LiPo Fuel Gauge - two cells in parallel ?

Components & Accessories Power
1

Hi there,

I’m wondering if I’d be able to monitor the state of a 1S2P LiPo pack. I’d like to have some extra capacity and still be able to monitor battery charge. Would having 2 cells in parallel have any effect on the readings of the MAX17043?

2

Greetings, thanks for posting on the forums.

So the 43 version of this chip is specifically designed for single cell batteries. I am unsure of what would happen if you tried monitoring 2 cells, however, I would imagine that the chip may not function as intended or may become damaged.

I would suggest using a product that uses the 44 version of this chip instead which is specifically designed for 2 cell batteries. SparkFun does not carry a product like this to my knowledge.

I hope this helps.

3

If you have your cells in parallel, they show up to the fuel gauge as a large single cell battery. Just make sure the cells are at the same voltage before paralleling them or large amounts of current could flow between them while they equalize. (that would be bad!)

4

Thanks for your responses! Much appreciated

  • Charlie