# Charging an Electric Scissor Lift: The Overnight Rule

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Quick answer: charge a battery electric scissor lift every night, from an outlet that stays on overnight within reach of where the machine parks. How long one charge lasts depends on the model, the battery and how hard the machine works (driving and lifting all day uses far more than a few lifts). We confirm the charging supply for the exact machine when we quote. A tethered machine is different: it has no battery and runs only while plugged in.

## The rule

Plug in at knock-off, unplug at start-up. Not "a couple of hours at lunch", not "we'll top it up Friday". A machine that is charged every night is the best protection against a flat battery mid-morning.

## Battery charging versus running on mains

- Battery electric machines (most of our wheeled electric scissor lifts, and the Zoomlion ZS0612C and LGMG SC0610EL-2 tracked machines) run on their batteries and charge overnight from an outlet through their on-board charger.
- Tethered mains machines (both Athena tracked lifts we hire) have no on-board battery. On electric power they work only while plugged in to a 15 amp outlet within reach of the lead; otherwise they run on diesel.

## What you need on site

- An outlet suited to the machine's charger, within cord reach of where it parks. The charger rating is on each machine page; tell us if the only supply is a site board or a temporary supply.
- Power that stays on overnight. Site boards that are isolated at knock-off are the classic trap.
- For larger machines, confirm the charging requirement with us at booking.

## Runtime depends on the work

Battery runtime is not a fixed number of hours. It falls with continuous driving, frequent full-height lifts, ramps and cold weather, and rises with short lifts and little travel. If the job is a long run of driving at height, or two shifts, tell us so the plan includes a charging window.

## Habits that protect the hire

- Charge every night, even after a light day.
- Let the charge cycle finish. Chargers run in stages; unplugging mid-cycle repeatedly shortens battery life.
- Cold mornings reduce range. Plan the heaviest work early in winter.
- No power on site? Tell us before delivery. A diesel machine, or a suitable generator, has to be arranged, not improvised.

## If it goes flat mid-day

Bring the platform down using the controls and procedure in the machine's manual, plug the machine in and call us. Do not keep driving or lifting on a nearly flat battery.

Need a machine for this job? Get a hire quote and tell us what power is on site, or read electric vs diesel scissor lifts. Call 0472 721 234.

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