Forklift Battery

[Kilroy2k1]

 Hey guys. I finally managed to score a battery from a forklift this week so I can finish my generator and get it up and running, hopefully before the snow flies. Its a 36V model so I'll need to separate the cells and rewire them for 12V. Does anyone know how to remove the connecting bars between the cells. I tried to pry on one as much as I dare and it did not appear to want to budge. Another friend said just cut them but I would like to reuse the bars, I would think they are removable for rebuilding the packs but I may be wrong.

Any ideas?

Tom S.

[luismc]

Hello

  I have five forklift battery and the people that rebuild them use a tool to drill the post but i just cut the bar and use cable to make the connection to the other cells.Later ill post a link were you can get more info

[Devo]

I cut mine , now I am going to tap threads on top of each post & insert battery "posts" from Canadian Tire so I can wire as I see fit.

If you new the post size & could find dead centre you could drill them off.

I had thought of this but found for me it was easier to cut them leaving round tops

that I can tap

if they are in rows like mine you just need to cut the ends& wire the 3 sets of 6 cells in parallel. I had to remove all mine , 1 at a time because of the weight.

Devo

[old55olds]

A drill can be made with a short length of 3/4 inch ID pipe. Cut a slot at about a 45 degree angle to let the lead out and taper the face to cut the lead. Install a spring and a centering point in the center and drill away.

Ken

[Jerry]

I have a 2850 lb 36 volt. I just cut 2 jumper bars. drilled and taped and run jumper wires its 12 volt now.

It was free from a large wharehouse. 2 cells were bad, sulphated. I used my homebrew desulphater and now all cells are good.

Saw 230 amps at 13.5 volts comming into this battery today from the 14 small gennies on my store roof. We had some 40 mph gusts today.

                         JK TAS Jerry

[luismc]

Here is the link

http://www.cdmotive.com/cd/download/index.asp

[Kilroy2k1]

Thanks for the info guys. I did the same and cut the 2 bars so now i have 3 12V banks. I did some testing and each bank registered 6.2V after sitting for over 2 years and they were all low of electrolite. I topped off the cells and voltage came upto 9.5V. Put one bank on a charger and the voltage is comming up nicely so i think i lucked out, might not have to run a desulfator on them.

Now to setup a charger capable of dumping some serious amps to them

Thanks again.

Tom S.