Getting More Power From Your Aerial Lift
Replacement Batteries For Aerial Lifts
When working on a job site it is necessary for equipment operators to get the most battery life out of your scissor lifts. High-quality Deep Cycle batteries can provide you with years of reliable cost efficient power. Choosing the right batteries and properly maintaining them is crucial to get the most out of your lift.
Picking the Correct Battery
When selecting a replacement battery it is important to refer to the lift manufacturer’s specifications. Most lifts use either 6V or 12V batteries, but not all batteries are able to supply sufficient power for every lift. The size of the lift, its lift capacity, and the lift’s intended application help determine its power requirements.
For Example:
- JLG’s ES Series and R Series scissor lifts utilize a 24V system requiring four 6V batteries with a minimum rating of 220 amp-hours. Batteries like the U.S. Battery US 2000 XC2 or US 2200 XC2 are ideal for these power requirements.
- While the JLG LE Series scissor lifts are a 48V system and require eight 6V batteries with a minimum rating of 370 amp-hours. Making our US L16 XC2 the perfect fit for this series of lifts.
Maintaining Your Deep Cycle Batteries
Committing to a regular maintenance regimen is essential to increasing your lift’s battery life. Regularly doing the following can also greatly reduce your operating costs:
- Checking and replenishing the electrolyte levels. Installing a BWT or Flow-Rite single-point-watering kit can make this an easy and quick process.
- Performing an equalization charge
- Checking and Cleaning battery terminals and connections
- Performing an opportunity charge when/if possible
For a full list of proper Deep Cycle Battery Care & Maintenance procedures please see our Care & Maintenance page or download our Care & Maintenance brochure.
U.S. Battery Deep Cycle batteries are handcrafted in the U.S.A. The batteries also feature our exclusive XC2 formulation that gives them the highest initial capacity, fastest cycle-up time to full-rated capacity, improved recharge-ability, and the highest total energy delivered than any battery in their class.
Do you have a Skyjack, Snorkel, Genie, or another type aerial lift and want to know what U.S. Battery product would work best for you? Then please leave a comment below.
I have a Biljax 45A, it was bought used in 2016, how long should the batteries last?
Hi Tom,
Many factors can impact battery life. They include the number of times the batteries have been cycled, the depth of discharge, the operating temperature, and whether or not they have been properly maintained. If your batteries have been properly maintained they have an average operational life of 5-7 years. They will more than likely experience a decline in performance as they age, but it should not be significant enough to warrant replacement.
How often should I charge my JLG 1930ES sissor lift batteries. I’ m a retired contractor and I only use my lift to change bulbs in my shop etc. or other hi up job. ( 1 or 2 times a year). Can one disconnect the + cable when in store mod. My lift has 4 6v JLG 232 ah batteries, as to how old I don’t know. What do 4 new batteries cost?
Hi Thomas,
Flooded lead-acid batteries can be placed into storage for a few months before they need to be recharged depending on the conditions. This is highly dependent on the state of charge of the battery going into storage and the temperature of the storage environment. As can be seen in the chart, a battery at 80F will lose ~20% of its charge in one month. Leaving lead acid batteries in a discharged state for extended periods changes the active material in the cells decreasing the effective capacity and causing the battery to resist charging. An easy option to prevent this is to leave your batteries on a battery tender when your scissor lift is not in use. The tender will make sure your batteries remain fully charged throughout storage. If this is not an option follow the steps listed below.
To effectively store your batteries follow these steps:
1. Charge the batteries fully; 100% state of charge.
2. Disconnect the positive cable to ensure the batteries are on an open circuit.
3. Recharge the batteries when they would reach 80% state of charge based on the above chart.
Remember to top-off your batteries with distilled water. Dry cells are the number one cause for premature battery failure!
The MSRP is $161.23ea for replacement batteries; although with the core exchange you will probably see them sold for less.
I have a genie gr20 run about has 4 6v batteries in that need replacement what battery do you reccomend and what cost
Hi Jeff,
Our US 2200 XC2 batteries are an excellent option for the GR20 Roundabout. Please use our Dealer Locator to find the an Authorized Distributor near you. They can answer any questions you have about pricing.
Click Here to Find a Dealer
Best,
-Mike Wallace, Creative Manager
I have a JLG 2006 t500j I don’t always use. I live in the NH area now, where it gets cold. Should I leave the charger on all the time during the winter? Will the batteries freeze and become faulty?
Hi Wesley,
Yes, you should leave the charger plugged in at all times during the winter. Fully charged batteries will not freeze but discharged or partially discharged batteries can freeze. Freezing will not only damage them but it can also make them unsafe to use. The User Manual on our website has a freezing point vs. state of charge chart for this purpose. It is shown below. As you can see, if the state of charge is below ~50% the freezing point is above 0°F. For fully charged batteries, it is close to -100°F.
