A daily challenge for people working in the professional cleaning field is to obtain excellent results while remaining within a limited budget and making the most of the equipment available. Impossible? Not for those who have the right knowledge! For this reason, we are constantly sharing here on The Comac Blog our experience in the professional cleaning field. We have already listed the tips to know before buying a scrubbing machine and given advice on the correct maintenance to preserve the investment. The time has therefore come to understand how to choose the battery of your floor scrubber, since batteries are a fundamental component for the operation of professional cleaning equipment.
So, how to choose the battery of your floor scrubber? It seems like a question with an obvious answer, but choosing the right batteries for your floor scrubber, and knowing the correct maintenance, allows you to guarantee a better functioning of the machine and save a lot of money. At first glance, the choice may seem hard since batteries are an expensive component. To complicate matters further, there is a great variety of technologies available on the market.
We have summarized in 7 key-points the things you should know to choose the batteries of your floor scrubber:
- Starter batteries and traction batteries
- Appropriate voltage
- Battery compartment size
- Connection type
- Battery capacity
- Battery maintenance
- Charging location
Starter batteries and traction batteries
Batteries are by definition accumulators of electric charge capable of providing electrical power when needed. For this reason they are often referred to as accumulators. Generally speaking, in the professional cleaning machines field, it is necessary to accumulate energy for two reasons: starting the engine or moving the machine. Since these are different activities, there are two types of batteries available:
- Starter battery: necessary to provide the electricity that allows you to switch on the vehicle on which it is mounted. For example, the C130 Diesel scrubbing machine is equipped with a starter battery.
- Traction battery: used to provide the power necessary to move a machine, such as a scrubbing machine or a sweeper. These batteries are designed to deliver current over long periods of time and must be able to withstand many charge cycles.
In most cases your scrubbing machine will need traction batteries, which are the most common power system. It is important to remember that there are different types of batteries for scrubbing machines on the market:
- Flooded (or acid)
- GEL
- AGM
- Lithium-ion
If you want to know the main differences, we suggest you read our post “9 things you should know about the batteries of your floor scrubber”.
Appropriate Voltage
When choosing a battery for your floor scrubber it is essential to know the appropriate voltage, which is normally indicated by the manufacturer of the machine in the Use and Maintenance Manual. The voltage is nothing more than the measurable voltage in no-load conditions at the ends of a charged battery, ie without loads that absorb current. Usually the battery voltage is 2, 6 or 12 V, and with the appropriate connections (series or parallel) the device voltage is reached.
Battery compartment size
Each model of scrubbing machine has been designed to fit specific batteries also in terms of size. The Use and Maintenance Manual is a valuable source of information and is the right place to check the size of the battery compartment of your floor scrubber in order to choose the right battery.
Connection type
A battery has two poles, which are the elements to which the terminals of the electrical cables of the scrubbing machine are mounted. The positive pole is identified by the red color and the + symbol while the negative one is usually in black color and is indicated by the – symbol. There are different types of connection, this is why it is necessary to check the correct one based on the battery cables of the machine itself.
Battery capacity
The capacity is the quantity of electric current (A) that the battery can make available in a predefined period of time (h) and is expressed in ampere-hours (Ah). Traction batteries have as a reference the discharge in 5 hours (C5). So, to give an example, a battery having a C5 capacity of 250Ah will be able to deliver 50A for a period of 5 hours.
Also in this case, to evaluate the best battery we suggest you to consult the floor scrubber manual. It is possible to choose batteries with a lower capacity than those recommended by the manufacturer of the scrubbing machine, but they will have a reduced autonomy and it will be necessary to check that the battery charger is compatible.
Battery maintenance
When choosing the most suitable battery for the scrubber dryer model, it is essential to consider the maintenance requirements of the battery itself. Lead acid batteries, for example, need maintenance, while GEL and AGM batteries are generally more expensive but do not require maintenance. Maintenance operations on lead acid batteries can be made easier by automatic refill systems, such as the one that can be equipped on the C130 scrubber dryer. So, before choosing the type of battery you should evaluate whether you can commit to a maintenance program, since it also affects the life of the battery itself.
Charging location
Where do you charge the batteries? Machines equipped with lead-acid batteries need a dedicated location for recharging as they can develop gas during this phase. Therefore, evaluate where you will place the floor scrubber when charging to understand how to choose the most suitable batteries also based on this consideration.
Bonus tip: Use and Maintenance Manual
We have summarized in 7 points such a vast subject as the choice of the scrubbing machines batteries. Our main recommendation remains to follow the instructions provided by both the battery manufacturer and the floor scrubber manufacturer. Regarding Comac scrubber dryers, the information on the type of battery to be used, the insertion of the batteries into the machine, connection and recharging are described in the accompanying Use and Maintenance Manual.
Understanding the different types of batteries and carrying out proper maintenance allows you to optimize the performance of the floor scrubber and preserve the investment. For this reason, it is important to make a conscious choice that does not only consider the price.
For any doubt you can always contact us. Comac and its network of dealers are available for further advice and support in choosing the best professional cleaning solution.
This post is also available in: Italian