Lower order control devices control plural battery cells configuring plural battery modules. An input terminal of the low order control device in the highest potential, an output terminal of the low order control device in the lowest potential, and a high order control device are connected by isolating units, photocouplers. Diodes which prevent a discharge current of the battery cells in the battery modules are disposed between the output terminal of the low order control device and the battery cells in the battery module on the low potential side. Terminals related to input/output of a signal are electrically connected without isolating among the plural low order control devices.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/103,639, filed Apr. 12, 2005, (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,091,695, issued Aug. 15, 2006), which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/810,674, filed Mar. 29, 2004, (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,891,352, issued May 10, 2005), which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/079,423, filed Feb. 22, 2002, (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,762,588, issued Jul. 13, 2004), which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-258859, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.
