Lithiumate Lite
Li-Ion BMS for EV conversions

Presently under beta testing. Please, hold all inquiries until released for production.

This BMS monitors, evaluates, balances and protects a Li-Ion battery pack.

  • Designed specifically for EV conversions
  • Off the shelf
  • Maximum ease of installation and configuration: no crimping required
  • Distributed: cell boards mounted on cells, single wire to adjacent cell boards
  • For large packs: up to 160 cells (~ 500 V), in up to 8 banks
  • Supports all cell form factors, and most Lithium chemistries
  • Protects cells from over current, under/over voltage, under/over temperature
  • Compatible with most chargers and most motor drivers
Lithiumate Lite masterClick picture to enlarge
Lithiumate Lite master

Measurement

  • Measures and reports the cell voltages and temperatures in up to 8 banks of cells in a battery pack
  • Measures and reports the battery pack current (bidirectional load current up to 900 A; charger current up to 30 A)

Evaluation

  • Calculates and reports the State Of Charge of the battery pack

Management

  • Balances the pack
    • Dissipative (passive) balancing
    • Top balance, voltage based
Battery packClick picture to enlarge
BMS in an application

Protection

  • Turns off charger if any cell voltage exceeds a maximum, or the charging current is excessive
  • Requests a reduction of motor drive if the battery is nearly empty
  • Requests that motor controller be turned off if any cell voltage drops below a minimum, or the discharging current is excessive
  • Disables charging and/or discharging if any cell's temperature is outside a range
  • Disables charging and discharging if any cell board or bank stops reporting
  • Prevents driving off when the vehicle is still plugged into the AC outlet

AC power connector

  • AC Line input from the vehicle's AC plug (85 to 260 Vac)
  • LED to indicate that AC power is present

Charger current sensor

  • 30 Adc, charger DC output current sensor

No connector assembly required:

  • AC power connector is 2-piece, screw clamp, terminal block
  • Charger current sensor uses ring terminals mounted on screw terminals
AC interface block diagramClick picture to enlarge
Charger interface

Ignition power input

  • 12 V nominal, 50 mA nominal (no external loads)
  • LED to indicate that Ignition power is present

Cable mounted current sensor

  • Ready to plug-in
  • Bidirectional, 900 A max

"Discharge OK" line, normally at 12 V (1 A continuous, 5 A peak), open when battery cannot deliver current

  • Wire to the key input of the motor controller, or use to drive the main contactor
  • Wire to a "Ready" lamp on dashboard
Vehicle traction interfaceClick picture to enlarge
Vehicle traction interface

"Low Battery" line, normally at 12 V (1 A continuous, 5 A peak), open when battery charge is low

  • Wire to the "Valet" input of the motor controller, to reduce available drive
  • Wire to a relay to add resistance to the throttle, to reduce its range
  • Wire to a "Reserve" lamp on dashboard

"Throttle Reduce" output, to reduce throttle range (2 or 3-wire pot, or HEPA)

  • Insert in the "Wiper" line, between throttle and motor driver (for 3-wire throttle, a resistor must ve added)
  • Wire to a relay to add resistance to the throttle, to reduce its range
  • Isolated, for compatibility with motor drivers with pack referenced throttle

"Charge OK" line, normally at 12 V (1 A continuous, 5 A peak), open when battery cannot accept current

  • Wire to the "Regen Enable" input of the motor controller, to disable regen
  • Wire to brake pedal pot, to disable regen

"Fault" line, normally open, grounded when a fault is detected (1 A continuous, 5 A peak)

  • Wire to a "BMS fault" lamp on dashboard
  • LED to indicate that there is a fault

No connector assembly required:

  • Load current sensor comes with a connector
  • Control connector is 2-piece, screw clamp, terminal block

Bank connectors

  • Up to 8 banks, each bank up to 16 to 20 cells
  • Uses up to 4 each, RJ45 cables
  • Each RJ45 cable handles 2 banks; a breakout at the other end connects to the end cell boards

No connector assembly required:

  • Bank connections use off-the-shelf shielded RJ45 modular Ethernet cables (0.5 to 4 meters, as appropriate for the application)
  • Complete modular cables are readily available from numerous sources
  • Breakout at other end of modular cable is fully assembled
Traction pack interfaceClick picture to enlarge
Traction pack interface

