Guidelines for battery profiling

The guidelines in this section optimizes the use of the nPM PowerUP app for battery profiling.

• Before starting battery profiling, refer to the battery datasheet and ensure that the parameters are set correctly. This includes specification of the battery capacity, termination voltages, and any other relevant parameters provided in the datasheet.
• Due to the increased non-linearities of batteries operating at temperatures below zero degrees Celsius, it is recommended to conduct battery profiling exclusively above zero degrees. Avoid profiling at temperatures below freezing or in extreme heat conditions.
  Note: Even if the battery is profiled at temperatures above zero Celsius, the nPM1300 fuel gauge can still perform reliably below zero within the standard discharge conditions of the battery.
• To account for temperature variations and improve the accuracy of state-of-charge estimations, profile the battery at three different test temperatures. For example, if the operating temperature of the device ranges from -15°C to 45°C, you can profile the battery at 5°C, 25°C, and 45°C. The final battery model will be created by combining the individual temperature profiles.
• The time to profile the battery takes approximately 48 hours per temperature. Do not modify the device configuration during the profiling process as this causes the profiling to abort.
• Ensure that your computer does not go into sleep mode or hibernate during the profiling process.
• To avoid issues with computer restarting due to system updates, the computer can be put in flight mode during profiling.
• If necessary, you can choose to profile the battery at a single operating temperature. However, this method will not account for temperature effects during fuel gauging, which may result in reduced accuracy.
• Ensure that the battery test temperature stays constant throughout the profiling period, as fluctuations in temperature can affect the accuracy of the battery model. Use a temperature chamber to improve performance.
• The use of a battery with a Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) thermistor is recommended. Specify test temperatures for the profiling process for both type of batteries (with or without NTC).
  • If the battery NTC sensor is available, the battery temperature from the NTC measurement will be used for creating the battery model.
  • If the NTC sensor is not available, the specified test temperatures will be used for creating the battery model.
  • For NTC selection, refer to Battery temperature monitoring.
• The battery must be fully charged before profiling at a new temperature. Follow the instructions in nPM PowerUP to charge the battery at room temperature to ensure consistent and reliable results during the profiling process.
• The nPM1300 fuel gauge algorithm incorporates internal adjustments to correct any initialization errors resulting from an unrested battery and unexpected reset conditions. These errors typically have a minor impact, and the predictions will converge to the accurate value within a few minutes of normal operation.

For more information, or if you have any technical questions before, during, or after your development, contact our Technical Support team at Nordic DevZone.