1e. Isolation Sensing: R R R R V 0:002 D 500V R V V V V

1.3.7: How to sense electrical isolation in a BMS?
1e. Isolation sensing
key on: initialize

meas. voltage estimate estimate compute
Isolation sensing detects presence of a ground fault

balance
current state of state of power
temperature charge (SOC) health (SOH) cells limits
Primary concern is safety: Is it safe to touch a battery

loop once each measurement interval while pack is active
terminal and chassis ground at the same time?

Battery “should” be completely isolated from chassis
ground, so “should” be no problem
FMVSS says isolation is sufficient if less than 2 mA of
current will flow when connecting chassis ground to
either the positive or negative terminal of the battery
pack via a direct short
Dr. Gregory L. Plett j University of Colorado Colorado Springs Introduction to Battery Management Systems | BMS sensing and high-voltage control j 1 of 9
Setting up problem
key on: initialize

meas. voltage estimate estimate balance compute
In the diagram, paths between battery and chassis

ground are drawn as red (ideally infinite) resistors

The “isolation resistance” Ri is the lesser of R1 and R2 . ❱✶ ✂✄ ✷
So, Ri must be greater than Vb =0:002 D 500Vb
❘✁
Chassis
For the BMS to sense whether the pack is sufficiently
isolated from the chassis, it must somehow measure Ri
To do so, we measure V1 and V2 using a high-impedance A2D, 10 M

This breaks strict isolation, but not enough to worry about
Note polarity of voltmeters—both V1 and V2 are positive
Redrawing circuit to clarify analysis

key on: initialize

If we redraw the circuit, it becomes more clear that

❱✶ ❘✁ ✂✄ ✷ R1 and R2 form a voltage divider
Chassis
We want to find the smaller of the two resistances
In a voltage divider, the smaller voltage
corresponds to the smaller resistor
So if V1 < V2 find R1 , else find R2
✷ ✂✄
Note also that I1 D I2 so V1 =R1 D V2 =R2
❱✶ ❘✁ We’ll use this identity as we solve the problem
Chassis
Fault on low side: Find 1 R
key on: initialize

meas. voltage estimate estimate compute
If the fault is on the low side, we want to solve for R1

balance
We insert a known large resistance R0 between battery

and chassis ground, via a transistor switch, as shown

This again breaks strict isolation, but not enough to
✦
worry about if R0 is “big enough” (i.e., 500Vb / ✶ ✁✂ ❱✷ ❘✵
We measure V20 . Note that by KCL, VbR V2 D RV2 C RV2

0 0 0 Chassis
1 2 0
Substitute Vb D V1 C V2 and R2 D R1 .V2 =V1 /,
.V1 C V2 / V0 V0 V0
R1
2
D R2 C R2
2 0
0
V2 .V1 =V2 / V20
D R1
CR
0
Fault on low side: Find R1 (continued)
key on: initialize

Last slide, we concluded
.V1 C V2 / V0 V20 .V1 =V2 / V20

R1
2
D R1
CR
0
Now, combine terms that include R1 ✦
✁✂ ❱✷ ❘✵
.V1 C V2 / V0 V 0 .V1 =V2 / V20
✶
2
R1
2
DR Chassis
0
Rearranging,

R1 D R0
.V1 C V2 V
0 0
V .V D R0
CV V1 0
1 =V2 // 1 V2 V2
V0 V0
2 2
2 2 2
Isolation is deemed sufficient if Ri > Vb =0:002 or R1 > 500Vb
Fault on high side: Find 2 R

key on: initialize
Procedure is similar if the initial voltage measurements

except that now we want to find R2

V1 > V2
We insert a known large resistance R0 between battery
and chassis ground, via a transistor switch, as shown
We now measure V10 . Then, by KCL, ❘✵ ❱✶
✦
✂✷
✁
Vb V10 V10 V10
DR CR
Chassis
R2 1 0
Substitute Vb D V1 C V2 and R1 D R2.V1=V2/

V1 C V2 V10 V10 .V2 =V1 / V10
R
D R
C R
2 2 0
Fault on high side: Find 2 (continued) R
key on: initialize

Last slide, we concluded
V1 C V2 V0 V 0 .V2 =V1 / V0
R2
1
D 1
R2
C 1
R0
Now, combine terms that include R2 ✦

❘✵ ❱✶ ✂✷
V1 C V2 V0 V 0 .V2 =V1 / V0
✁
1
R2
1
D 1
R0
Chassis
Rearranging,

R2 D R0
.V1 C V2 V
0 0
V .V D R0
CV V2 0
2 =V1 // 1 V1 V1
V10 V10
1 1
1
Isolation is deemed sufficient if Ri > Vb =0:002 or R2 > 500Vb
Summary
key on: initialize

In a vehicle application, we must maintain isolation between

high-voltage battery pack and chassis of the vehicle

Isolation is deemed sufficient if less than 2 mA of current will flow if a direct short is
placed between one terminal of the battery pack and the chassis
We explored the FMVSS procedure for determining the isolation resistance Ri of
the battery pack
Isolation is sufficient if Ri > 500Vb
Credits
key on: initialize
Credits for photos in this lesson


Chevy Volt under the hood on slide 1, By Mariordo (Mario Roberto

Durán Ortiz) (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chevrolet_Volt_WAS_2017_1516.jpg

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1.3.7: How to sense electrical isolation in a BMS?