I found THIS active cell balancer on Amazon, and was wondering if it could be used to replace a BMS, as long as I safeguard my cells in another way. I already use a separate LVD on a relay for my large loads, and was wondering if I could add a cell balancer to that, and remove my BMS. I have been thinking about upgrading my 4s2p, to an 8s, and was looking at BMS's, and realized that you can do the same thing that they do, with separate components. I keep my batteries inside, so there's no risk of freeze, and I have a programmable Victron SCC, so that should keep it from overvoltage. Is there anything I'm missing?
Do you really need a BMS, or could a cell balancer and LVD be used instead?
- Thread starter A.Justice
- Start date
Pretty sure Will has a video on that unit or at least references it. That's not a active cell balancer. It's passive.
Terminology-wise, I think you mean you have a 2P4S battery. 4S2P would indicate you have two separate 4S batteries in parallel.
LVD/HV limit on battery voltage does nothing to protect individual cells if they are out of balance.
A BMS exists to protect individual CELLS. You wont' have that ability.
Can it be used to manually monitor and balance a battery? Yes. Does it serve the same function as a BMS? No.
It's a monitor and a balancer. YOU become the BMS in this case.
$70 more for an overkillsolar BMS with bluetooth. Seems a trivial amount to get legitimate BMS function for expensive LFP battery.
Terminology-wise, I think you mean you have a 2P4S battery. 4S2P would indicate you have two separate 4S batteries in parallel.
LVD/HV limit on battery voltage does nothing to protect individual cells if they are out of balance.
A BMS exists to protect individual CELLS. You wont' have that ability.
Can it be used to manually monitor and balance a battery? Yes. Does it serve the same function as a BMS? No.
It's a monitor and a balancer. YOU become the BMS in this case.
$70 more for an overkillsolar BMS with bluetooth. Seems a trivial amount to get legitimate BMS function for expensive LFP battery.
It is in fact a 2p4s, my mistake. Makes sense, I'll just grab a BMS. Thank you for the reply, much appreciated!
You want a simple bms for low voltage cut off regardless. An active balancer can do well on a charge because a cell jumping in voltage is going to slow down the constant voltage charge rate significantly. That doesn't work on a discharge though, the lower the cells go the MORE amps they pull, so you really do need a bms to cut the current.
I'm using daly bms at the moment due to the choice of understanding inverter (72v)
I'm using daly bms at the moment due to the choice of understanding inverter (72v)
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