V-Force Energy Solutions - Flipbook - Page 27
When developing an
energy strategy, one
of the most overlooked
aspects is planning for
the proper handling,
maintenance and storage
of charging cables and
connectors.
CABLE MANAGEMENT: HOW TO
AVOID A WEAK LINK IN YOUR
ENERGY STRATEGY
When developing an energy strategy, one of
the most overlooked aspects is planning for
the proper handling, maintenance and storage
of charging cables and connectors. Failing to
make cable management, and in a larger sense
your charging station, a priority not only means
buying replacement cables; it can negatively
affect your productivity, equipment and overall
maintenance cost.
Cable connections can often become a failure
point in forklift battery charging systems.
Improper cable management often causes
undue stress on cables and connections,
leading to premature wear, tear and connector
failure, including failures due to excessive heat
during the charging process.
Forklift battery charging cables and connectors
may be even more susceptible to failure in
operations using lithium-ion batteries. These
batteries are intended to be opportunity
charged throughout a shift, so charging cables
can be put through many more connectiondisconnection cycles, leading to more cable and
connector wear and tear.
The replacement costs for damaged
cables and connectors are just one
cost of improper cable management
– perhaps only a small portion of
the total cost. When cables and
connectors fail, it may result in
inadequate charging due to poor
connections or overheating. The
charger may even fail to charge
the battery, unexpectedly reducing
forklift runtime. These failures
can also result in a battery being
unavailable for an entire shift, which
can be disruptive and expensive for
an organization.
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