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http://www.zeva.com.au
BMS12
v1.6
12-cell, CAN bus-enabled
Lithium Battery Management Module
Please read these instructions carefully for proper installation and use of this product.
Protecting your LithiuM BatterieS
Lithium batteries have been a revolution in energy storage and a major enabling factor in the
resurgence of electric vehicles. However they can be easily damaged if their voltage goes out
of safe operating range – either too high (from overcharging) or too low (over-discharging).
Battery packs are commonly built from a large number of individual cells in series to achieve
higher voltages. Due to manufacturing tolerances, cells will always have some variation in
capacity, so during use there will be some cells which get full or go flat before others. In
battery packs made of many cells in series, the overall voltage gives little indication of the
voltage of individual cells in the chain, so it is important to have a system which monitors the
voltages of each cell, and takes action if any cell goes out of range.
ZEVA’s BMS12 modules offer a robust, automotive-grade solution for protecting your lithium
batteries from damage, maintaining pack balance, and monitoring cell voltages remotely. A
single module can manage anywhere between 3–12 lithium cells, and up to 16 modules may
be used on the same CAN bus allowing packs up to 192 cells or about 600VDC.
The BMS12 modules communicate over CAN bus with a BMS master control unit to form
a complete Battery Management System for your vehicle. Voltage thresholds are fully
configurable, allowing the module to be compatible with most lithium chemistries including
LiFePO4, LiCo, LiPo and LiMn.
Battery Management Systems should be considered the last line of defence for your battery
pack. During normal operation, the BMS should never have to intervene with vehicle
operation, only taking action to protect the battery in exceptional circumstances. Although a
BMS will protect your cells from damage from over-discharging, regularly discharging your
cells to 0% SoC – i.e driving until the BMS stops the vehicle – will drastically shorten the
cycle life of your batteries so is best avoided whenever possible.
Safety Warning
Electric Vehicle battery packs contain a lot of energy and can deliver a lot of power, with
potentially lethal voltages and currents. Proper precautions and electrical safety procedures
should always be observed when working on EVs. Voltages above 110VDC should be
considered dangerous, and vehicles should never be worked on while power contactor(s)
are engaged.
Please read this manual carefully to ensure correct installation and operation of your BMS12
modules. If you are unsure of anything, please contact us before proceeding.
We have endeavoured to make a safe and reliable product which performs as described,
however since ZEVA has no control over the integration of its products into a vehicle, we can
assume no responsibility for the safety or functionality of the completed vehicle.
It is the responsibility of the end user to determine the suitability of the products for the
purpose employed, and the end user assumes all risks associated. Products should only be
installed by suitably qualified and experienced persons, and should always be used in a safe
and lawful manner.
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