Lithiumate™ - Li-Ion Balance Booster™

Cell board accessory to speed up balancing

Li-Ion Balance Booster™. Click to enlarge.

Description

This optional assembly, added to a standard cell board, increases its balancing current by a factor of about ten.

A Balance Booster consists of a large, flat PCB assembly, which doubles as a heat sink. It has two power wires (to be connected to the cell terminals), and a control wire (to be soldered to the corresponding cell board).

The mounting method is not specified, as mechanical and thermal considerations depend of the particular application and on the format of the cells used. Mounting holes are provided, and one of the surfaces is completely flat, allowing surface mounting.

Specifications

Electrical specs

Operation beyond these values will damage the unit

Symbol	Item	Conditions	Min		Max	Units
VSUPPL-max	Supply voltage	Off	-0.3		100	Vdc
		On	-0.3		4.5	Vdc
VCTRL-IN-max	Control voltage		-10		10	V
TAMB	Ambient temperature	Operating	-40		+80	°C

Recomended specs

DC Electrical specs

Unless otherwise noted: 25 °C; 3.6 Vdc

Symbol	Item	Conditions	Min	Nom	Max	Units
Voper	Operating voltage	-	2.5	-	4.5	V
Ibal	Balance current	3.6 V		1.9		A
		4.2 V		2.0
		3.6~4.2 V, -10~+60°C	1.75		2.3
Ioff	Off current	-	-	-	10	uA

Current, Power and Temperature vs. Cell voltage.

Plot of Current and Temperature.

Mechanical specs

Mounting

When deciding on how to mount a Balance Booster, take in consiteration that its temperature when on is about 100 °C hotter than ambient. Therefore, it is not advisable to mount it directly on a cell.

• Small Cylindrical: the 2.5" dimension of the board matches the length of small cylindrical cells; this suggests mounting it physically in parallel with the cells, though at some distance away.
• Prismatic: With cell in the normal orientation (vertical), the board may be mounted also vertically, for example mounted on strips of non-conductive material that are inserted in the grooves between cells.

In any case, the board can be mounted a ways from the cell board, as its wires may be a certain length without a problem.

Wiring

• The 'B+' pad is connected to the positive terminal of the cell. Suggested wire: 18 AWG, red.
• The 'B-' pad is connected to the negative terminal of the cell. Suggested wire: 18 AWG, black.
• The 'C' pad is connected to the 'C' pad on the cell-board. Suggested wire: 24 AWG, white.

'C' pad on a prismatic cell board (left) and small cylindrical (right).

Ordering

• Part Number: 1BB0000B
• Price: $ 11 when ordered as part of a system.

To order, please get a quote.