Testing that Reaches the World

Imbalance charge testing is a specialized evaluation method to assess how the battery system responds when individual cells are charged unevenly, which can lead to performance issues and safety hazards.

An imbalance charge test will help to determine how battery packs handle scenarios where some cells are overcharged or undercharged, which can lead to thermal runaway, swelling, or even fires.  This test also evaluates the impact of cell imbalance on overall battery performance, including capacity loss and cycle life.

The test is designed to detect weak or faulty cells within a battery pack that may not hold charge as effectively as others, potentially compromising the entire system.

In conducting the imbalance test, the Clark test engineering team will fully charge the battery pack under normal conditions to establish baseline metrics for all cells.  Our procedure then calls for intentionally creating an imbalance by either charging some cells to higher voltages or discharging others to lower voltages, simulating conditions that can occur in real-world usage.

The test team will monitor the cells for:

1. • Individual cell voltages
   • Temperature changes
   • Current flow between cells
   • Overall pack voltage

After the test, the battery pack is inspected for signs of damage or failure, and data is analyzed to assess the implications of the imbalance on safety and performance.  This enables the battery developer or system integrator to understanding how individual cells within a pack respond to imbalanced charging conditions and how it affects the overall system.

Results from the imbalance test can also provide insights to guide the implementation of battery management systems (BMS) and balancing circuits to prevent imbalances in future applications.