Power
Battery Stack Fault Monitor Provides Independent Supervision of High Voltage Li-Ion Strings
Linear Technology announces the LTC6801, a high voltage battery stack fault monitor that operates without a microprocessor, and without the need for optocouplers or isolators. An LTC6801 can monitor up to 12 series-connected battery cells for overvoltage and undervoltage conditions. Multiple LTC6801 devices can be daisy chained, providing a method to monitor each individual cell in very long battery strings. When connected in a daisy-chain, a single differential clock output confirms that all cells in the stack are within the defined operating range.
ThisA wide range of overvoltage and undervoltage thresholds can be set via pin connections and the LTC6801 offers selectable threshold hysteresis and adjustable update rates. The LTC6801 is fully specified for operation from -40°C to 85°C and two temperature sensor inputs are monitored for over-temperature faults.
“The LTC6801 incorporates a number of important reliability features, including a comprehensive self-test to guarantee accuracy,” stated Mike Kultgen, design manager for Linear Technology. “These features will prove invaluable for high reliability battery management systems.”