Quick battery disconnect system for high current circuits
A circuit protection system is provided herein that minimizes the disconnection time of a circuit while protecting other electrical components. Some configurations comprise a set of parallel circuit interruption devices, each connected in series with respective fuses. A control device sets a state of the circuit interruption device based on a current of the circuit. Under certain current loads, the circuit is interrupted without causing a fuse to blow. Under other current loads, the circuit is interrupted by having one or more fuses blow.
1. A battery system comprising:
a first switch and a first fuse coupled in parallel to a second switch and a second fuse; and
a switch controller configured to:
set the first switch to an open state while maintaining the second switch in a closed state in response to detecting a load current above an amperage.
2. The battery system of claim 1 , wherein the switch controller is further configured to:
maintain the first switch and the second switch in the closed state when detecting the load
current below the amperage.
3. The battery system of claim 1 , wherein the first fuse and the second fuse are electrically coupled in parallel to a battery.
4. The battery system of claim 1 , wherein the first switch and the second switch are electrically coupled in parallel to a load.
5. The battery system of claim 4 , wherein the load is an electric motor of an electric vehicle.
6. The battery system of claim 5 , wherein a current rating of the first fuse and the second fuse is one half a maximum operating current of the electric vehicle.
7. The battery system of claim 1 , wherein:
the first switch is coupled in series with the first fuse; and
the second switch is coupled in series with the second fuse.
8. The battery system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third switch, wherein the first fuse and the second fuse are electrically coupled in parallel to the third switch.
9. The battery system of claim 8 , wherein the third switch is electrically coupled to a charging port of an electric vehicle.
10. The battery system of claim 1 , wherein the amperage is equal to the maximum disconnect current of the first switch and the second switch.
11. The battery system of claim 1 , wherein the battery system is located within an electric vehicle.
12. A method for controlling a battery system comprising:
setting a first switch to an open state while maintaining a second switch in a closed state in response to detecting a load current above an amperage, wherein:
the first switch and a first fuse are coupled in parallel to the second switch and a second fuse.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising maintaining the first switch and the second switch in the closed state when detecting the load current below the amperage.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the amperage is a first amperage, the method further comprising setting the second switch to an open state in response to detecting the load current above a second amperage greater than the first amperage.
15. A vehicle comprising:
a first switch and a first fuse electrically coupled in parallel to a second switch and a second fuse;
a battery electrically coupled in parallel to the first fuse and the second fuse;
one or more electric motors electrically coupled in parallel to the first switch and the second switch; and
a switch controller configured to:
set the first switch to an open state while maintaining the second switch in a closed state in response to detecting a load current above an amperage.
16. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein:
the first fuse is electrically coupled in series to the first switch; and
the second switch is electrically coupled in series to the second switch.
17. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the switch controller is further configured to:
maintain the first switch and the second switch in the closed state when detecting the load current below the amperage.
18. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the amperage is equal to the maximum disconnect current of the first switch and the second switch, and wherein a current rating of the first fuse and the second fuse is one half a maximum operating current of the one or more electric motors.
19. The vehicle of claim 15 , further comprising a third switch electrically coupled in parallel to the first fuse and the second fuse.
20. The vehicle of claim 19 , wherein the third switch is electrically coupled to a charging port of the vehicle.