A device for charging a battery is provided. The device includes a power input terminal including a plurality of alternating current (AC) power lines, a neutral line, and a ground line, a voltage detection unit detecting a voltage between the neutral line and the ground line and outputting a detection voltage, and a control unit determining whether the voltage between the neutral line and the ground line is abnormal based on the detection voltage, and controlling a predetermined operation when the voltage is determined to be abnormal.

Described herein are techniques and mechanisms for modules in a battery stack to provide backup power to their neighbor modules thereby permitting the neighboring cell to activate bypass switches, which can effectively remove a module's associated battery cells from the charge/discharge loop and permit the battery to continue safe operations. This mechanism can be a cost-effective technique of providing backup power.

A battery array comprising a plurality of batteries. Each battery comprises a plurality of stacked battery cells, wherein the battery cells have varying properties. Each battery cell comprises an anode layer; a cathode layer; an ion conducting membrane positioned between the anode layer and the cathode layer; a top layer; a bottom layer; and circuitry disposed on the top layer, bottom layer, or both. The circuitry comprising one or more first circuits for monitoring or controlling the battery cell. Further, the battery comprises a battery control circuit configured to provide electrical interface connections with the circuitry. The battery array comprises a battery array control circuit configured to provide electrical interface connections with the battery control circuits of each battery.