Differences

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--- opinion:frater_secessus:lifepo4_charging_voltage [2026/05/19 20:48]
frater_secessus [active balancing]
+++ opinion:frater_secessus:lifepo4_charging_voltage [2026/05/19 20:54] (current)
frater_secessus [active balancing]
@@ Line 93: / Line 93: @@
   - repeat hundreds or thousands of times per second((until Vbatt drops below the cut-off))
-So while it may appear that this kind of simple active balancer is doing something smart it is really just averaging out voltages.  Like buckets of water sloshing into each other when moved. Smarter (and more $$$) active balancers for those scenarios that justify the added cost.
+So while it may appear that this kind of simple active balancer is doing something smart it is really just averaging out voltages.  Like buckets of water sloshing into each other when moved. The process isn't terribly efficient and can even cause problems (see below).  Smarter and more $$$ active balancers for those scenarios that justify the added cost.
+**Caveat**: because there are small losses associated with running an active balancer it can deplete an uncharged battery over time.  They are doing an end-around the BMS so the BMS cannot stop this from happening.  A common solution is to choose a balancer that only balances when the battery is above a safe voltage, or adding a [[electrical:12v:lvd|low-voltage disconnect]] to a balancer that lacks this feature. This prevents the balancer from depleting an uncharged battery.

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