Heltec BMS' (up to 350A) with Active Balancing & Independent Active Balancers

[Steve_S]

Hi Folks.

I have recently come across this Company (not a new company) which produced BMS' and Active Balancers. I found them via my ongoing search for an Active Balancing System and watched a couple of vids on the products and felt it is worthy of mention in the forum.
They have High Amp mosFET Based BMS (up to 350A), some with Active Balancing built-in.

Heltec BMS & Active Balancers:

Shop – Heltec BMS

This is where you can browse products in this store.

heltec-bms.com

A testing / review by one of our members (SolarEngineering) who is checking out Active Balancers

 

[John Frum]

I just had a look and this model https://heltec-bms.com/product/4s-8s-12s-13s-16s-200a-210a-250a-330a-bms/
This spec stood out Discharge protection voltage: 2.1V
That's even lower than the Daly.

 

[Steve_S]

You have to be cautious on that site and select the right choices, make sure your picking LFP (Lifepo4) or other to suit the appropriate chemistry.

 

[John Frum]

even worse
"
8S 330A 3.2V Split Port



Charging type: split port

Charging protection voltage: 3.75V

Discharge protection voltage: 2.1V

Charge release voltage: 3.55V

Discharge release voltage: 2.5V

Balance voltage 3.5V

Balance current: 83MA

Charging current: 80A

Long-term continuous overcurrent value: 330A

Instantaneous current limit value: 1200A

Short circuit protection: load short circuit

Dimensions: 150×80×14MM

Weight: 245g

Imported high-power ultra-low internal resistance MOS tube

Application: Solar charging energy storage system within 24V/2000W, etc., the maximum load power can withstand 7000W
" --

4S 8S 12S 13S 16S 200A 210A 250A 330A BMS

<h4 class="product-title-text" data-spm-anchor-id="a2g0o.detail.1000016.i2.6fea11e8JelRK1">24/48V Solar Energy Storage BMS Split Port 4S 8S 12S 13S 16S 200A 210A 250A 330A Continuous Lifepo4 BMS battery protection board</h4>

heltec-bms.com

 

[ArthurEld]

Seems like all these BMSs you guys talk about are a work in progress. I hope they are more refined by the time my batteries arrive.

 

[John Frum]

Let me be clear.

These 2 values are a disastrously low.

Discharge protection voltage: 2.1V

Discharge release voltage: 2.5V

2.5 volts is dead empty for lifepo4.

 

[Steve_S]

Seems like all these BMSs you guys talk about are a work in progress. I hope they are more refined by the time my batteries arrive.

WIP ? Well BMS' are in constant evolution along with the cell tech that they are connected to. Every company is doing so, from the $50 BMS to the massive $2,000 BMS Systems.

HELTEC (company above) is also not a new company, they have been around a while. I DO NOT USE THESE & Have no connection or experience with them, just sharing a find which may help some people.

 

[John Frum]

HELTEC (company above) is also not a new company, they have been around a while.

Then they should know better.

 

[ArthurEld]

I was joking Steve. I doubt things will evolve much in the next month.
This BMS with active balancing is really cool. And the video explained it well.
I am ignorant about this subject and a lot of the information I see deals with circuit boards out of cases or no case.
Many of the videos involve soldering which I guess I need to get comfortable with.

 

[ArthurEld]

The 16s BMS and the 16s balance board is $156 delivered to me.
And there appears to be no soldering required.
Maybe Will could get one to try.

 

[Steve_S]

Well, I figured it would be interesting for some people who may want to experiment, sounds pretty interesting but as pointed out the settings may be dubious, I dunno how they have them setup, It's likely set according to specific chemistry and the info shown is generic.

Will also does not seem to be a fan of Active Balancers but he did qualify that, that he doesn't feel it's needed for new matched cells but that with used cells there may be a benefit.

My thinking is more towards their Active Balancers because I have two packs of used cells which, well, it couldn't hurt. I've seen good things about another brand but it's 3X the price so...

 

[John Frum]

<snip>I dunno how they have them setup, It's likely set according to specific chemistry and the info shown is generic.

To summarise...

