User’s Guide to Operation and Troubleshooting

Refer to these Sheets for detailed information regarding Electrical, Mechanical and Protection Settings, taking note of the BMS Protection Settings, which provide a balance between safety, performance and battery life. If you are not familiar with how batteries with a “smart” BMS works, you are not alone.

Your TitanLTO battery is designed to perform far beyond the capabilities of both other Lithium chemistries and Lead-Acid. To achieve this, the BMS is tuned to allow for aggressive use, but not allow conditions which unduly damage or degrade your battery. You need to understand this. On the top of the Sheet you will find three sets of values pertaining to the electrical capabilities of your battery: Nominal, Absolute and BMS Protection, These are provided to help you to understand what, how and why a BMS does what it does. This in turn will allow you to correctly assess your needs, select the appropriate battery, install, and – most importantly – know your battery will do what it needs to do. Briefly stated, these three values are:

1.  Nominal: recommended, or ideal values for maximum life
2. Absolute: maximum operational capabilities of the cells (with no BMS).
3. BMS Protection: Limiting values affecting a balance between operational safety, performance and overall battery life.

 The Nominal and Absolute Values (along with the intended use) “set the table,” and the BMS “cooks the meal” to provide the optimal balance by managing:

• Over and Under-Voltage Events
• Over-Current Protection
• Over and Under-Temperature Protection

If you glance-over the BMS Protection Settings, it looks complicated, but an example of how Current Protection works (and why) should make it all understandable:

1. As is the case for all batteries, lower (“Nominal”) currents maximize cell life, and high (Absolute”) currents cause internal heating, which damages the cells. But a Starting Battery requires high currents!
2. To solve this problem and keep temperatures to a minimum, the BMS is programmed to provide high cranking-currents (over 250A) for 20 seconds, and continuous-currents of under 250A for other uses. How?
3. A current of over 250A is allowed for up to 20 seconds (the “Delay”). The BMS will then interrupt the current and after 10 seconds turn the battery back on, allowing another high-current pulse for up to 20 seconds. Forever?? No.
4. This is allowed up to 3 times in a row, and if exceeded, you will need to momentarily disconnect the battery and reconnect, then you can start-over.
5. All of this works in conjunction with Over-Temperature Protection…

 Understanding Temperature Protection

The BMS also monitors the internal temperature of the cells (and the circuit board), and will shut-down the battery if it gets too hot (until it cools down), or too cold (until it warms up).  This extra layer of protection is necessary for external reasons (such as the presence of a fire), but also provides the means to allow you to draw significant power from the battery when needed.  Thermal protection engages only if there is a threaten to the long-term integrity of the cells, enclosure or electronics (and thereby poses a safety risk).  This is especially important for smaller batteries, allowing very high currents for their size, but can heat-up more quickly.

The BMS also monitors the internal temperature of the cells (and the circuit board), and will shut-down the battery if it gets too hot (until it cools down), or too cold (until it warms up). This extra layer of protection is necessary for external reasons (such as the presence of a fire), but also provides the means to allow you to draw significant power from the battery when needed. Thermal protection engages only if there is a threaten to the long-term integrity of the cells, enclosure or electronics (and thereby poses a safety risk). This is especially important for smaller batteries, allowing very high currents for their size, but can heat-up more quickly.

 If such an event occurs it should be of some concern because over time it will negatively affect the life of your battery, and may be a sign of:

• Failing, or faulty equipment,
• Incorrect installation, or
• Incorrect battery selection.

 With a little effort, you should now be able to understand and appreciate the values provided, and how your battery will behave under the conditions you expect. Ensure the protective limits imposed by the BMS in the battery you have chosen exceed the demands of the vehicle/equipment and environment, and you should enjoy many, many years of reliable service.

NOTE: We have programmed the BMS to allow your battery to discharge at very low temperatures – slightly lower than recommended by the cell manufacturer – because in the bigger picture, this is may account for 1% of your starts, but could be when you need it the most. Charging temperature is constrained a little bit more, but your battery will warm-up as it continues to provide power and once the engine warms-up. These Settings can be modified by Special Order as well.

Your battery is LIVE. Leave the terminal covers on as long as possible.

•  Wire Size: In general, if you are replacing other batteries, there is no need to change anything. If necessary, we recommend using the appropriate gauge wire for the BMS maximum continuous current x the number of batteries in parallel (if any).\
• Series/Parallel Connection: Check the Specification Sheet to insure the correct Voltage, Current and Capacity (Ah). Batteries connected in parallel must not differ by more than 0.5V before connec

• • Parallel Connection: Check the Specification Sheet to insure the correct Voltage, Current and Capacity (Ah). Batteries connected in parallel must not differ by more than 0.5V before connection
  • Charge Settings: Starting Batteries are compatible with all automotive charging systems. Storage Batteries are generally compatible with Lead-Acid AGM Charge Settings. We recommend User-Programmable Charge Controllers are set to a maximum charge voltage of 13.5V. Refer to your Spec Sheet and the TitanLTO Configuration Guide for a more comprehensive overview.

• Bluetooth: If your battery is Bluetooth-enabled, once the battery is installed, download the App and use it to turn ON the battery if it is not ON already. 

• • Please note: TET App is required to turn the battery ON. Other BMS Apps may be able to provide real-time battery information, but it is unlikely they can turn the battery ON/OFF
  • For more information regarding Bluetooth use, see our Information Sheet on TET App and Bluetooth Operations.

In general, if installed correctly, your battery should simply work, worry-free. 

• As noted on the Spec Sheets there are voltage, current and temperature constraints which must not be exceeded
• Regarding storage, and unless equipped with Power-Saver Protection, if your battery is left idle (without charging) for an extended period of time, be sure there are no parasitic loads, or disconnect.
• In any circumstance when BMS protection levels are exceeded

• • The battery will shut-down to protect itself and your equipment.
  • If Bluetooth-equipped, the TET App will provide information on the protective measures implemented
  • Recovery will vary, depending upon which parameter was exceeded
  • Refer to the Battery Specification Sheet for details on recovery
  • Take corrective action as required.

If the battery provides zero output power, it has likely entered a protection state. Based upon events immediately prior to shut-down, you should be able to identify one of the following protection modes and take corrective action

Internal Thermal Shutdown Note:

 The BMS features a safety protocol that will shut down the battery due to heat generated by sustained currents, even when those currents are otherwise within the "allowed" protection parameters. This occurs if the generated heat cannot dissipate effectively (due to high ambient temperatures or restricted airflow), providing a final layer of protection for the internal electronics and cell integrity.