There are many ways to charge excavator batteries, and good maintenance can ensure efficient battery life

In the entire operation system of the excavator, the battery is like the key power heart, and its importance is self-evident. It not only bears the key responsibility of starting the engine, but also continuously supplies power to various on-board equipment. However, in reality, many excavator owners have many misunderstandings about the charging and maintenance of batteries, which often leads to premature aging of the battery and a significant decrease in endurance. In fact, as long as you master the scientific charging method and do a good job of system maintenance, you can significantly extend the service life of the battery and keep the excavator in a good state of efficient operation at all times. ​

Excavator Battery Charging Tips

Choosing an Adaptive Charger

There are many types of excavator battery chargers on the market, and the common ones are constant voltage chargers, constant current chargers, and smart chargers. Constant voltage chargers can quickly increase the power in the early stage of charging, but in the later stage of charging, it is easy to overcharge, causing irreversible damage to the battery. For example, some poor quality constant voltage chargers may cause overcharging of the battery due to unstable voltage control, which in turn causes the battery plate to deform and the electrolyte to dry up, greatly shortening the battery life. In comparison, the charging process of constant current chargers is relatively smooth, but the charging speed is relatively slow. For some situations where excavators are urgently needed, constant current chargers may not meet the needs of fast charging. Smart chargers, with advanced technology, can accurately identify the real-time status of the battery and automatically adjust the charging voltage and current, making them a more ideal choice. Taking smart chargers as an example, for excavator batteries, they can quickly replenish energy with a suitable large current based on the remaining battery power at the beginning of charging. When the power is close to saturation, they can automatically reduce the current intensity, effectively avoid overcharging, and protect the battery in all directions. When choosing a charger, you must select an appropriate product based on the specific model and specifications of the excavator battery, such as "Recommendation of chargers for excavator batteries"

Accurately control the charging time and frequency

Excavator batteries do not have to wait until the power is completely exhausted before charging. Excessive discharge will seriously damage the battery plates and greatly shorten the battery life. Generally speaking, when the battery power drops to 20% - 30%, it should be charged in time. Under normal circumstances, a complete charging time should not exceed 8 - 10 hours. Too frequent charging will cause the battery to generate too much heat and accelerate the plate vulcanization process. For example, some owners charge the excavator immediately after using it frequently for a short period of time. Such repeated operations will keep the battery in a high temperature state for a long time, causing the active materials on the plate to gradually fall off and the battery capacity to continue to decrease. On the contrary, long-term non-charging will easily lead to battery power loss and damage. For excavators that are frequently used in daily life, it is recommended to carefully check the power every 1-2 days and charge as needed; if the excavator is used less frequently, it is also necessary to recharge it at least once a week to maintain the activity of the battery. Like "How often should the excavator battery be charged" and "Detailed explanation of the charging time of the excavator battery"

Charging points for different environments​

In low temperature environments, the viscosity of the battery's electrolyte will increase significantly, and the internal resistance will increase accordingly, which greatly reduces its charging acceptance. At this time, a charger with low temperature compensation function must be used. This type of charger can appropriately increase the charging voltage and effectively speed up the charging speed. Taking the severe winter in the north as an example, the temperature is often as low as minus ten degrees or even lower. In such extreme environments, using a low-temperature dedicated charger can solve the charging problem well. For example, [a certain brand] low-temperature dedicated charger can automatically adjust the charging parameters for excavator batteries in low-temperature environments to ensure smooth charging at low temperatures. On the contrary, in a high-temperature environment, the chemical reaction inside the battery will be extremely active. If the charging voltage is too high, it is very easy to cause serious problems such as battery water loss and bulging. Therefore, when charging in summer, be sure to pay special attention to the heat dissipation of the charger, and resolutely avoid charging in direct sunlight. If necessary, you can use fans and other equipment to take cooling measures. Like "How to charge excavator batteries in low-temperature environments" and "Precautions for charging excavator batteries in hot weather"

Main points for excavator battery maintenance

Regularly check the electrolyte level

For most lead-acid batteries, it is crucial to regularly check the electrolyte level. Under normal conditions, the electrolyte should be 10-15mm higher than the plate. Once the liquid level is found to be too low, distilled water or a supplementary liquid specially designed for lead-acid batteries should be added in time. Ordinary tap water must not be used as a substitute, because the impurities contained in tap water will accelerate battery aging. For example, checking the electrolyte level of a [certain brand] excavator lead-acid battery on a monthly basis and replenishing it when appropriate can significantly extend the battery's service life. For maintenance-free batteries, although electrolyte does not need to be added, the appearance should still be carefully checked regularly to check for abnormalities such as bulging and leakage. Like "How to add electrolyte to an excavator lead-acid battery" "Main points for appearance inspection of maintenance-free excavator batteries"

Keep the battery surface clean​

The operating environment of an excavator is often harsh and complex, and the surface of the battery is easily contaminated with a large amount of dust, dirt, and electrolyte stains. These dirt will form a conductive layer on the surface of the battery, thereby exacerbating the self-discharge phenomenon. Therefore, regularly use a damp cloth to gently wipe the surface of the battery to thoroughly remove dirt and always keep the battery surface clean and dry. At the same time, carefully check whether the battery pole is oxidized. If white or green oxide is generated on the surface of the pole, rinse it carefully with hot water, and then apply an appropriate amount of vaseline or a special pole protective agent to prevent further oxidation of the pole and ensure that the pole and the connecting wire are always in good contact. Like "Excavator Battery Surface Cleaning Techniques" and "Polar Oxidation Treatment Methods"

Perform deep discharge and activation at the right time

Long-term shallow charge and discharge mode will cause the battery to have a memory effect, resulting in a gradual decrease in battery capacity. Therefore, every 2-3 months, the excavator battery can be deeply discharged to 10%-20%, and then a complete charging process can be performed. This can effectively activate the active substances on the battery plates and restore part of the battery capacity to a certain extent. However, the number of deep discharges should not be too frequent, otherwise it will also cause damage to the battery. In addition, when the excavator is idle for a long time, be sure to disconnect the battery negative pole connection line in time to avoid battery loss due to self-discharge. Before reactivating the excavator, the battery must be recharged to ensure smooth startup. Like "Frequency of deep discharge of excavator batteries" and "How to deal with batteries when the excavator is idle for a long time"

By deeply understanding the doorway of excavator battery charging and strictly implementing daily maintenance work, the owner can significantly improve the performance of the battery and extend its service life, providing stable and efficient endurance guarantee for the excavator under various complex working conditions, and effectively promoting the smooth development of engineering operations. ​

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