4 safety factors when selecting lithium batteries | Factor 2: Battery Management System
Factor 2: Battery and BMS (Battery Management System) from Single Source
Using a BMS and battery from the same manufacturer helps them work well together and lowers the risk of fire. By ensuring functional safety during charging and discharging, the proper BMS prevents conditions that could lead to thermal runaway.
A BMS is effectively the “brains” of a lithium-ion battery, and takes care of the following important functions:
Monitoring cell temperatures and employing disconnect mechanisms to prevent overheating.
Protecting against excessive current and voltage levels that may cause safety issues.
Taking appropriate actions to deactivate cells that show signs of failure, preventing propagation of issues from cell-to-cell.
Balancing the many cells within a lithium-ion pack, ensuring the full lifespan of the battery’s warrantied performance.
For all these reasons, it is important that the communication between BMS and battery pack is clear. A BMS and battery from a single source ensures they speak the same “language,” so problems do not occur.