Epec's Blog | Electronics Manufacturing Solutions

Battery management systems (BMS) are safety devices integrated into battery packs to monitor the cells during charging and discharging phases. These systems can activate safety controls when problems arise while logging data that you can use to evaluate the cell's stability. When functioning properly, the BMS can improve the efficiency and longevity of the battery pack. Unfortunately, BMS design flaws may cause serious risks and failures to cells.

Many engineers and buyers assume that printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturers are only interested in large production volume orders. It is an easy conclusion to draw. High-volume manufacturing often dominates industry conversations, and many suppliers structure their operations around scale. But the reality is very different for companies like Epec, which specializes in high mix, low/medium volume-engineered products like PCBs.

Typically, when stiffeners and adhesives are thought of, they are only considered for flexible PCBs rather than rigid-flex PCBs. In reality, stiffeners can be applied to rigid-flex designs just as they are in flexible circuits.

Products that use battery packs may require certification through national and international quality and safety organizations. These regulations ensure that the battery packs meet compliance standards for packaging, transportation, use, storage, and disposal.

If you have ever walked across a carpeted floor in the winter and touched a metal doorknob, you have experienced electrostatic discharge firsthand. The quick snap and jolt may be surprising, but for most people, it is harmless and quickly forgotten. For electronics, however, that same event can be far more serious.

Tariffs have become an increasingly important part of global trade policy and supply chain planning. For manufacturers, importers, and product developers, understanding how U.S. tariffs are created and enforced can help clarify why certain materials or components suddenly become more expensive or harder to source.

Printed circuit board assemblies used inside battery packs operate in a uniquely demanding environment. They are often enclosed, exposed to temperature swings, subjected to charge and discharge cycles, and expected to perform reliably for years without service.

At the conclusion of our webinar, Navigating UL and CSA Standards for Flexible Heaters Used in Industrial Equipment, we had several questions submitted to our presenter, Steven J. Goodman, Product Manager of User Interfaces and Cable Assemblies at Epec. We have compiled these questions into a readable format on our blog.

When a printed circuit board (PCB) overheats in the field, the root cause often traces back to one simple question that was never fully answered during layout: how much current is really flowing through each trace? Trace sizing and copper weight decisions may seem routine, but small assumptions at this stage can lead to voltage drop, excessive heat, and long-term reliability problems.

Medical devices using portable battery packs require special design considerations to ensure optimal power for these devices while upholding the highest levels of safety. The medical devices can use lithium-ion, lithium metal, lead acid, NiMH, silver-oxide, and alkaline battery cells based on power requirements and usage. The battery packs cannot malfunction when in use, during sterilization, or when placed into storage.