Electric surfboards are rising in popularity, and as they become a staple in the adventure sports equipment industry, the essential technology behind them becomes more important to understand for manufacturers and consumers alike to ensure these electric devices are reliable, long-lasting, and safe to use.
An essential component of the batteries that power electric surfboards are the Smart Battery Management System, or Smart BMS. In this article, we’ll take a look at the key features of Smart BMSs, their primary benefits, and what to consider when selecting a Smart BMS system for your electric surfboard.
What Is a Smart Battery Management System?
The Smart BMS is a combination of hardware and software that monitors, regulates, and protects a battery. These systems optimize a battery’s performance, ensure power is reliable, improve run times, and increase overall safety. The Smart BMS also presents data in a user-friendly manner, detailing a battery’s current charge levels. This helps ensure proper maintenance and management of the battery’s power.
What Features Can Smart Battery Management Systems Offer?
Smart BMSs vary in design and function, so it’s important to understand what features are available to be incorporated into a Smart BMS design.
Voltage protection
When a battery cell’s voltage is low, it mustn’t continue to discharge. Doing so can lead to permanent damage to the battery as a result of an irreversible chemical change within the electrochemistry of the cell. A Smart BMS with voltage protection can detect when a battery’s charge is below 2.7V and intervene to prevent further discharging, thus protecting the cell.
While it’s important to the life of the battery to prevent a cell from over-discharging, it’s even more important to prevent it from overcharging. Overcharging a cell can result in hazardous outcomes such as spontaneous combustion or explosion. A Smart BMS with voltage protection can detect overcharging and intervene to protect the battery and ensure safety for those operating it.
Current protection
When charging or discharging a lithium battery, it’s important to ensure the current is neither too high nor too low. A short circuit is the result of an overcurrent. In this scenario, the high current generates excessive heat, which can result in potentially fatal combustion and explosion. Excessive currents, even when they don’t result in dangerous combustion or explosion, still cause damage to the battery. A Smart BMS with current protection helps monitor and regulate the current within a lithium battery, thus protecting the battery and the people operating it.
Temperature protection
When batteries are exposed to extreme temperatures, they can suffer irreversible damage that results in poor performance, premature battery failure, and potential hazards. Smart Battery Management Systems with temperature control features have the capability to help monitor and regulate battery temperatures to ensure it doesn’t reach dangerously high or low levels.
Figure 1,43.2V 35Ah-100A discharge
Balance control
Lithium battery packs are composed of connected strings of linked battery cells, as depicted in Figure 2. Due to their chemical characteristics, if the voltage difference between two strings of batteries is too large, it will lead to a power imbalance and result in irreversible damage to the battery pack. Smart BMSs with voltage equalization capabilities are able to detect power imbalances and equalize them through either passive equalization or active equalization processes.
Figure 2, 43.2V 35Ah Battery Pack
Selecting the Best Smart Battery Management System for Your Electric Surfboard
Now that you understand some of the basics of Smart Battery management systems and their potential features, it’s time to choose the right battery and Smart BMS for your electric surfboard. Here are some key factors to consider:
Battery Size and Type
To start, ensure the dimensions and type of battery you select are compatible with your electric surfboard’s specifications.
Power Output
When selecting a Smart Battery Management System for your battery, it’s important to make sure the power output of the Smart BMS caters to the board’s voltage and current requirements.
Safety Features
The Smart BMS that you select should offer a number of safety features, including over-voltage protection, under-voltage protection, over-current protection, short-circuit protection, temperature monitoring, balance control, and water protection.
Waterproofing
When choosing a Smart BMS for an electric surfboard, you’ll likely want to consider systems that are waterproofed to ensure device safety and longevity.
User-Friendliness
Your Smart BMS should be easy to operate and understand.
Additional Features
You may consider adding additional special features to your Smart BMS for added convenience and security, such as GPS tracking and integrated display.
Making sure you have an effective and comprehensive Smart BMS can be monumental in prolonging the life of your battery and ensuring your device operates efficiently and efficiently.
At CM Batteries, we craft custom batteries for advanced devices, including electric surfboards. We make sure our electric surfboard batteries are equipped with the most up-to-date and applicable Smart BMS technology, are waterproof, and can be relied upon for an extended period of time. Whether you’re an electric surfboard designer, manufacturer, or private user, we’re here to assist you with your battery needs, from advanced product production to tips for use and maintenance. Don’t hesitate to reach out today.
