Thus, overcharge protection is vital for maintaining battery safety. PCMs protect against overcurrent and short circuits by monitoring the battery’s temperature and interrupting the circuit when necessary. Excessive current flow can cause the battery to overheat, posing a risk of fire.
While Battery Management Systems (BMS) are widely employed to prevent overcharging in batteries, there are also alternative methods available. One such option is the use of smart chargers that come equipped with built-in protection mechanisms.
Not all batteries are equipped with built-in protection against overcharge by default. Batteries used in various applications may require an external BMS for proper safeguarding against potential risks associated with excessive charging.
Short circuit protection – This protects the battery against short circuits between cells or between an electrode and the ground. Thermal runaway protection – If the temperature of a cell gets too high, this protection will activate and shut down the battery to prevent it from overheating.
Current protection – This protects the battery against excessive charge or discharge currents. Overcharge protection – This prevents the battery from being overcharged, which can damage or even destroy the cells. Each of these BMS features is important for protecting the battery and ensuring its long-term performance.
Over-discharging can significantly reduce a battery’s capacity, lowering the voltage below safe levels (typically around 2.7V for lithium-ion cells). PCMs prevent over-discharge by cutting off the circuit when the voltage drops too low, preserving the battery’s health and prolonging its operational life.