| The phrase "out of sight, out of mind" could well | | | | operator has to choose which replacement to take. |
| have been coined to describe battery rooms. For | | | | That's where the queuing system comes in. It's as |
| many warehouses, the battery room is located well | | | | simple as looking at the number on the display. The |
| away from the mainstream of operations and | | | | queuing system monitors the order in which the |
| sometimes even in a remote part of the site. They | | | | batteries have been put on charge. It shows which |
| are often not staffed on a full time basis and only | | | | one has been in the battery room longest and is |
| get a visit when the gauge on a forktruck advises | | | | therefore fully charged and cooled. As soon as that |
| the operator that he needs a battery change. It's | | | | battery is disconnected, the queuing system will |
| then up to the operators to manage the flow of | | | | show the next one that is ready to go. Managing the |
| batteries into and out of the battery room, usually | | | | changeover of batteries is no longer down to |
| with no system or information on how to do it | | | | guesswork. With a fully automated system you can |
| effectively. Given that the biggest factors in | | | | be sure that they are fully cycled and topped up to |
| shortening battery life are over charging, over | | | | the correct level. All of which greatly minimises the |
| discharging and incorrect watering, this is not a great | | | | risk of overcharging, over discharging or overheating, |
| situation to be in. | | | | which in turn maximises the life of your batteries. |
| One way to address the problem is to use fully | | | | The automated battery manager will also provide |
| automated watering and queuing systems. When the | | | | reports on how well your battery room is running. |
| operator removes the battery from the forktruck | | | | You can see whether batteries are in fact being |
| and plugs in the charger and watering connection, the | | | | taken out of sequence; whether overcharging has |
| system takes control. The automated watering | | | | occurred or if a charger has not been switched on. |
| system monitors the charger to ensure that the | | | | You can also see the number of batteries that are in |
| battery is topped up with the right amount of water | | | | the queue and what the minimum queue length has |
| at the right point of the charge cycle. The red | | | | been over any given period - all of which will help you |
| indicator light quickly tells the operator that | | | | to decide whether or not you have the right number |
| everything is properly connected and that the | | | | of batteries for your operation. |
| automated watering system is in control. | | | | Automated battery watering and queuing - the |
| The biggest problem in relation to battery | | | | simplest, most effective and most economical way |
| management comes now however when the | | | | to get the maximum life from your batteries. |