Battery holder mounts types

Battery holder mounts
Battery holder mounts usually refer to the way the battery holder itself is slotted, secured or attached onto or into the main body of the item being powered. Note, however, that the term ‘battery mount’ is also used to refer to the method by which individual cells are held in place within the overall holder unit.

Battery holder mounts and battery mounts are usually present as an integral part of a complete holder unit, but you can also buy battery mounts cheaply as swap-out or replacement parts. They can come in many different configurations and designs, with some of the more common types being:

Chassis mount
Panel mount
PCB mount
Slide-in mount (usually refers to the battery insertion method)
Snap-in mount (usually refers to the battery insertion method)
Strap & lead mount (a battery connector, rather than a holder per se)
Surface mount
Through-hole mount
Wire lead mount (refers to connection type)
In this section, we’ll look at some of the most widely used battery mount types in everyday use

Chassis Mount Battery Holders

A chassis mount battery holder denotes one intended to be affixed to a surface plate within the main body of the device being powered, and will usually remain in place while batteries are being swapped. A chassis mount holder is usually attached either via fixing holes in the back of the casing - i.e. a through-hole mount - or via tabs located around the sides of the battery holder.

Chassis mount battery holders can be either metal or plastic, open faced or enclosed (i.e. with or without a cover), and are commonly designed to accept a wide range of cell sizes including AA, AAA, C, D and 9V PP3


Panel Mount Battery Holders

A panel mount battery holder is designed to be slotted into a pre-existing cavity in the side, top or back exterior panel of a device, and removed entirely as a single self-contained unit when it’s time to swap out the batteries. They’re often manufactured such that the cover of the battery holder will sit flush with the device’s panel once inserted

Panel mount battery holders are most commonly secured in place via one of two methods - either via a screw-in system for optimal stability or with a flange for easier removal and reinsertion.


PCB Mount Battery Holders

As the name implies, a PCB mount battery holder is intended for applications where the battery holder needs to be installed directly onto a printed circuit board

The most common design is for the PCB mount holder to include several small sharp pins around its perimeter - these are pushed directly through the surface of the PCB and then soldered on from the rear side

Holders for PCB mounted batteries can be made from metal or plastic. While they’re frequently built to accommodate single coin cells, such as you might find on a typical computer motherboard, they can also be configured to allow for multiple cells and other battery types, including cylindrical AAA, AA, C, or D cells


Slide In Mount Battery Holders

As noted above, a slide-in mount battery holder will generally refer to the way the individual cells are inserted into and removed from the battery holder as a whole.

Slide-in mounts are arguably the most common type of battery connection/terminal setup, requiring the user simply to ‘drop’ the cells into place either lengthways or side-on, at which point they’re either held in place by opposing forces from the two terminals, or secured with a cover or cap

Slide-in battery mounts tend to be among the cheapest and most cost-effective choices to buy in the UK for quickly and simply inserting a cell into an appropriate holder. They work reliably well, and are most often seen in molded plastic or metal battery holders incorporating self-contained battery compartments.


Snap-In Mount Battery Holders

A snap-in mount battery holder (sometimes called snap-on, depending on the manufacturer or supplier) denotes a terminal/contact setup where the cell is held more securely in place. 

This is usually achieved using tensioned metal clips, sometimes incorporating springs, through which the battery needs to be pushed with a small amount of force before it clicks into place ready for use. Snap-in battery mounts give the device greater protection against accidental cell power loss during movement, vibration and shock

The term ‘snap-in’ or ‘snap-on’ is also widely used to refer to the standard contact types used on 9V cells (see Strap and lead battery holders, below).


Strap And Lead Battery Holders

Strap and lead battery holders aren’t actually holders per se, but rather a method of directly attaching a freestanding cell to an electronic device or motor without the use of an entire housing unit.

They generally consist of a wire, which is designed to be hooked up to the circuitry of the device via tinned ends, combined with a flat plastic terminal pad that attaches to the contacts of a battery via two press studs

The strap and lead battery holder type is most often used with 9V