4S 330A 3.2V Split Port
Discharge protection voltage: 2.1V
Discharge release voltage: 2.5V

8S 330A 3.2V Split Port
Discharge protection voltage: 2.1V
Discharge release voltage: 2.5V

12S 210A 3.2V Split Port
Discharge protection voltage: 2.5V
Discharge release voltage: 2.8V

12S 250A 3.2V Split Port
Discharge protection voltage: 2.1V
Discharge release voltage: 2.5V

16S 250A 3.2V Split Port
Discharge protection voltage: 2.2V
Discharge release voltage: 2.70V

That is just messed up.

 

[ArthurEld]

I sent Heltec a message asking if I can get 350a with active ballance for 16T 48v.
The got back and asked how many volt and amps is my charge controller. I told them 48v 185a
I will ask about the discharge protection voltage after they get back to me again.

 

[ArthurEld]

My last post should say 16S not 16T.

I communicated with Echo at Heltec. It took a few emails.

I told him that my charge current / discharge current will be 185a. I am fairly sure that is what the Sol-Ark 12K manual says.
My understanding of the amount of current that will pass through the BMS is not clear.

He said I need to use the "Same port" version. It is $30 more.
This is what he said to use for 16s 280a 3.2v cell 48v battery bank there is https://heltec-bms.com/project/16s-250a-bms/

He said I can specify the discharge protection voltage when I place my order.

And he said the active balancer will work with this BMS.

I have not decided which BMS to use. I am trying to understand my options.

So far Chargery is my choice because settings can be changed by the user and because Chargery seems to be proven using high amps.
I see a lot of doubt about most of the other affordable options. Bluetooth and active balancing sounds good but proven reliability is more important to me. I don't want to be soldering on new pieces and beating myself up trying to make it work. I'm going to have a hard enough time getting things set up using parts that are known to work.

 

[Dzl]

I just had a look and this model https://heltec-bms.com/product/4s-8s-12s-13s-16s-200a-210a-250a-330a-bms/
This spec stood out Discharge protection voltage: 2.1V
That's even lower than the Daly.

My last post should say 16S not 16T.

I communicated with Echo at Heltec. It took a few emails.

I told him that my charge current / discharge current will be 185a. I am fairly sure that is what the Sol-Ark 12K manual says.
My understanding of the amount of current that will pass through the BMS is not clear.

He said I need to use the "Same port" version. It is $30 more.
This is what he said to use for 16s 280a 3.2v cell 48v battery bank there is https://heltec-bms.com/project/16s-250a-bms/

Maybe you are both already clear on this but in case you are not, neither of the models you linked have active balancing built in. 80-90 mA balance current on those models. Far as I've seen so far, only the black metal one has active balancing of 0.6A / 1A / 2A

Also @ArthurEld, just a heads up, Echo is a her not a him.

 

[ArthurEld]

Also @ArthurEld, just a heads up, Echo is a her not a him.

Thanks for clearing that up.

Why didn't you include Heltec in your BMS poll thread? You set that up with links to a lot of good info.

 

[John Frum]

Maybe you are both already clear on this but in case you are not, neither of the models you linked have active balancing built in.

Not relevant to my concerns.

 

[Dzl]

Thanks for clearing that up.

Why didn't you include Heltec in your BMS poll thread? You set that up with links to a lot of good info.

I'll see if I can add it, I wasn't aware of it at the time, Its been a struggle just to get semi-familiar with what I believe to be the 5 most common BMS' here (Daly, JBD Smart BMS, Ant BMS, Chargery, SBMS0), I find researching BMS' to be a struggle and a bit overwhelming since manufacturers rarely supply a proper datasheet or manual, rarely write/speak good English, and are semi-complex so apples to apples comparisons are difficult.

I feel like this Heltec BMS is another good option, that might turn out to be pretty popular.

As an aside, I'm happy that you found that thread helpful! That was my intention with the thread. To be something of an index as well as a poll. But I wasn't sure if anyone was actually getting any value from it.

 

[ArthurEld]

I see a lot of your effort to organize this site. I'm surprised you don't have Admin under your name.
I'm struggling to find BMS info too. Especially for 48v. I plan to buy 4 eventually. But I will probably start with one to try out.
I noticed in the poll thread that some people use a different kind of BMS for each battery pack.

 

[John Frum]

I feel like this Heltec BMS is another good option, that might turn out to be pretty popular.

You are ok with a low cell disconnect of 2.1 volts?