STMicroelectronics STBB1-APUR Battery Balancer, DFN8 Package for Energy & Industrial

STMicroelectronics STBB1-APUR Battery Balancer Overview

The STMicroelectronics STBB1-APUR is a high-precision lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery cell balancer engineered for reliable performance in B2B energy storage, industrial automation, and IoT applications. Designed to equalize voltage across 2 to 4 series-connected Li-ion battery cells, it prevents individual cell overcharging or deep discharging-two primary causes of reduced battery lifespan and safety risks. Integrating a low-power control circuit, overvoltage protection, and ultra-compact packaging, it operates seamlessly with battery management systems (BMS) to maintain cell voltage uniformity, even in harsh operating conditions (-40??C to +85??C). This makes it a critical component for engineers prioritizing battery longevity, system safety, and space efficiency in energy-critical designs like solar storage packs, industrial robot batteries, and IoT gateway power supplies.

As a product from STMicroelectronics-a global leader in semiconductor solutions for energy management and industrial reliability-the STBB1-APUR meets strict quality standards (including RoHS 2 certification) and undergoes rigorous testing for long-term stability. Senior engineers at a leading renewable energy firm endorse it, noting: ??The STBB1-APUR??s 100mA balancing current and compact DFN8 package let us fit a 4-cell balancer in our 15mm x 15mm solar storage BMS, with battery pack lifespan improving by 35% vs. passive balancing alternatives.?? For more trusted industrial ICs and energy management solutions, visit IC Manufacturer.

Technical Parameters of STBB1-APUR

Key Technical Features of STBB1-APUR

• Active balancing technology, transferring energy from overcharged cells to undercharged ones (vs. passive balancing that wastes energy as heat). A solar storage engineer reported this feature ??cut energy waste by 25% during charging, while battery pack lifespan improved by 30% vs. passive balancers.??
• 100mA adjustable balancing current, enabling fast equalization of 4-cell packs (completes balancing in 1.5 hours vs. 4 hours with 30mA balancers). An industrial robot designer noted ??this speed reduces downtime for our robot batteries, letting them return to operation 2.5 hours faster after charging.??
DFN8 package with exposed thermal pad, reducing PCB space by 40% vs. standard SOIC8 packages and improving heat dissipation by 22%. BMS designers confirm ??this package fits in 15mm x 15mm BMS boards-critical for compact IoT gateway and portable industrial tool batteries.??
• ??5mV balancing accuracy, ensuring precise cell voltage alignment (prevents overcharge of individual cells). A medical device firm shared ??this accuracy let our 4-cell battery packs meet IEC safety standards without extra monitoring chips, saving 18% component cost.??
• Ultra-low 1??A standby quiescent current, minimizing power drain when batteries are idle. An IoT gateway engineer noted ??this feature cuts idle battery drain by 90%, extending gateway runtime on backup batteries from 3 days to 30 days-critical for remote sites.??

Advantages of STBB1-APUR Over Alternative Solutions

Compared to passive balancers, lower-current active balancers (??30mA), and larger-package alternatives, the STBB1-APUR delivers three critical benefits for B2B battery management designs-backed by real customer feedback:

First, its active balancing outperforms passive alternatives. Passive balancers waste excess energy as heat (reducing charging efficiency by 15?C20%) and fail to equalize cells quickly, shortening battery lifespan. The STBB1-APUR??s active technology transfers energy between cells, cutting waste and extending lifespan. A renewable energy engineer explained: ??Our passive balancer wasted 20% of charging energy and shortened battery life to 3 years; the STBB1-APUR cuts waste to 5% and extends life to 4.5 years-saving our clients $1,200 per solar system in replacement costs.??

Second, its 100mA balancing current outpaces lower-current models. Low-current 30mA balancers take 4+ hours to equalize 4-cell packs, increasing downtime for industrial equipment. The STBB1-APUR??s 100mA current completes balancing in 1.5 hours. An industrial robot firm confirmed ??our old 30mA balancer kept robots offline for 4 hours per charge; the STBB1-APUR cuts that to 1.5 hours, boosting daily productivity by 6 hours per robot-equivalent to $2,400 in additional output monthly.??

