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BQ76952: BQ75952 Equilibrium Question Consultation

Part Number: BQ76952

Tool/software:

Dear Expert

I would like to inquire about the balancing issue of BQ76952. When fully connected to 16 battery cells, the following phenomena occur in balancing:
① Simultaneously activate odd numbered strings 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, and 8. The hardware measured that the 15th string equalization was not turned on and the current did not rise, but the software read that the equalization status was turned on;
② Simultaneously open 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 8 even numbered strings. The hardware measured that the 16th string equalization was not turned on and the current did not rise, but the software read that the equalization status was turned on;
③ Simultaneously opening the 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 16, and 8 battery cells, the hardware measured that the 13th equalization was not turned on, and the 16th equalization was turned on again, but the software read that the equalization status was turned on;
④ Simultaneously enabling odd numbered strings 9, 11, 13, and 15, the hardware tested that the 15th string equalization was not turned on, but when changed to 9, 11, 13, and 16 strings, they can all be turned on again;
⑤ Only the first 6 odd or even strings can be opened, but when switching to the last 6 strings, the last one cannot be opened
⑥ In the case of opening 3 strings, any combination of odd or even strings can be opened;
It is understood that there is no such phenomenon when 16 strings are not fully connected, such as 12 or 14 strings. May I ask if it is related to the number of connected battery cells or where software configuration is needed? Currently, no relevant description can be found in the manual. Please reply promptly. Thank you very much.

  • Hello,

    A couple questions:

    1. What are your cell voltages?

    2. Can you try removing the zener diode between the VC pins and retry?

    Best regards,

    Thomas Rainey

  • Dear  Thomas

    (1) The first question, after actual testing, it was found that when sending the command to turn on odd string equalization, when the individual voltage is below 3.2V, all odd strings can be balanced, and the current increases; But when the voltage of a single cell is greater than about 3.4V, the current of the last odd string does not rise, and all other strings have current rise and balanced opening. When the voltage of a single cell is greater than 3.6V, there is no current rise in all strings, and balanced opening is not possible. I would like to ask, should there be a logic in theory that the larger the voltage, the greater the balanced current?
    (2) The second question, after actual testing, is unrelated to the diode, and deletion and addition have no effect

  • Hello Gabriel,

    I would recommend to use an oscilloscope probe to the VCx pins themselves if the cell is balancing, this is not a constant value.

    Now, the cell voltages is why Thomas was suggesting to remove the Zeners between the VCx pins. During balancing, it is possible for some pins to have voltages that approximate close to twice the battery voltage, so these Zeners may start to conduct and affect the balancing of the cells. 

    From what you describe, I am wondering if this is related, since it depends on your cell voltage when balancing starts to have problems. Were the ZD14/ZD20/ZD3/etc all removed?

    Best Regards,

    Luis Hernandez Salomon

  • Dear Luis

    Good morning, after verification, all TVS tubes that enter the chip port have been removed. The equalization can be turned on normally, and the waveform of the equalization on is normal and not affected by voltage;

    Question 1: How does TVS affect the equalization function here, and why is the addition of TVS equalization affecting the driving waveform.

    Question 2: If TVS is removed here, will battery hot swapping affect AFE chips.

  • Hello Gabriel,

    Question 1: How does TVS affect the equalization function here, and why is the addition of TVS equalization affecting the driving waveform.

    This is because during balancing the pin voltage itself may change (See Figure 5-1. Cell Balancing With CB_SLOW = 0x00, Cell 4 (yellow) = 3.7 V, Cell 3 (blue) = 3.5 V of the Cell Balancing With BQ769x2 Battery Monitors application note for reference). 

    It is possible that across two VC pins the voltage seen is about twice the cell voltage when the cell is being balanced.

    Question 2: If TVS is removed here, will battery hot swapping affect AFE chips.

    I would recommend a TVS diode of higher voltage, at the very least twice the cell voltage. So if the maximum cell voltage is 4.2-V, I'd recommend a 9-V TVS diode here.

    The TVS diode could also potentially be in the cell-side, before the filter components, that would also be okay.

    Best Regards,

    Luis Hernandez Salomon