A complete Energy Management System
Not only a BMS… It is a comprehensive “Energy Management System” TAO BMS is unique on the market by the level of protection it provides and a number of features designed to maximise battery life.
BMS comparison chart (v2.01)
As each manufacturer only puts forward what they think will make you buy their product, it is very difficult to make a comparison based on a set of criteria. You can download a BMS comparison chart with more than 100 criteria grouped in 17 sections. There are currently 4 BMS and more will be added as we get input from manufacturer and users.
Why temperature of lithium cells is important
The temperature is an important parameter that influences the aging of a lithium battery. At 35°C a lithium cell ages twice as fast as it does at 15°C. So if the battery’s useful life is 15 years at 15°C, it will be 7.5 years at 35°C. I summarize some research results and draw guidelines to better manage our lithium cells…
What is pre-charge and how it works…
When power is first applied to a capacitive load (like inverters and chargers), a large inrush current is induced. This current creates an arc between the relay contacts… that are severely damaged. For that reason capacitive loads need to be pre-charged with a controlled current. TAO BMS can do that for you as a standard feature… What is the risk…
How to charge lithium and lead-acid batteries with an alternator
When installing a lithium battery on a boat or a camping car you need to decide if and how the alternator will charge it at the same time as the starter battery. If not done the right way the alternator could be damaged. In this article I address some key questions you may ask yourself, I point out some challenges…
Choosing the right relay
To get the most out of the BMS and protect your electrical installation you need some heavy duty relays. They open or close the power circuits, can handle high current and are remotely commanded by the BMS. In this article I look at the two main categories of heavy duty relays: contactor or electro-mechanical relay (EMR) solid state relay (SSR)…
New local and “Cloud” dashboard
A WiFi connection to the BMS monitor and a browser are enough to access a new world where you can visualise your battery usage and condition. This information is also available on the Cloud if the BMS monitor is on a WiFi with Internet connection.
Which lithium battery to buy?
A quick search on Internet for a 12 Volt 200 Ah lithium (LiFePo4) battery returns prices ranging from USD 406.00 to USD 4,185.00… all with seemingly the same great benefits and similar characteristics! What are the differences between all these batteries and how to choose the battery that is best suited to your application? This article provides some insight so…
New feature: Charge Cycle Management
Lithium batteries age rapidly if they are kept above 70% SOC (state of charge) most of the time. TAO BMS has a new feature to manage the charge cycles and extend battery life. Just set it up and forget about it.
Internal Resistance is your enemy!
Internal resistance (IR) is a characteristics of a battery cell that is often overlooked. It is in fact one of the most important.
Why is it important? What is the impact of having cells with different internal resistance?
I will cover a bit of theory and translate the research results into practical impact…
What is a Battery Management System (BMS)?
Checklist of what a BMS (Battery Management System) should do. I start from the definition given by BUREAU VERITAS. Then I review the functionalities that will enable a BMS to fulfil its purpose.
Multi-level protection
What kind of protection have you designed in your installation to guarantee the safety of your battery, your boat and the crew? I look at it as a cascade of protection levels designed to limit the risk of an incident turning into a major catastrophe.
