SLUAAP7 January   2024 BQ76905 , BQ76907

 

  1.   1
  2.   Abstract
  3.   Trademarks
  4. 1Introduction
  5. 2Cell Balancing Circuit Considerations
    1. 2.1 Internal Cell-Balancing Circuit Design
    2. 2.2 External Cell-Balancing Circuit Design Using N-Channel FETs
    3. 2.3 External Cell-Balancing Circuit Design Using BJTs
  6. 3Considerations for a Host-Balancing Algorithm
  7. 4Timing Information
  8. 5Debugging Common Issues With Cell Balancing
    1. 5.1 Using a Resistor Divider as a Cell Simulator
    2. 5.2 Cell Balancing Troubleshooting
  9. 6Summary
  10. 7References

Using a Resistor Divider as a Cell Simulator

When testing the cell balancing feature with a power supply and resistor divider to simulate cells, this can often trigger the over-voltage protection which can be observed in the Safety Alert A register. This is because the resistor divider can pull on the voltages of the other cell inputs when cell balancing starts on one of the cells. This causes the voltages to become unstable, which triggers the over-voltage condition. Any time an over-voltage condition occurs, cell balancing is immediately disabled.

The best way to test the cell balancing feature is with real cells. If real cells are not available, another option is to use a resistor divider with a second power supply connected across one of the cells. For example, if the main supply and resistor divider are set to provide 3.9V on each cell input, a second supply set to 3.9V can be connected across one of the cell inputs.