BMS & LiFePO4 Battery Balancing: What is it and why is it important?

LiFePO4 batteries are widely used in a variety of applications such as marine, RV, solar, golf, and more due to their high energy density, long cycle life, and environmental friendliness. However, liFePO4 batteries also have some challenges, such as the inconsistency of individual cells in a battery pack. This inconsistency can lead to problems such as overcharge, over-discharge, overheating, and reduced battery pack performance. To solve these problems, you need a device called a BMS (Battery Management System) and a process called cell balancing.

What is a BMS?

 

What is Cell Balancing?

Cell balancing is the process of equalizing the voltage and SOC of each cell in a battery pack. Cell balancing is important because the cells in a battery pack are not identical and can have different characteristics such as capacity, internal resistance, self-discharge rate, and aging. These differences can cause the cells to have different voltages and SOCs, which can affect the performance and safety of the battery pack. For example, if some cells are overcharged, they may generate heat and gas that can damage the cells or cause a fire. If some cells are undercharged, they can lose capacity and life, which can reduce the available energy in the battery pack.

There are two main types of cell equalization: passive and active. Passive cell balancing is a method of discharging the higher voltage or SOC cells through a resistor until they equalize with the lower voltage or SOC cells. Passive cell balancing is simple and inexpensive, but it also wastes energy and generates heat. Active cell balancing is a method of transferring energy from the higher voltage or SOC cells to the lower voltage or SOC cells or to an external load or storage device. Active cell balancing is more complex and expensive, but it also saves energy and reduces heat.

Why Choose SmarTEC’s BMS and liFePO4 Batteries?

At SmarTEC, we are a direct manufacturer of BMS and liFePO4 batteries and have over 16 years of experience in R&D, production and sales of these products. We offer a wide range of BMS and liFePO4 batteries for various applications such as Marine, RV, Solar, Golf Cart, Motorcycle, LED light and more. We also provide customized battery solutions according to your specific needs and requirements.

Our BMS products are based on the latest technology and innovation, and have the following advantages:

• 1. Fast and Efficient Active Cell Balancing: Our BMS can balance the cells in a battery pack in minutes instead of hours or days, which can reduce the charging time and increase the available energy of the battery pack.
• 2. Smart and flexible connectivity: Our BMS can communicate with other devices such as chargers, inverters and displays through various protocols such as CAN, UART, RS485 and Bluetooth. You can also monitor and control your battery pack remotely through our app or web platform.
• 3. High reliability and safety: Our BMS can protect your battery pack from over-current, over-voltage, under-voltage, temperature and other abnormal conditions, and provide real-time alarm and fault diagnosis. Our BMS also has a built-in fuse and MOSFET switch that can isolate the battery pack from the load or charger in case of emergency.

Our lithium battery products are made of high quality materials and components, and have the following advantages:

• Eco-friendly
• Long cycle life(1500-6000 cycles)
• Fast charging(10X faster)
• Low self-discharge(<2% per month)
• High power density
• Wide Operation Temperature:
• Small size, light weight (<1/3 the weight and the size)