Battery Management System - Wish List

[Tiberius]

I've been thinking about the features that a BMS could have, from essential to "nice to have". Here's my list so far, in order of importance.

Low Voltage Cutout (on each cell, to protect cells)
Over Current Limit (to protect cells)
Charge Management
-----End of charge cutoff
-----Charge current limit
Over temperature protection
Cell Balancing
Indicator LED(s)
Only requires simple external charger
On/Off control (to eliminate mechanical switching)
Soft Start (for connection to systems with large capacitors)
Low current drain in off mode
Very low current drain after Low Voltage Cutoff point
Ability to connect packs in series and parallel
Reverse current limit (for regen systems and parallel connection)
Ability to charge to 80%, 90% instead of 100% (useful for prolonging cell life)
Ability to limit discharge at 10%, 20% (useful for prolonging cell life)
Data Port
Accepts charge from almost any source - low voltage, AC, etc.


Any others? I should point out that I'm thinking of the various types of Lithium cells rather than other types - that affects the charge management and temperature monitoring processes.

Nick

Edited to add Indicator LED(s) and Data Port. My feeling here is that it only wants a simple LED or two rather than a fully featured display. To get detailed data out, or cell level info, then it has a Data Port. Ideally the Data Port would be a wireless link.

 

[Link]

That's pretty much exactly what I would have put. Down it being able to accept power from all kinds of stuff.

Though I just wanted to add: I'd make sure the LVC was done on the cell level (with perhaps the possibility to bypass it in the event of a crash that damages a cell or something) rather than the whole pack.

 

[Tiberius]

Though I just wanted to add: I'd make sure the LVC was done on the cell level

Good point, Link. That was what I had in mind, I'll edit it to make it clearer.

Nick