The Linear Technology LTC3300-1 is a fault-protected controller IC for transformer-based bidirectional active balancing of multicell battery stacks. All associated gate drive circuitry, precision current sensing, fault detection circuitry and a robust serial interface with built-in watchdog timer are integrated.

Each LTC3300-1 can balance up to 6 series-connected battery cells with an input common mode voltage up to 36 V. Charge from any selected cell can be transferred at high efficiency to or from 12 or more adjacent cells. A unique level-shifting SPI-compatible serial interface enables multiple LTC3300-1 devices to be connected in series, without opto-couplers or isolators, allowing for balancing of every cell in a long string of series-connected batteries.

When multiple LTC3300-1 devices are connected in series, they can operate simultaneously, permitting all cells in the stack to be balanced concurrently and independently. Fault protection features include readback capability, cyclic redundancy check (CRC) error detection, maximum on-time volt-second clamps, and overvoltage shutoffs.