Winter battery care for haul trucks and support rigs

[Copperhunt]

Taking care of batteries for haul trucks and support rigs during winter is no small feat. The chilly months can really take a toll, and you may have noticed your haul truck or support vehicle having a tough time starting when the temps drop. Do you use warmers, chargers, or stick to a strict rotation? Share your tips on how you keep your fleet’s batteries in top shape all winter long!

 

[TunnelRat]

In the winters at my previous site, we depended on battery warmers. Without them, the haul trucks were sluggish and barely functioning until around noon.

 

[Orewhatnow]

A couple of winters back, we faced delays with our support rigs struggling to start in the cold. We implemented a rotation with trickle chargers and warmers, which significantly improved our readiness.

 

[Sammy_]

Do you use warmers, chargers, or stick to a strict rotation? Share your tips on how you keep your fleet’s batteries in top shape all winter long!

electric battery blanket is a must for me. it's keeping the battery's core temperature. warm batteries accept a charge better and deliver more power than cold ones

 

[OreElse]

A few winters back, one of our haul trucks just wouldn't start because it was too cold. That's when I got into battery warmers. Now, with the warmers and a quick check each week, everything starts up without a hitch.

 

[rockdrillpro]

I learned my lesson the hard way during a really cold spell. Two support rigs died on me the same morning. I was running around with portable chargers like crazy. After that disaster, I put warmers on the main units, made a rotation chart, and started checking batteries at the end of every shift. Haven’t had a dead battery surprise since then.