In the battery packs that I have tried so far on my bq78PL116EVM, the power pump just barely keeps the weakest cell alive to the end of discharge. This weakest cell is the one that terminates the discharge. This makes me think that I need a more powerful PowerPump circuit.
On the other hand, it has always been cell # 2 that is the weakest. Is it just coincidence that this is the cell that powers the bq78PL116, or is the PowerPump really only needed to make up for the power used by the '116?
Bob
Bob,
Cell 2 does provide the current for the internal regulator that powers the PL116 device, but it is a coincidence that this cell has most of the pumping action on your pack. I work with a lot of packs and have found cell balancing across all of the cells.
Regards
Tom