17 status LEDs on master

  • "AC Power in": lit if powered by the AC line
  • "Ignition power": lit if powered by the Ignition line
  • "Charge OK": lit if charging is enabled
  • "Discharge OK": lit if discharging is enabled
  • "Warning": lit if the battery is nearly empty
  • "Fault": lit if a fault was detected
  • "Status": normally fully lit; in case of fault it flashes a code for the fault
  • An LED for each bank indicates the satus of the communications for that bank
  • Two LEDs by the USB connector flash when data is transmitted and received
Status LEDsClick picture to enlarge
Status LEDs

Three gauges on dashboard

  • Drives standard fuel gauges (emulates fuel tank "sender")
    • Configurable to match sender's characteristics (min and max resistance, direction)
    • May be configured to drive a 5 V full scale meter
  • Drives meters: battery current and voltage
    • For 5 V full scale meters
    • Full scale value configurable to match full scale on meter's face plate
    • Designed to operate with popular Westach gauges
  • Every controller LED function may be duplicated on dashboard with 12 V lamps
Ammeter, voltmeter, SOC meterClick picture to enlarge
Ammeter, voltmeter, SOC meter

Graphics User Interface

  • Computer based monitoring and configuration
  • USB port for easy interface to the computer
    • Uses a standard USB cable (no adapter dongle is required)
  • Windows™ user interface
    • Basic configuration takes only 4 steps
    • One screen displays the complete status of the battery and the BMS
GUI screen shotClick picture to enlarge
GUI application screen

AC power connector:

  • AC power in, 85 to 265 Vac

USB connector:

  • For connection to PC, during set-up and for troubleshooting

Current sensor connectors:

  • Battery current sensor screw terminals, 30 A max
  • Connector for prewired 900 A bidirectional load current sensor
Front panelClick picture to enlarge
Front panel

Bank connectors:

  • 4 connectors, each for 2 banks
  • Each connector has 2 LEDs, one for ach bank, to indicate its status
  • Uses standard shielded RJ45 modular cables

Control connector: (clockwise from top)
Two-piece terminal block, screw clamps

  • Meter outputs:
    • Pack voltage meter, configurable range, for 5 Vfs voltmeter
    • Pack current meter, configurable range (may go negative), for 5 Vfs voltmeter (may be bidirectional)
    • Pack SOC meter, emulates fuel gauge sender, configurable resistance, or for 5 Vfs voltmeter
  • Power outputs:
    • 12 V when powered by the AC line (0.3 A max)
    • 12 V when powered either way (1 A max if powered from the Ignition line, 0.3 A max if powered by the AC line)
    • 5 V when powered either way (50 mA max)
  • Power input:
    • 12 V from the Ignition line
  • Control outputs:
    • Charge OK: normally 12 V, open if charging is not allowed
    • Discharge OK: normally 12 V, open if discharging is not allowed
    • Fault: normally open, 12 V in case of fault
    • OK: normally 12 V, open in case of fault
    • Warning: normally open, 12 V at the end of battery charge
    • Throttle: normally open, gradually lower resistance at the end of battery charge

The minimum system consists of:

A system may also include:

  • Up to 3 analog meters, to indicate pack voltage, current and State Of Charge
  • Dashboard indicators, to duplicate the indicators on the Master
  • A relay to turn off the charger's AC input

Full specifications in the manual
Ignition supply 12 V nominal
AC supply voltage 85 to 265 Vac
Charger AC output 16 A max
Charger current sense 30 Adc max, unidirectional
Charger current sense isolation 1 KVdc
Load current sense 900 Adc max, bidirectional
Number of banks 8 max
Pack voltage 500 V max
Pack current 900 A max
Control output current 1 A max, 5 A peak; 0.3 A if AC powered
Meter outputs 0 to 5 V
Sender output 0 to 300 Ohm
Throttle reduce output 100 Ω nominal
10 kΩ at max reductions
Throttle reduce output isolation 500 Vdc

Charger power graphClick picture to enlarge
Maximum charger power versus pack voltage, at various AC line voltages
Load power graphClick picture to enlarge
Maximum load power versus pack voltage

Full specifications in the manual
Case dimensions 6.7 x 4.05 X 1.23" (170 x 103 X 32 mm)
Height
with mating connectors installed
1.87" (47 mm)
Wire gauge, AC power connector 26~16 AWG (0.2~1.5 mm2)
Wire gauge, control connector 24~12 AWG (0.34~2.5 mm2)
Battery current sensor ring terminals
#10 hole (5 mm) I.D.
0.6" (15 mm) O.D. max

Dimensions
Lithiumate Lite enclosure

Sold exclusively by EVolve Electrics.

 

 

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