold at any given moment.
Maintain for Longevity
Continuous and appropriate maintenance will set you and your crew up for a smoother ride. A battery that is well cared for is a battery well qualified to get the job done. If you are properly storing your batteries that are not in use, keeping them clean, charging them according to guidelines, and testing their capacity and health regularly, you are setting yourself up to have long-lasting performance on your electric equipment. Follow these tips to improve battery lifespan and performance, and talk to a professional if you are unsure of or have questions about your battery care.