New sensor to detect water in Electric Vehicle (EV) battery packs by Amphenol Advanced Sensors

Amphenol Advanced Sensors, a company comprised of industry-leading sensor brands now offers its Coolant Leak Detection Sensor for use in Electric/Hybrid Electric Vehicles (EV/HEV) to detect the presence of water and coolant in the vehicle's battery pack enclosure.

Capable of detecting even small amounts of water/coolant, the Battery Management System (BMS) alerts the operator to take proper countermeasures to reduce the risk of pack failure and possible electrocution hazards.

Recent widespread implementation of large format battery-powered industrial equipment, stationary power, and road vehicles has presented some unique engineering challenges in onboard diagnostics (OBD) and fault detection for long-term, low maintenance battery systems. One of the most significant challenges is to ensure the safety and reliability of these power management systems is the presence of water.

For diagnostics, the sensor includes a 510kΩ resistor in parallel with two plated contacts for open/short circuit detection. Its small footprint allows for various mounting positions, along with custom length wire leads and connector options. The Coolant Leak Detection Sensor is validated against aggressive automotive standards and includes 2D barcode for full traceability requirements.