Introduction

Devise that reduces imbalanced charging between the interconnected batteries arising due to construction differences.

General Description

The Battery Balancer equalizes the state of charge of two series-connected 12V batteries, or of several parallel strings of series-connected batteries. When the charge voltage of a 24V battery system increases to more than 27V, the Battery Balancer will turn on and compare the voltage over the two series connected batteries. The Battery Balancer will draw a current of up to 1A from the battery (or parallel-connected batteries) with the highest voltage. The resulting charge current differential will ensure that all batteries will converge to the same state of charge.

The problem: the service life of an expensive battery bank can be substantially shortened due to state of charge unbalance

One battery with a slightly higher internal leakage current in a 24V or 48V bank of several series/parallel connected batteries will cause undercharge of that battery and parallel connected batteries, and overcharge of the series connected batteries. Moreover, when new cells or batteries are connected in series, they should all have the same initial state of charge. Small differences will be ironed out during absorption or equalized charging, but large differences will result in damage due to excessive gassing (caused by overcharging) of the batteries with the higher initial state of charge and sulphation (caused by undercharging) of the batteries with the lower initial state of charge.

The Solution: battery balancing

The Battery Balancer equalizes the state of charge of two series-connected 12V batteries, or of several parallel strings of series-connected batteries. When the charge voltage of a 24V battery system increases to more than 27,3V, the Battery Balancer will turn on and compare the voltage over the two series connected batteries. The Battery Balancer will draw a current of up to 0,7A from the battery (or parallel-connected batteries) with the highest voltage. The resulting charge current differential will ensure that all batteries will converge to the same state of charge. If needed, several balancers can be paralleled. A 48V battery bank can be balanced with three Battery Balancers.

Alarm Relay

Normally open. The alarm relay closes when the red LED switches on and opens when the red LED switches off.

Alarm Reset

Two terminals are available to connect a push button. Interconnecting the two terminals resets the relay. The reset condition will remain active until the alarm is over. Thereafter the relay will close again when a new alarm occurs.