You will need the following information when sizing a fork truck battery charger; battery voltage, capacity and charging rate.
Voltage: The battery voltage is the “Electrical Pressure” required to push the charge out of the battery.
The voltage (V) rating of the battery is the nominal voltage of the battery.
The nominal voltage is 2 Volts Per Cell (VPC) and typically 24V, 36V, 48V, or 80V.
Capacity: A battery’s capacity is the amount of electric charge it can deliver at the rated voltage.
Capacity is listed in Ampere Hours (AHR) and is determined by the number of plates and the plate size.
Nominal voltage and capacity rating can be found on the battery nameplate
(listed as NC-SSS-NP):
- NC is the number of cells
- SSS is the size of plates
- NP is the number of plates
Battery Rated Voltage: V = 2*NC
Battery Capacity: AHR = ((NP-1)/2)*SSS
The start rate or current output of the charger is rated in amperes, or amps (A).
A = AHR*Start Rate
The standard charger rates are:
- Conventional Charge: 17% (.17) of the battery capacity
- Opportunity Charge: 25% (.25) of the battery capacity
- Fast Charge: 40% (.40) of the battery capacity
Charger Sizing Example: Battery ID of 18-125-17:
Calculate battery rated voltage: Voltage=2*NC
18 is the number of cells at a nominal voltage of 2 Volts per Cell (VPC)
V=2*18=36V.
Calculate battery capacity: AHR = ((NP-1)/2)*SSS
125 is the plate size and 17 is the number of plates
AHR=((17-1)/2)*125 = 1000AHR.
Calculate the output amperes (A) based on charging start rate: Amperes = AHR*Start Rate
- Conventional Charge 1000*.17 = 170A
- Opportunity Charge 1000*.25 = 250A
- Fast Charge 1000*.40 = 400A
REVOLUTION MODEL:
- Conventional Charge RV08-8KW-36V
- Opportunity Charge RV12-12KW-36V
- Fast Charge RV16-18KW-36V