What BAT-BMS can talk to

BAT-BMS is not a universal remote for every battery ever made. It communicates with a specific family of Bluetooth-enabled BMS modules — the kind fitted inside lithium packs to manage and protect the cells. The app is the dashboard; the BMS is the brain. If your pack has a compatible Bluetooth BMS inside, the app will read it. If it has none, or a non-Bluetooth module, no app can help.

Supported chemistries

The BMS, not the app, decides which chemistry is supported. Most modules BAT-BMS pairs with handle the common lithium families:

  • LiFePO4 (lithium iron phosphate) — the popular choice for solar, RVs, and backups. Nominal 3.2 V per cell, safe and long-lived.
  • Lithium-ion (NMC/NCA) — common in e-bikes and power tools. Nominal 3.6 to 3.7 V per cell, 4.2 V full.
  • Lithium polymer — found in compact builds. Same voltage range as lithium-ion, different physical form.

Lead-acid and NiMH packs are not managed by these modules and are outside the app's scope.

Configurations and cell counts

BAT-BMS reads whatever cell count the BMS reports. Common builds range from 4S up to 16S and beyond. You set the cell count in the app's settings to match your pack so the voltage limits land in the right place. Get this wrong and the protection triggers either too early or not at all.

How to check before you connect

The simplest check: does your pack have a Bluetooth BMS, and does its app ecosystem match BAT-BMS? If the module advertises Bluetooth and uses the com.bms.grenergy family, you are in business. If you are buying a pack, ask the seller which BMS is inside. A compatible BMS is worth more than a slightly cheaper cell.

Independent note

This guide describes the general classes BAT-BMS works with. For an exact compatibility list, check the BMS module maker's documentation — we cannot test every module.

A word on mixing cells

Whatever the chemistry, never mix cells of different age, capacity, or brand in one pack. The BMS can only protect what it can see, and mismatched cells drift hard and fast. A matched pack with a good BMS outlives a mixed bag every time. The lithium basics guide explains why.