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BQ41Z50EVM: board quickly gets very hot when I try to attach cells

Part Number: BQ41Z50EVM
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: BQ41Z50, BQSTUDIO, EV2400

Tool/software:

I am using SLUUD32 BQ41Z50 Li-Ion Battery Pack Manager Evaluation Module Section 2.3 EVM Connections as a reference.

Bottom of page 3 / Top of page 4 describes connecting the cells, along with Figure 2-1.

Per page 4 I started hooking in the individual cells beginning with 1N, 1P, then adding 2P, 3P.

Things seemed OK at this point.

When I attempted the 4P hookup, the board immediately got very hot.

This happened with a 4th cell, and also if I instead tried to "place a short across unused voltage sense inputs" (page 4).

1. What am I missing here? The cell hookup was the first step given in Section 2.3... should some other step have come first?

For example, is it required to connect Batt+ / Batt- first, and then hook up the cell balancing wires?

2. Figure 2-2 on page 4 is titled "J1 and J5 Terminal Block Connections" but it seems to be describing J4 instead.

Please clarify (is the table titled wrong?)

3. Should I be able to communicate with the BQ41Z50 from BQStudio (using an EV2400) even if no battery or power connections are made to the board?

To ask it another way, can the BQ41Z50 get power from connector J3 (which goes to EV2400 PORT 1 SMB)?

  • Update - the initial issue had to do with the cell polarity not being what I expected (I now have the board talking to BQStudio).

    Questions 2 and 3 are still valid (this issue is not resolved)

  • Hi Kelvin,

    2- Title is incorrect. You are correct, it is describing connection of J4. I have added a note for next user guide revision.

    3- For device power up and communication, you will need at least cells or resistor ladder connected to J4 AND EV2400 connected to J3

    Note that the color of these wires are incorrect. It is a drawing error, but the actual test point on board is correct.