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What is a Battery Management System (BMS)?

A BMS will ensure the safe operation of battery cells (either individual cells or packs).

The BMS will perform any/all of the following functions:

  • Monitor/protect from Over/Under conditions (Voltage, Current, Temperature)
  • Support different limits for specific chemistries
  • (LiCoO2, LiMn2O4, LiNiMnCoO2 (NMC), LiFePO4  LiFePO4, etc)
  • Cell Balancing for battery cells/packs in series (to prolong battery life)
  • Fuel Gauge, provide State-of-Charge (SOC), State-of-Health (SOH)
  • Communicate using standard protocols (SMBus, I2C, SPI, CAN, RS485, BT, Wifi)

BMS architectures can range from simple 2V/100µA to highly complex 600V+/500A+ with design requirements ranging from simple protectors to full systematic design.

These next design examples show the increased complexity as of BMS designs as the trend for higher power continues.

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