Patent ID: 9627897
Date: 2017-04-18
CPC Classifications: G01R,H02J

Claim:
1. A battery system, comprising: a plurality of battery strings, each battery string including two or more batteries or battery cells connected in a series or parallel configuration; a plurality of battery string contactors, each battery string contactor associated with at least one of the plurality of battery strings; a charger operable to provide a charging voltage to each of the plurality of battery strings via the battery string contactor associated with the battery string, wherein the charger comprises a smart charger; one or more control devices, the one or more control devices configured to control a charging output of the charger based at least in part on a string current of at least one of the plurality of battery strings, wherein the charging output is set to a minimum string voltage and increases based on feedback from the plurality of battery strings; wherein the one or more control devices are configured to control the plurality of battery string contactors to couple each of the battery strings to the charger when a charging voltage of the charger exceeds a battery string voltage associated with the battery string; wherein the one or more control devices are configured to control the plurality of battery string contactors to sequentially couple each of the plurality of battery strings to the charger when the charging voltage exceeds the battery string voltage associated with the battery string; and wherein the controller is configured to sequentially couple the charger to the plurality of battery strings in ascending order of battery string voltage.