Battery Power Management – Reasons and Choices

Batteries have been evolving ever since their creation, and their sizes have also been reducing while their power increases. The increased use of more battery-powered systems has forced consumers to demand higher-energy systems, and this has created the need for better battery power management. This guide focuses on helping you understand the need for battery power management and how to keep track of your battery's performance. In the end, you should ultimately be capable of getting the most out of your cells.  

Why do we need a battery power management?  

With the increase in battery capacities and output, this power needs to be regulated and monitored. Therefore, the need for better battery power management arises. Also, with time, electronic systems become more complex, and this creates the demand for power-management ICs. The power-management subsystems are responsible for: 

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1. It is minimizing the size and weight while maximizing the available run time for the battery. This gives you more usage time and much more portable cells.  

2. Supply the right regulated output voltage over the required input voltage range as well as the load current.  

3. Accepts a circuit-board layout that reduces the EMI. 

4. Maximize the reliability of the system. 

5. Reduce the dissipation of heat, thus, eliminating the need for complex thermal management systems that tend to increase the size, weight, and cost of the entire system. 

6. Reduce the overall space and weight for the associated components.  

How do you choose a battery power management?  

There are a few factors that one would have to consider when choosing a battery power management subsystem for their battery packs. These are as follows. 

Type of batteries 

There are specific battery power management systems that are specifically designed to function correctly with certain battery technologies. Since these systems are different, some batteries work better with their designs. In contrast, others can be incorporated into a wide range of batteries.  

Output/input voltage 

You need to know the amount of voltage that the battery can handle and get yourself a battery power management system that can accommodate this range. High-voltage batteries require power management systems that can allow them to provide these high-voltage requirements in the right conditions.  

Type of application 

You would also need to consider the type of field or application in which the battery would be subjected to. The application would let you know the amount of energy that is required from the battery and the type of power management system needed to regulate the flow of power.  

Choosing the right power management system for your battery can be a tricky task because they are not designed to fit all battery types. You, therefore, need to carry out in-depth and appropriate research to come up with the best choice.  

How do you monitor your battery performance?  

The majority of people who buy electronic devices are primarily focused on battery life more than they tend to do their performance. Perhaps they consider the two factors, one of the same, but the truth is, they differ entirely. Battery life is typically a measure of battery performance and longevity and can be quantified in many ways. The demand for an extended battery life rises with the release of every new device, and this has seen batteries created with a substantial amount of longevity.   

However, we're well aware that batteries tend to go through a process known as degradation from its first use. Therefore, a battery you bought today would not be in the same condition or state two months down the line. The performance would have reduced significantly depending on the type of battery it is and the level of usage it was put through.  

However, for you to know the difference between your battery now and when it was initially purchased, you would have to try and monitor the battery performance.   

There exist different ways through which you can monitor the performance of your battery, and they include the following.  

Battery Bar  

Every modern electronic device comes with a battery bar that indicates different variations of the battery. This bar tends to monitor the state of the battery for you. It gives you accurate readings on how well your battery is performing. You can use the battery bar to get the following features on the battery performance:  

" Estimated full battery lifetime  

" Battery wear  

" Charge/Discharge rate  

 Using the battery bar, you can note the time remaining before your battery is entirely drained and needs to be recharged. Over time, you might find that the battery tends to hold power for a shorter period as compared to when it was first used. The following expounds on the measurements taken by a battery bar.  

1. Discharge rate  

This is the measure of the amount of current drained from the battery at a specific rate to power a device. The discharge rate tends to fluctuate depending on how much power the device requires to perform a particular function. If you were to use a high voltage device, it would require high performance, and this would significantly increase the discharge rates. More power would be drawn from your cells, and this can ultimately lower battery performance. Batteries have specific discharge rates, while modern ones are designed to handle a wide range of discharge rates.   

2. Battery percentage  

This is the current battery capacity over the total capacity expressed as a percentage. It helps you know the amount of time remaining to use your battery and allows you to monitor the right times for recharging the cells.   

3. Battery wear  

This is the ratio of the current full capacity over the factory-designed one. Battery wear indicates the percentage to which your battery may have degraded over time. For a brand-new battery, the ratio is expected to be 0%. It is expected to differ or vary over time, depending on its usage.   

Final thoughts   

Like every electronic device, energy storage systems need to be monitored and regulated in their various applications. Battery power management allows one to get the most out of their batteries and keep track of them for the most effective results.