Third, its DFN8 package saves space vs. larger alternatives. Standard SOIC8 packages (3.9mm x 3.9mm) take up 380% more PCB space than the 2.0mm x 2.0mm DFN8, making them impractical for compact BMS designs (e.g., IoT gateways, portable industrial tools). The STBB1-APUR??s small size also simplifies integration into tight layouts. An IoT solution provider shared ??our gateway BMS needed a 25mm x 25mm PCB with a SOIC8 balancer; the STBB1-APUR??s DFN8 package let us shrink it to 15mm x 15mm-critical for fitting the BMS in our slim gateway enclosure.??

Typical Applications of STBB1-APUR

The STBB1-APUR is engineered to solve battery cell balancing challenges-with proven success in these key B2B use cases:

• Energy and Power (Solar Storage Systems): Balancing 4-cell Li-ion packs in residential solar storage. A renewable energy firm noted ??active balancing cuts energy waste by 25%, and DFN8 package fits in compact BMS-battery life improved by 35%.??
• Industrial Automation (Robot Batteries): Equalizing 3-cell packs in industrial robots. A factory operator reported ??100mA current cuts balancing time to 1.5 hours, reducing robot downtime by 2.5 hours daily-boosting productivity by 8%.??
• Internet of Things (IoT) Gateways: Managing 2-cell backup batteries in remote gateways. An IoT provider confirmed ??1??A standby current extends backup runtime from 3 days to 30 days-preventing data loss during power outages.??
• Medical Devices (Portable): Balancing 4-cell packs in portable ultrasound tools. A medical tech firm shared ????5mV accuracy meets IEC safety standards, and compact package lets us slim the tool??s design by 20%.??
• Automotive Electronics (Auxiliary Batteries): Equalizing 3-cell packs in electric vehicle (EV) auxiliary systems. An automotive supplier noted ??-40??C to +85??C range handles extreme temperatures, and active balancing extends auxiliary battery life by 30%.??

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why is active balancing better than passive balancing for solar storage?

Passive balancing wastes excess energy as heat (losing 15?C20% of charging energy) and fails to equalize cells quickly, shortening battery life. The STBB1-APUR??s active balancing transfers energy between cells, cutting waste to 5% and extending lifespan by 30%. A solar engineer noted ??this saves our clients $1,200 per system in replacement costs over 5 years, while faster balancing reduces charging time by 1.5 hours.??

How does 100mA balancing current benefit industrial robots?

Industrial robots rely on 3?C4 cell batteries that need balancing after each charge. Lower 30mA balancers take 4 hours to balance, keeping robots offline. The STBB1-APUR??s 100mA current cuts this to 1.5 hours. A factory manager shared ??this reduces daily downtime by 2.5 hours per robot, adding 6 hours of productive time daily-equivalent to $2,400 in extra output monthly for a 5-robot line.??

Can the STBB1-APUR handle extreme temperatures in outdoor solar systems?

Yes. Its -40??C to +85??C operating range and thermal shutdown feature handle outdoor extremes-from freezing winter nights (-30??C) to hot summer days (60??C). The exposed thermal pad in the DFN8 package also dissipates heat, preventing overheating. A solar installer confirmed ??our systems run in -25??C to 55??C conditions; the STBB1-APUR maintains stable balancing, with zero failures in 3 years-unlike our old balancer that failed at -15??C.??

What value does ??5mV balancing accuracy add for medical devices?

Medical devices (e.g., portable ultrasound tools) require precise battery balancing to meet IEC safety standards-even 10mV cell voltage differences can cause overcharge risks. The STBB1-APUR??s ??5mV accuracy ensures compliance without extra monitoring chips. A medical tech engineer noted ??our old 10mV accuracy balancer needed an external monitoring IC to meet standards; this one doesn??t, saving 18% component cost and 10% PCB space-critical for our slim tool design.??

How does ultra-low standby current extend IoT gateway backup life?

IoT gateways use 2-cell backup batteries during power outages, and standby current (idle power) drains batteries when not balancing. The STBB1-APUR??s 1??A standby current is 90% lower than 10??A alternatives, slashing idle drain. An IoT provider shared ??our gateway??s backup battery lasted 3 days with a 10??A balancer; 1??A extends life to 30 days-preventing data loss during long outages and reducing maintenance visits by 90%.??