Forklift batteries

[Ohio4us]

I have 3 forklift batteries and was wondering where I can find out about reconditioning these batteries so that I can use these with a solar system. These batteries are 12v and very heavy (was a 36v forklift). They was going to be destroyed and just wont hold a charge for a long time at least they didn't very long on the forklift. Got these free.

[MichaelK]

Wish I could tell you something besides it's a lost cause.

I myself have tried to "recondition" dead batteries by two different methods. The two batteries in my diesel truck went bad after the truck sat idle for several weeks. I tried to recondition them with an electronic desulfanator/charger. Didn't work.

Previously I tried using the chemical treatment EDTA on another dead battery. I ended up with an acid-chewed pair of pants, and a dead battery. But, I was able to use up all that extra weekend time I could have wasted on sitting in front of the tube or something!

The only good thing you can get from these free batteries is the waiver of the core-charge for recycling.

[J R Adams]

Originally Posted by Ohio4us

I have 3 forklift batteries and was wondering where I can find out about reconditioning these batteries so that I can use these with a solar system. These batteries are 12v and very heavy (was a 36v forklift). They was going to be destroyed and just wont hold a charge for a long time at least they didn't very long on the forklift. Got these free.

Determine if those are lead acid batteries or nickel iron. The electrolyte is not compatible. Also check USN for battery care, maintenance and repair.

[Ohio4us]

I will check them out tomorrow and see if they are lead acid or nickel iron. So far they have held a charge with no drop but haven't been using them much. been 2 months since I charged them. So maybe it was just too much of a drain from the forklift. Will be hooking them up to solar panels next week. Been using mainly for lights in the barn (12v) and a couple of security lights that are only ran at night but didn't hook them up until last week and they are 12v bulbs too.

[patience]

I did this. I was given a 36 volt (18 cells, 2 volts each) forkilift battery. Mine read 5.6 volts when it arrived--REALLY DEAD!

After much effort, I got them out of the metal box, recabled the cells into 3 group of 6 in series = 12 volts/per group. I put a 40 amp charger on each group in turn and let them cook for days, adding water as needed.
then, I disconnected them all and read voltage on each cell individually. I found a couple that were hopeless, and several that were not so hot. I selected the best 12 cells by choosing the highest voltage ones, and made 2 groups of those = 12 volts each. Threw away the bad ones.

The remaining 2 groups were then run for weeks on a (too small) desufator charger, which got them up to around 12.4 volts, or 80% charge. These I kept on float for a while and they are now useful.

If you don't select out the bad cells, if any, then they will drag the rest down to their level.

Mine will get used with 4 sets of Harbor Freight solar panels for some lights and other light loads. Not a real prize winner, but they are still essentialy FREE, so no complaints here.

[Ohio4us]

thats what i was thinking of running it off of is the harbor freight panels. My batteries are just big 12 volt batteries no way to separate but checked today and they are all three at 10.5 volts right now so going to hook up to charger and see if they will take a full charge. ended up putting a aspirin in each cell and they took and seem to be holding a charge. went over 2 months just running 4 lights in barn and about last 2 weeks running 2 outside security lights. and was at 13v when started.