Structural High Voltage Battery Devices

Last updated: December 11, 2024

Overview

High Voltage (HV) devices are HV components within the HV battery that supplement the primary functions of the HV battery. They are individual devices that gate, manage, convert, transform, measure, monitor and control energy moving through the HV battery cell-array s.

The HV battery devices are located within an accessible section of the HV battery, referred to as the Ancillary Bay, because they are more likely to require servicing when compared to the cell-arrays within the platter.

Note

See Structural High Voltage Battery Theory of Operation for more details on the platter and cell-arrays.

The HV devices group contains the following :

HV Device	Purpose
Power Conversion System (PCS)	Converts AC to DC when charging Converts DC to DC to support thelow- voltage system Supports precharge of the HV bus before closing pack-contactors
High Voltage Controller (HVC)	Includes the High Voltage Battery Management System (HVBMS) and High Voltage Processor (HVP)
Fast Charge Contactors	Connect the HV battery to the charge port for DC charging
Pack Contactors	Connect HV from modules to vehicle powertrain
HV Shunt	Measures HV current
HV Pyro-disconnect	Disconnects HV when specific HV failure is detected (previously called a pyro-fuse)
Charge inlet connector	Connects PCS input to the charge port
HV fuses	Switched PCS HVDC input/output

Power Conversion System

Specifications

The Power Conversion System (PCS) is a contained unit located within the Ancillary Bay which hosts all the controls and power electronics to convert electrical energy. The PCS converts Alternating Current (AC) to Direct Current (DC), steps up or down DC voltage (otherwise known as DC to DC or DCDC), and converts DC to AC (only for the second generation PCS).

PCS includes:

• A cooling plate with coolant inlet and outlet
• A top cover
• A PCBA with transformers
• Heat sinks
• Connectors

There are 2 generations of PCS. See table below for specification differences.

	Gen 2	Gen 1
Size (mm)	612 x 254 x 56	705 x 281 x 85
Volume (liters)	8.7	16.8
Mass (kg)	7.8	9.5
Processor	TI Sitara
Electrical conversions	Two planar magnetic devices	Single DCDC and 3-phase board converters
AC charging current capability	3-phase: 16A/Phase 1-phase: 48A/Phase	3-phase: 16A/Phase 1-phase: 48A/Phase
AC continuous power (kW)	11	11
Bi-directional charging	Yes	No
Always on DCDC	Yes	No
DC operating voltage (Volt)	340 to 850	200 to 500
Number of DCDCs	Two distinct DCDCs: Unswitched DCDC 1.5 kW Connected to pack positive and pack negative Always powered Switched DCDC 1.5 kW Connected to the HV battery through HV battery contactors	Single DCDC
DCDC continuous power (kW)	3	2.5
DCDC peak transient power (kW)	6
DCDC capability (Amps)	400	200
DCDC output range (Volt)	24-58	8-16

Structural High Voltage Battery Theory of Operation

The HV battery of this platform is equipped with Power Conversion System Gen 1 (PCS1).

1. PCS
Location of the PCS

Operation

The power conversion system performs the following operations:

• Converting AC to DC
• Converting DC to DC

Converting AC to DC

When charging the HV battery on a Level 1 or 2 AC electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), the PCS transforms the wall power (120 VAC to 240 VAC) to a DC voltage corresponding to pack voltage (or slightly higher for the HV battery to charge). That voltage and current request comes from the HVC.

Note

See Structural High Voltage Software Management Theory of Operation for more details.

During AC charging, PCS receives its charge request from:

• The HVC through Controller Area Network (CAN) or Etherloop
• A hardware enable line.

Both signals need to match in order for PCS to start converting power from AC to DC.

PCS is equipped with 4 AC terminals for line 1, line 2, line 3, and neutral. These lines are necessary to be able to AC charge from any AC power source in a wide voltage range.

PCS can support 3 phase AC input power. However, those 3 phases are shorted which only supports single phase AC charging.

Converting DC to DC

The Power Conversion System Gen 1 (PCS1) features a single DCDC to convert high voltage from the HV battery to low voltage. During drive, charge, or while parked with HVAC active, the DCDC powers the low voltage bus which includes critical functions like power steering, braking, lights, and others. VCFRONT in 3Y and VCBATT in Model S and X (2021+) manage the power request to PCS2 for DCDC output power. The DCDC is also used to precharge the DC link bus when closing contactors. The PCS uses input LV power from the LV battery and steps it up to pack voltage. When voltage on DC Link and HV battery sides match, contactors are commanded to close.

