What to look for on used Forklift batteries

[peter nap]

I have two sources for batteries now. One is the largest food distributor on the east coast and goes through a lot of batteries and the other is a wholesaler who takes them as cores. I am talking about used batteries of course.

Both have agreed to give me as many as I want at salvage price.

I can pick and choose so I want to look them over before I lug them home. Other than the obvious physical damage and dead cells, what should I look for.

Thanks in advance!

Moved to newbies because it is likely a common question for new folks. I suspect the same criteria for forklift batteries will apply to standard lead acids, also. T

[wdyasq]

Donuts and/or beers to the guy in charge of deciding when they are 'out'. Many times it is just they will not make a full shift. Let the man who knows the batteries pick your battery ...

Ron

[picmacmillan]

hi peter...sounds like a good scoop...i agree donuts coffee and such is a good point of entry  i would try and make sure all the batteries you get are of the same power capabilities...your system will feed off the lowest charge battery of the system..they must be all equal in strength(or close).  so when they are fully charged and load tested? how do they respond? thats an important issue..if you have one bad battery or one bad cell for that matter...your system wont perform to its potential...most have told me long ago, if you get batteries..get them all at the same time..with the same strength...i have done this at used battery stores..i have bought them by the skid full for just what you have  said (scrap prices)..the key here is that they were all from the same place..bought at the same time..all held the same charge.....another good spot to try and buy them is at any larger battery selling place....most police depts. fire depts., casino's etc...all have backup systems they change every 2 years..if you can scoop these batteries they are good for lots of years after....  T105's L16's whatever...and at 15 bucks a piece(scrap prices), its a heck of a deal.....good question...good luck on your project..pickster

[mettleramiel]

Picmac, I hate to ask but, what is with all of the elipses?

[picmacmillan]

just the way our skies are at night peter ..its beautiful...can see sometimes past midnight.....come by some time..have a campfire..watch the sky dance ..take care my freind  pickster

[mettleramiel]

No, I was asking about the "elipses" that are all over your postings. The "..." everywhere.

[TomW]

met;

I don't see those characters in there. Must be your browser or somesuch.

Cheers.

TomW

[DanG]

pleaseexcusethis...asImeanwell....sopleasedonttakeoffense...

Some with good cheer in their heart fill a space with thoughts.

Others with heart in their cheer connect thoughts by using the return key.

Strangulating the written word happens when it can't be read aloud in one breath.

Blank spaces between sentences makes for a healthy pause for the reader.

[peter nap]

Thanks everyone. I got a call from one of the shop foremen that I've been talking to and he's checked out one for me that he says is in great shape. Says it has just gone under the one shift critera.

He did say that it weighed 3000 pounds. Glad I have a large truck and a tractor!

[TimV]

Glad I saw the 3000lbs. battery weight...was thinking last time I took a battery(car) to salvage yard they said they would take it if I paid them $2 a battery!

$15 sounds like a bargin for a ton and half of anything!

[whatsnext]

You might be confused. Current scrap battery rates are about $0.20/lb for metal cased batteries like forklift batteries and about $0.30/lb for plastic cased batteries like auto batteries. Those are prices scrappers are paying for dead batteries so the original poster will likely pay $600.00 for his 3000lb battery if the seller is aware of current market prices. If someone charges you to "accept" a battery go someplace else.