Onewheel BMS List
The BMS is one of the most important parts when it comes to building a board. It allows the cells within the battery to remained balanced and to keep the battery pack healthy. BMS modules can range from 80 dollars up to 240 dollars.
When building a Onewheel, it is reccomended to follow a video series detailing building or converting a onewheel to VESC. WillDConstruct’s video on a Pint Conversion is a great place to start.
Literature
Smart BMS: A BMS that has adjustable settings, can show battery information and can usually communicate with the VESC itself via CAN
Dumb BMS: A BMS that’s only job is to charge, balance and maintain the battery. It has no output in terms of data or information.
S: “S” in this case describes the amount of cells in series. A stock XR (not classic or XRC) is a 15S battery, while the GT is 18s, and the GT-S is 27S.
BMS’ can only charge or balance a certain cell count of batteries. The usual range is 12-20, and some go up to 24s.
Important Notes
While you may be pushed or pressured into doing what is called “BMS-less”, or building your board without a BMS, it is a considerable safety risk. BMS’s manage, protect and balance your battery to make sure that one cell is not over-charged or brought down to a voltage low enough to permanently damage the cell.
Do not go BMS-less.
Ennoid XLITE v4
Image Credit: Ennoid
The XLITE is the most expensive option in terms of BMS. It is a Smart BMS, and can support 13S to 24S, and includes creature comforts like setting a max charge limit per cell (voltage limit), VESC integration using CAN, built-in Bluetooth and will display information regarding your battery. They are also considered charge-only.
They are expensive and ship from Canada, however they have very good build quality.
ZBMS
Image Credit: ZBattery Solutions
The ZBMS is a Dumb BMS that can support 4s-24s batteries, comes with it’s own heat sink and is charge-only. The ZBMS is quite popular in the community, and is considered to be quite a good investment. The BMS itself however will not tell you what the individual cell voltages are, and simply just balances the battery itself.
The ZBMS however is constantly out of stock, and restocks only a few times each year. The ZBMS retails for $99.99
Maxkgo BMS
Image Credit: Maxkgo
The Maxgko BMS is a Dumb BMS that supports 4s-30s batteries and can support up to 20 amp charging on the battery. It is the second cheapest option available that is widely used, and is readily available. However, the Maxkgo bears a striking resemblance to the ZBMS.
The Maxkgo bms retails for $65.60
Stoked Stock BMS (SSBMS)
Image Credit: Stoked Stock
The Stoked Stock Semi-Dumb BMS is a BMS advertised as being “Semi-Dumb”. It essentially removed the CAN functionality that would normally come with a smart BMS, though comes with an app that allows you to check battery health and information via bluetooth. It is 12s-32s compatible, and can be configured through the app.
The SSBMS retails for $54.98