The DCDC is able of outputting 2.5kW of continuous power with a maximum current of 200A.The DCDC output can range from 8V to 16V. The power line between the HV battery and DCDC is fused.

Serviceability

The PCS is replaceable in service as described in the repair manual. However, the internal components of the PCS are not serviceable. The entire unit gets replaced in service.

The replacement of the PCS does not require removal of the HV battery. The PCS replacement procedure entails:

• removing the rear seat cushions (and seat frame for Model Y),
• performing the vehicle electrical isolation procedure,
• removing the Ancillary Bay cover,
• draining coolant from the PCS,
• rotating the HVC out of the way on its hinges to access PCS.
• Once the connectors and fasteners are removed, the PCS should be handled with two vacuum suction cups to pull it out of the Ancillary Bay.
• WARNING !! The terminal posts under the PCS are live, even with the pyro-disconnect removed. There is high voltage between terminal 1 and 2 and terminal 3 and 4. Dropping the PCS across these points could short half of the HV battery and cause severe arcing / damages

There are no specific calibrations or configurations to perform after installation of the new unit. However, a software redeploy is necessary after replacement to have the new PCS software version match the version that is installed on the vehicle.

On the LV side, the PCS can convert up to 2.5kW of power between the DC link and LV output. The drawing below locates the PCS within the Ancillary Bay, but it is purposefully displayed outside of the Ancillary Bay for easier identification.

High Voltage Controller

Specifications

High Voltage Controller

Operation

The HVC is the brain of the energy and power distributed to the vehicle.

The HVC hosts a large PCBA which contains the main two processors : - The High Voltage Battery Management System (HVBMS) - The High Voltage Processor (HVP)

Both of these systems allow sensing, data processing, and controlling HV components. The HVBMS is more linked to the cells and the HVC to the HV components of the HV system. The drawing below shows the HVC within the ancillary bay.

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High Voltage Battery Management System (HVBMS)

The high voltage battery management system (HVBMS) manages cell data. It is the system that calculates data used for information display, driving limits, charging limits, and faults. The HVBMS receives high frequency high accuracy data from Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) on the Battery Management Boards (BMBs). The HVBMS reads brick voltages and module temperatures via the BMB two-way communication link.

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High Voltage Processor (HVP)

The High Voltage Processor (HVP) controls the HV components, and the pyro disconnect. It is the system that will close and open contactors and contactors.

As the brain of the HV battery, the HVC controls all functions and HV devices via software.

Note

See Structural High Voltage Software Management Theory of Operation for more details on the HVC software controls of the high voltage devices.

Serviceability

The HVC internals cannot be serviced. The HVC itself can be replaced by accessing the ancillary bay under the rear seats. HVC is the same one used on 3 or Y platforms. by dropping the HV battery and accessing the front ancillary bay on top of the HV battery. The HVC on Model S and X (2021+) is not compatible with other vehicle platforms..

Note

The HVC holds non-volatile data related to the platter and other components in the Ancillary Bays. Therefore, when replacing the device cluster some data from the old HVC has to be copied over to the new one.

Pyro-disconnect

The pyro-disconnect is a standalone device able to interrupt the high voltage loop on the HV battery side of packs contactors.

Specifications

The pyro-disconnect is a busbar with a squib and pyro element. When fired, the squib breaks the busbar and opens the electrical connection.

The pyro-disconnect has an internal exhaust system that can dissipate the heat and particles generated by the arc when the HV connection is broken under heavy current. It is designed to be harmless when triggering in a person's hands.

The pyro-disconnect is located close to the HVC for optimized performance and reliability.

1. Pyro-disconnect
HV Pyro-disconnect in Ancillary Bay

Operation

The pyro-disconnect squib is triggered by the HVC via a dedicated wired connection. The HVC triggers the pyro-disconnect to interrupt the High Voltage loop for the following different conditions:

