The system includes a charging subsystem that includes a fixed-output power supply for the control circuitry and an adjustable-output power supply for charging the battery (see Figure 2). Like the battery-control boards, the adjustable-output power supply communicates with the control computer via the network. The fixed-output power supply is used to energize a relay that controls the main power switch between the battery and the adjustable-output power supply. On each battery-control board, there is a relay, denoted a board relay, that opens a switch when equalization is needed, a cell temperature exceeds a preset limit, or a fault is detected. The board relay switches are connected in series with the main power relay, so that if any condition necessitating interruption or stoppage of charging is encountered in any cell in any module, the main power is turned off.

Figure 2. The Charging Subsystem and Power-Relay Connections are emphasized in this alternative diagram of the system of Figure 1.

This work was done by Daniel P. Thivierge of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center for the Naval Research Laboratory.

NRL-0024

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