The Onewheel battery will need to be balanced at some point in time, the more you ride the more often you should do it. Balance the Onewheel battery is an easy task to do. Leave your Onewheel plugged into the charger for 24-72 hours. This will allow the battery management system (BMS) to rebalance the cell.
Balancing the cells is an automatic process that starts when the battery pack is fully charged, it’s not dangerous to disconnect the charger during the process, just keep in mind that you will need to perform the balancing at a later time.
When do I need to balance the Onewheel battery?
When the cells are getting unbalanced one or many of them will have a lower voltage than the rest. The result will be that the weak cell is draining faster, as the BMS controller uses the total voltage of the battery pack to calculate the remaining percentage it will show a higher value than the actual.
A weak cell could result in an early nosedive and therefore it’s recommended to keep an eye on the status of your battery pack. If the board starts to drain more quickly then it’s time to balance the cells.
If you have left the board unused for a long period the cells might have been unbalanced as they have different self-discharge rates.
What is Onehweel battery cell balancing?
Onewheel battery cell balancing allows the BMS to level the voltage of every single cell in the battery back. This is done by connecting the board to the charger and letting the system work. Cell balancing is something standard in all modern battery packs and battery management systems. Let it be connected to the charger for 24 to 48 hours. This will reset the battery percentage and rebalance the batteries.
The Onewheel battery reset and process means that the BMS equalizes the voltages and state of charge among the cells in the battery pack when they are at full charge. As no two cells are identical, there are always slight differences in the state of charge, self-discharge rate, capacity, impedance, and temperature characteristics.
How often should you balance your Onewheel battery?
Future Motion Inc. is recommending balancing the battery for at least 24 hours once a week if you are doing a lot of riding. Another factor determining the frequency is, to leave your Onewheel plugged in for at least 24 hours once a week if you’re doing a lot of riding and short charging.
The more often you short-charge the more unbalanced the batteries become. For a normal rider try and balance your battery pack once every month for 24 hours.
| Riding Frequency | Balancing Recommendations |
|---|---|
| Daily | Balancing recommended at least once a week. |
| Weekly | Balance the Onewheel battery every two weeks. |
| Bi-Weekly | Balancing is recommended at least once a week. |
| Monthly | Balance cells every two to three months. |
Infrequent Use | For occasional riders, balance every 4-6 weeks. |
Should I leave my Onewheel charging?
It’s a good idea to leave the Onewheel charging overnight, to allow the battery pack to thoroughly balance the individual cells if they are slightly off-balanced.
Don’t leave your battery charging for a longer period if you are not performing battery balancing. The battery management system will trickle charge the battery and put additional unnecessary stress on the cells.
For longer storage, you need to drain the battery.
How to balance cells Onewheel GT battery
To balance the cells on an Onewheel GT battery you will need to turn off the 90% charging feature. The cells only start to balance when the board is charged to 100%. It’s recommended to every so often turn off the limiter and let the BMS balance the cells. The rest of the time you can set it to 90% charge to extend battery life as long as you don’t need the full charge for your ride.
The GT lightbar shuts off when the board is fully charged and has nothing to do with the balancing of the cells. This has only to do with the SoC, state of charge and the battery. Leave the board connected for 24-48 hours to complete the process.
Conclusion
It’s important to balance the Onewheel battery to keep it functioning and lasting for a long time. A normal rider should balance the battery once every month as long as it’s not in long-term storage.
Are you riding shorter distances or pushing many miles per week, balance the battery more frequently.
For more battery management tips and more information about the battery system check out the Onewheel Battery Guide and Tips.
FAQ Section: Onewheel Battery Balancing
- Q: How often should I balance my Onewheel battery?
- A: The recommended frequency for balancing depends on your riding intensity. Daily riders should aim to balance at least once a week, while less frequent riders can balance every 4-6 weeks.
- Q: Can I disconnect the charger during the battery balancing process?
- A: It’s not dangerous to disconnect the charger during balancing, but keep in mind that you will need to perform the balancing at a later time to ensure optimal cell health.
- Q: What are the signs that my Onewheel battery cells are unbalanced?
- A: Unbalanced cells may lead to quicker battery drain. If your Onewheel is depleting more rapidly than usual, it’s a sign that you should check and balance the cells.
- Q: Is it advisable to leave my Onewheel charging overnight?
- A: Yes, leaving your Onewheel charging overnight is recommended occasionally to allow the battery pack to thoroughly balance individual cells. However, avoid long-term continuous charging without performing balancing.
- Q: How do I balance cells on a Onewheel GT battery?
- A: To balance cells on a Onewheel GT battery, turn off the 90% charging feature occasionally. Let the BMS balance the cells when the board is charged to 100%. Leave the board connected for 24-48 hours to complete the process.
- Q: What happens if I don’t balance my Onewheel battery regularly?
- A: Failure to balance the battery may result in uneven cell voltages, leading to performance issues and a potential early nosedive. Regular balancing ensures consistent and safe operation.
- Q: How long should I leave my Onewheel plugged in for balancing?
- A: For optimal balancing, leave your Onewheel plugged in for 24-72 hours. This allows the Battery Management System (BMS) to rebalance the cell voltages effectively.
