If you use a small amp output charger you will see sulfation build up on the cell plates. As the very start of a charge cycle profile a high rate of current goes into the battery. The purpose is to clean the sulfate off the cell plates so the battery can be charged to full capacity. Using a small amp out charger is on par with using a 1000 PSI pressure washer to try to deep clean concrete drive way when a 2500 psi washer is required (and actually cleans the concrete, in less time and that equals more time to enjoy a Bud or two or tea).
Oh I sold my little 110 volt 1000 psi pressure washer - as i like a Bud or two or more with my tea.
swoop, that was simple, correct, and to the point. Hats off to U guy.
lets keep this as simple as possible...
will any charger charge your battery?
the simple answer is no
to elaborate on this it has already been said but in more simplistic terms, the charger amp output rating has to correspond with the amp rating of the battery. As for being single phase or 3 phase? that will not matter other than determining the power comsumption the charger uses and the efficency of the charge rate time. Single phase chargers take longer to charge larger batteries and consume more power doing so.
The best solution to finding the correct charger for your needs and how to connect it is to get in touch with an industrial battery company and have them calculate what charger you will need to charge the battery(s) you are wanting to charge.
Let the professionals do it and save yourself alot of headaches.
Your 3 phase charger can be rewired internally to run on single phase power input. The number of phases a charger is set to run on has nothing to do withe the ability to delivery a charge to a lift truck battery. The charger receives AC (Alternating Current)voltage from the outside power supply (utility pole) and the AC power is converted via transformers inside the charger to DC (Direct Current) so it can charge the battery. A charger that runs on AC power input will be easier on you power bill than a single phase. But the biggest issue you must verify is to be certain your battery and charger are properly matched - the battery has a rating of XXXX amp/hrs the charger must be capable of supplying XXXX amps (within = or - 5%) over the charge cycle which is about 6-8 hours, depending on how discharged a battery is.
Any local & reputable battery supplier can help you with this. conversion and matching compatbility of the charger to the battery & some (not all) can help you get the charger wired up to you power supply (make certain they are licensed to do so for you protection - safety inspection & liability issues).
A 3 phase charger will charge your battery more effiently than a single phase.
That said, every battery has a battery amp hour rating, the charger should meet that rating, or at least w/in 10%. Example, a battery w/ a 750 amp hr, should have a charger w/ at least a 675 amp hr rating.
Now that said, a lower rated charger of 15% will still do the job but w/ less effiency. In practicality, it will take longer and may not reach the complete 80% (full charge), lowering the life of the battery.
Now that said, I have seen a small company using a forklift several times a week (1 or 2 hours operating time), w/ a smaller charger and got years of use out of the battery (w/ proper battery maintanance).
I'm sure some electrical engineer will argue the point, but I've got a EE as well, and found that real life practical experience will always out weigh calculations to the 5th decimal point.
Hope that helps you.