Condition	Alert Log Signal	Description
Over current detected	PYRO_HANDLE_ OVER_CURRENT	There are two over-current detection mechanisms. Passive over-current: The HVC has a built-in hardware circuitry that will trigger the pyro-disconnect independently from the processor or software. The threshold is based on a resistor divider. It only operates in the discharge direction Active over-current: This is a function of the software running on the HVP and is able to detect over-current while charging or discharging. .
Shunt MIA	PYRO_HANDLE _SHUNT_MIA	If the HVP is not receiving any current readings from the shunt, it will ask the HVC to trigger a graceful power off where discharge current will be ramped down, a message is displayed in the UI for the driver, and contactors will open 30 seconds after the graceful power off started. If that process failed, the HVP would fire the pyro after one minute.
Arc detected in contactor	PYRO_HANDLE_ PACK_POSITIVE_CTR_ARC PYRO_HANDLE_ PACK_NEGATIVE_CTR_ARC	The system has detected a significant voltage drop across a contactor when supposedly closed.
Impact detected	PYRO_HANDLE _ENS_CRASH	Impact signal is from the Restraint Control Module (RCM). The HVP is directly connected to the RCM. If that signal indicates an airbag deployment, the HVP will trigger the pyro-disconnect. The pyro-disconnect will have to be replaced after any collision or airbag deployment. The Emergency Notification Signal (ENS) is one wire from the RCM to the HVP. The ENS information is communicated by the frequency of the physical signal alternating between the high (6.6V) and low states (1.5V). When the RCM qualifies an impact, it transitions ENS PWM signal from 10Hz to 1kHz
Software over discharge current	PYRO_HANDLE_ OVER_DISCHARGE_CURRENT	The HVP will fire the pyro if the discharge current is above a certain threshold defined according to the config block which translates the type of HV battery connected to the HVC. That threshold is obviously below the hardware over-current.
Software over charge current	PYRO_HANDLE_OVER_ CHARGE_CURRENT	The HVP software will fire the pyro if the charge current is above a certain threshold defined according to the config block, which translates to the type of HV battery connected to the HVC. During charging, there is not passive over-current detection/protection.
Contactors need to be opened, but cannot	PYRO_HANDLE_ OPEN_IMMEDIATELY	The HVC software will fire the pyro if a condition requires the system to open contactors, but conditions are not met. Either the current is too high across contactors (contactors cannot open under high current), or contactors are welded, or there is no current value available, etc. Usually, this feature of firing the pyro when not suitable to open contactors is used after detecting an over temperature, a brick overvoltage, an undervoltage, or other conditions while current is too high to open contactors.

Sequence of events for the pyro-disconnect to interrupt the HV loop:

1. HVC triggers a current to excite the squib via connector (see item 6 below)
2. The pyro element fires (see item 4)
3. The busbar is pulverized (see item3),
4. The arc inhibitor absorbs the arc generated by current interruption (see item 2):

1. Pyro-disconnect housing 2. Arc inhibitor 3. Pyro-disconnect busbar 4. Squib / pyro element 5. Squib housing 6. Connector to HVP to trigger squib
Exploded View of HV Pyro-Disconnect

Serviceability

Warning

There is always high voltage at the busbars connected to the pyro-disconnect (even with contactors open). Appropriate PPE is required for servicing, including eye protection in case of arcing or the pyro-disconnect firing during installation.

The pyro-disconnect cannot deploy if it is disconnected from the HVC, as the HVC supplies the current to trigger the squib. This means that the pyro-disconnects should always be removed before disconnecting it from the HVC or replacing the HVC.

Model Y Structural HV battery features a dedicated service panel to replace the pyro-disconnect. The pyro-disconnect is fired after any passive safety deployment and need to be replaced. This means that repair body shop has to perform the replacement of the device. To minimize high-voltage exposure, access should be similar to non-structural HV batteries, where the Ancillary Bay cover is removed to replace the pyro-disconnect.

The pyro-disconnect is accessed via a cover that makes it serviceable without dropping the HV battery. It can be accessed directly from under the rear seat cushion.

1. Pyro-disconnect service cover location 2. Pyro-disconnect cover 2. Pyro-disconnect cover fasteners to Ancillary Bay enclosure
Pyro-Disconnect Behind Service Cover

1. Pyro-disconnect with dedicated without the service cover 2. Pyro-disconnect fasteners to busbars
Pyro-Disconnect Behind Service Cover

High Voltage Shunt

Specifications

The shunt is used by the HVC to measure current flowing in and out of the HV battery. The shunt is a copper busbar of a known precise resistance. The shunt does not have a microprocessor. On top of the shunt busbar is a small PCBA with passive electronic components to measure the voltage across the copper busbar and a connector for the harness to the HVC.

The shunt on Model Y Structural HV battery is the same as the one used in Model 3 and non-structural Model Y HV batteries. It is in a different position in the Ancillary Bay but still in series with the shunt between Cell-Array 2 and 3.

1. DC Link negative 2. Negative pack-contactor 3. Most negative HV terminal 4. Pyro-disconnect 5. Shunt 6. Insulator from terminal of module 2
Shunt Location in Ancillary Bay of Y Structural HV battery

Operation

The shunt bar resistance, gain, and temperature coefficients are flashed onto the HVC during device cluster manufacturing line. Once the HVC knows the shunt bar resistance, it can determine the current flowing through the shunt from the measured pack voltage across the shunt.