Best,
-Mike Wallace, V.P. – Marketing
Hi,
We have jlg1350sjp, jlg600s and jlg400s . What battery do you suggest to fulfill our requirements and please let us know if you have any distributors in india?
Hi Jagadish,
Can you tell us the dimensions and voltage of the batteries currently in your machines?
Thanks,
-Mike Wallace
I have an older model single man lift manufacturer of economy i cant find nothing on the Internet the batteries are weak and i need to know what kind to buy all info would be great thanks
Hi Kerry,
Do you happen to know what the model number of your lift? If we know that, it should help us figure out whch battery is best suited for your equipment.
Best,
-Mike Wallace, Creative Manager
Needing new battery pack for our JLG Toucan 26e. Currently it has Hawker Perfect Plus 24v 240ah comprised of 12 2vdc cells in series. The battery dimensions are 23.5″ wide x 10.25″ deep x 17.75″ tall. Can you recommend a replacement?
Hi Kurt,
The closest option we manufacture to your battery is our US 185HC XC2. However, our battery is ~4″ wider, so you’ll want to check that this would fit in your lift. If the compartment is tight, you should look for a replacement with dimensions closer to your current battery.
Best,
-Mike Wallace, Director of Marketing
Hi,
We have a Genie AWP 25S lift that has a battery that does not hold a charge anymore.
I don’t have specific numbers on the one we have only that it isa 12V commercial battery made by Centennial. Can you recommend one that will work for us?
Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.
Richard Fiander
Lead Tech
Chester Playhouse
Nova Scotia, Canada
Hi Richard,
There are a couple of possible replacement batteries for that model. Depending on the serial number of your lift it uses either a group 27 or group 31 battery. We have a couple of options to determine which size your lift uses.
-You can supply the serial number we can look it up
or
-You can measure the battery currently in the lift and give us those dimensions.
Without that info. we’d be guessing which one is the correct one for you.
Best,
-Mike Wallace, Director of Marketing
I have a genie Tz3420 what’s the best replacement batteries for it
Hi Jim,
Our US 2000 XC2 and US 2200 XC2 batteries will work with your lift.
Best,
-Mike Wallace, Director of Marketing
I have a Genie AWP 25s that is about 15 years old and needs a new battery. What model is best for me? Thank you.
Hi Mike,
Our engineer says that it looks like your machine uses a 12V group 27 battery like our US 27DC XC2 or our sealed AGM US AGM 27. But, you should verify that the battery will fit in your battery box before purchasing.
Best,
-Mike Wallace, Director of Marketing
Would 6v golf cart batteries be sufficient for my genie 34/20 lift
Hi Jr,
Yes, according to Genie the TZ 34/20 uses (4) 6V 225Ah batteries. Our US 2000 XC2 and US 2200 XC2 batteries would work. But, you should verify that the batteries will fit in your battery box before purchasing.
Best,
-Mike Wallace, Director of Marketing
I have a Genie Z-34/22N Aerial lift w/ 8 = 6 volt batteries, currently only 7 of the 8 will take a full charge, the one battery I assume is shorted out actually reads as a 12 volt battery when hooked up to a tester/analyzer. Would it be safe to change out only only one battery out of the pack? the other issue is the current batteries are made by Interstate and have a rating of RC182 mins @ 75a 310ah. The dimensions are the same as your US250 with a post that takes a bolt and nut.
Hi Fred,
The only way a 6V battery would read 12Vs is if it is being charged improperly or the tester/analyzer is faulty.
The question of whether you can replace just one battery depends on the battery pack age. If the pack is more than a year old it is not recommended to change just the one battery. That being said, our engineers don’t recommend mixing batteries of different brands because of differences in charging requirements. It can be done, but you would have to monitor it closely. The warranty will also be voided for mixed battery packs.
If you do go this route, the US250HC has a similar capacity rating.
Another possible solution is battery recovery. Using a hydrometer and a charger, charge the battery continuously at a low amperage(5-10 amps) until all the cells read >1.265 specific gravity. You can continuously charge the battery while the temperature is <120F and the voltage is <8.4V.
Recommended hydrometer: E-Z Red
The engineers also recommend getting a hydrometer and checking all your cells. If this issue happened to one battery it may be occurring in the other batteries as well.
Best,
-Mike Wallace, Director of Marketing
I need a battery for a genie awp 25s it’s not clear online what batt to use? Thanks
Hi Charles,
The AWP 25s takes a 12v group 27 battery, like our US 27DC XC2 or US AGM 27. Our engineers recommend buying the same type of battery that is currently in your lift. The reason is if you switch to AGM from Flooded Lead Acid you will most likely have to change your charger and/or charge algorithm. Make sure that the replacement battery you chose will fit in the machine as well. Group 27s are all close dimensionally but can vary slightly.
Best,
-Mike Wallace, Director of Marketing