Purkeys has made available to the public some expert tips and advice on how to maintain liftgate batteries. As a company that is dedicated to the community that supports it, Purkeys is consistently thinking of ways to provide useful information to the heavy trucking industry. By releasing these tips for liftgate battery maintenance, Purkeys takes that one extra step.
Keeping liftgate batteries in good health is important for the productivity of your liftgate—bad batteries mean problems for the driver and loss of time and money for the fleet. So we’ve compiled the top five things you can do to make sure your batteries aren’t going to fail when you need them most.
Tip #1: Make sure the battery posts are clean
Before making any connections, make sure all of the battery posts are clean and corrosion-free. Even small amounts of corrosion or other debris on the posts can add resistance and inhibit a good electrical connection. Be particularly mindful of the ground connections.
Tip #2: Keep all connections tight
Loose connections have the same effect as dirty or corroded battery posts—they limit the amount of current that can flow and thereby reduce the total power that a battery can supply to the liftgate.
Tip #3: Check the cables
Look where the cable is crimped to the lug. Check that the crimp is tightly connected to all wires and that no strands have been missed by the crimp or broken off. Replace the cables if necessary.
Tip #4: Test batteries to ensure they are good
Liftgates have a battery bank of 2-4 batteries that they rely on to run. If even one of them is bad, the overall efficiency of the battery bank will go down. To keep all of your batteries running smoothly, individually test each battery at least once a year to ensure they are fully functional.
Tip #5: Don’t ignore any of the first four tips
It’s easy to say, “these batteries were good last time I checked them, so I’m sure they’re fine,” or “I’ll just skip checking the cables this time around,” but just because you haven’t noticed any problems yet doesn’t mean there isn’t one. Proper maintenance is key in keeping batteries operating at top performance.
There are several options on the market to test your batteries and cables.
As fall and winter approaches, it is essential to check that not only liftgate batteries, but all batteries being used on fleet vehicles, are clean and functioning correctly. Even a small amount of corrosion on battery posts can add resistance.
