STMicroelectronics AEK-POW-BMSHOLD

Overview

AEK-POW-BMSHOLD from STMicroelectronics is a 14-slot mechanical battery holder for INR 18650 cylindrical cells, designed to interface with ST's BMS evaluation boards (AEK-POW-BMS63EN, AEK-POW-BMSWTX, etc.) in automotive-grade battery pack prototyping. It provides series-connected cell terminals, integrated 100 mΩ/10 W current-sensing resistor, five 10 kΩ ±1% NTC thermistors, stackable mechanical structure, and a satin-ribbon-assisted cell removal mechanism.

For engineers reviewing the AEK-POW-BMSHOLD datasheet, AEK-POW-BMSHOLD pinout, AEK-POW-BMSHOLD application, or AEK-POW-BMSHOLD equivalent, this kit supports rapid validation of L9963E/L9963T-based centralized and dual-ring BMS topologies, SoC/SoH estimation via AutoDevKit Studio, low-side current sensing, and thermal monitoring across 14-series-cell stacks.

Technical Context

The AEK-POW-BMSHOLD serves as a physical battery pack mockup enabling hardware-in-the-loop testing of ST's daisy-chainable BMS nodes. Its 4-pole Mammoth connector delivers VBAT+, VBAT−, ISenseP/ISenseM, and supports up to 10 A continuous current with external 100 mΩ sensing.

It integrates dedicated crimped 30-pin connector for BMS node attachment: pins 1–16 carry cell voltages (VBAT1–VBAT14), pins 17–18 are ext GND, pins 19–20 route sense signals, and pins 21–30 connect five NTCs (odd/blue = NTC+, even/yellow = NTC−) for per-cell temperature monitoring.

Key Specifications

Availability

AEK-POW-BMSHOLD is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for automotive BMS prototyping, industrial energy storage validation, and academic battery system research requiring stable component supply and repeatable mechanical integration with ST's L9963E/L9963T evaluation ecosystem.

Supply support for AEK-POW-BMSHOLD includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

STMicroelectronics is a global semiconductor leader headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, specializing in automotive, industrial, and power management ICs with broad functional safety and AEC-Q100 qualification coverage.

AEK-POW-BMSHOLD belongs to ST's AutoDevKit ecosystem - a modular, plug-and-play evaluation platform designed specifically to accelerate development of ISO 26262-compliant battery management systems using L9963E analog front-ends and L9963T isolated SPI transceivers.

FAQ

Does AEK-POW-BMSHOLD include batteries or BMS evaluation boards?

No. The kit contains only the mechanical holder, 14-cell slots, 100 mΩ/10 W sense resistor, five 10 kΩ ±1% NTCs, satin ribbon, M3 mounting hardware, and 30-pin crimped connector. Batteries and BMS boards (e.g., AEK-POW-BMS63EN) are sold separately and must be ordered independently.

What is the maximum number of AEK-POW-BMSHOLD units that can be safely stacked?

Up to four units may be mechanically stacked using the included M3 screws and spacers; however, practical stacking is limited by total weight and structural stability. ST recommends verifying mechanical integrity and thermal dissipation when exceeding three layers in active load conditions.

How are the NTC thermistors wired and calibrated in the AEK-POW-BMSHOLD?

Five NTCs are pre-wired with blue cables (odd pins 21,23,25,27,29) as NTC+ and yellow cables (even pins 22,24,26,28,30) as NTC−. They use Vishay NTCALUG02A103F characteristics (10 kΩ at 25°C, ±1% tolerance), and AutoDevKit Studio applies extended Kalman filtering using LG INR18650-MJ1 characterization data.

Can AEK-POW-BMSHOLD supply power to external loads like motors or LEDs?

Yes - the Mammoth connector's pin 1 (VBAT+) and pin 4 (VBAT−) provide full-stack voltage output. When used with the included 100 mΩ/10 W resistor, it supports ≤10 A continuous load. For higher current, users may add parallel resistors, but thermal management and connector derating must be verified per application.