Two wires connect the HVC to the shunt for the HVC to obtain the voltage across the shunt. Another pair of wires facilitates the passive hardware over-current feature described in the Pyro-disconnect section above.

Note

This pair of wires is also used as an auxiliary current sense. The HVC performs a sanity comparison of that current with the primary one to make sure that there is no hardware issue on either of those two current sense systems.

Two wires connect a small thermistor on the shunt bar to the HVC allowing the HVC to know the shunt bar temperature.

One last wire from the shunt to the HVC provides voltage input for the energy reserve in case the pyro was blown. When that occurs, the energy reserve is powered two cell-arrays, and one input is at the shunt.

Serviceability

The shunt is replaceable in service as described in the repair manual.

The procedure entails:

• Removal of the of the second row seat cushions
• Performing the vehicle HV disablement procedure
• Removal of the pyro disconnect
• Removal of the ancillary cover to gain access to the shunt
• Removal of the shunt

Once the shunt is replaced, the HVC needs to be calibrated to the new shunt data. Refer to the repair manual for more details.

The shunt resistance being hard coded into the HVC, means that when either the HVC or the shunt is replaced in an Ancillary Bay, the shunt bar resistance has to be updated in the HVC.

Toolbox has a routine to perform this pairing.

HV Pack Contactors

The pack-contactors in the HV battery are the gate between the HV from cell-arrays and the rest of the vehicle.

Specifications

The pack-contactors are made of a single low resistance electrical contact point that moves along with a flexible busbar made of numerous thin layers of copper. The assembly connects to a movable rod that is in a magnet wrapped in a coil.

1. Negative pack-contactor 2. Positive pack-contactor
Pack Contactors

Operation

Current flowing through the coil creates a magnetic field that pushes the rod up. The pack-contactors have a massive coil which allows high force to close the contact, and the mass allows heat dissipation.

The pack-contactors are NOT designed to open under load. There is not enough spring force to pull the contact down when opening under load while arcing would try to bring the contact back together. Therefore, the system will not try to open contactors under high current if a fault occurs. The system will trigger the pyro-disconnect to first break the HV loop and then will open the HV battery contactors.

Serviceability

Warning

It should never be assumed contactors are fully opened when contactor power has been removed. Before working on a high voltage system, be sure to follow the Vehicle Electrical Isolation Procedure from the Service Manual to confirm with measurements that high voltage is not present.

Pack-contactors are both serviceable independently. Contrary to pre-2021 Model S and Model X, both contactors do not need to be replaced if one is replaced. Pack-contactor replacement is described in the repair manual. The procedure entails:

• Removal of the of the second row seat cushions
• Performing the vehicle HV disablement procedure
• Removal of the pyro disconnect
• Removal of the Ancillary Bay cover to gain access to the shunt
• Removal of the either pack-contactor

Fast Charge Contactors

Specifications

The fast charge contactors assembly is made of two contactors encapsulated in the same housing. The sense leads and contactor drive are included in a single connector at the top of the assembly between the two contactors.

Note

The fast charge contactors have a second redundant (auxiliary) switch to monitor the physical position of the contactor (open or closed).

When the fast charge contactor is in an "open" position, the switch should also be open and measure an open circuit across the terminals.

There have been cases where the contactors are open, but one of the contactor position monitor switches is stuck. This will still trigger fast charge contactor welded alerts.

The diagram below points to the pin-out of the fast charge contactor assembly.

The red circles point to the positive high voltage fast charge contactor The purple circles point to the negative high voltage fast charge contactor The yellow circles point to the positive auxiliary contacts The blue circles point to the negative auxiliary contacts
Pin-out of the Fast Charge Contactor Assembly

The rendering below shows the location of the fast charge contactor assembly with the following removed:

• The Ancillary Bay cover
• The fast charge insulator
• The fast charge logic connector

1. Location of the fast charge contactor assembly 2. Positive fast charge busbar 3. Negative fast charge busbar 4. Positive contactor of fast charge contactor assembly connecting positive fast charge busbar to positive DC link 5. Negative contactor of fast charge contactor assembly connecting negative fast charge busbar to negative DC link
Fast Charge Contactor Assembly to Fast Charge Connector Inlet

Operation

The fast charge contactor assembly connects the DC charge port inlet to the pack. This allows DC charging when the charging station or electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) is directly providing DC power to the pack.

Serviceability

The fast charge contactor assembly is a unit. A single contactor cannot be replaced on its own, only the entire assembly gets replaced.

As seen above, the fast charge contactor assembly is located in the Ancillary Bay. IT can be accessed via removal of the Ancillary Bay cover under the second row seat.

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