What is a Battery Holder?
A battery holder or a battery mount is an integrated or separate cavity to hold cells. If it is a separate compartment, it can be attached to a cell-powered device. It is used to hold the cells securely and power the device it is attached to. The primary function of a battery holder is to facilitate the power supply to the device it is attached to. External connections can be made to the cells in the battery holder through lugs soldered to the cell-powered device, wire leads, snap terminals, or it can be mounted on PCBs via pins.
Choosing the right Battery Holder.
The kind of battery holder required depends on the below factors:
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Size of the batteries being used (AAA, AA, C, D, etc.)
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Number of cells being used
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Compatibility of the cells being used with the battery holder
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Contact and terminal style
Most battery holders are specifically manufactured for a particular type of batteries. However, many battery holders will be compatible with similar batteries with different chemistries. One point to note here is that if a battery holder houses batteries of different chemistries at the same time, the power being delivered will be in line with the weakest battery. Hence, using batteries with the same chemistry is advisable for optimum performance.
Types of Battery Holder Mounts.
The way the battery holder is attached to the cell-powered device is known as the battery holder mount. The different types of battery mounts are:
Panel Mount:
A panel mount battery holder is a separate compartment designed to hold cells. It can be inserted into a cavity in the device that needs power. It can be removed when the batteries need to be changed. They are inserted in the device cavity by screwing in or have flange panels.
Slide-In Mount:
In this type of mount, the cells are inserted and removed by sliding in or out. They are the most commonly used mounts and also economical. When a cell is slid in place, it is held by a cover or by the opposing force of two terminals. This type of mount is quite reliable, too.
Chassis Mount:
This type of mount is fixed inside the main body of the device to a surface plate. These mounts come in plastic as well as metal.
PCB Mount:
As the name suggests, the PCB mount is for when the battery needs to be on a PCB. It has sharp pins around the perimeter which can be used to fix it on a PCB. Usually, they are used to hold coin cells. However, PCB mounts are also made for AAA or AA cells.
Strap & Lead:
They are not entire housing units, but make it possible to attach a battery to an electronic device or holder. It just has a wire and two press studs to hold a cell. Replacement of the cell becomes easy in this method.
Snap-In Mount:
It consists of tensioned metal clips to hold a cell securely in place. The battery is to be pushed into the housing until it snaps in place. This type of mount is best suited for systems prone to shocks and vibrations.
Wire Lead Mount:
This type of mount provides a good level of flexibility in terms of the places where it can be used. It has two wire leads at one end while the other end can be fixed to the device being powered.
Surface Mount:
This type of mount is usually used for coin cells. It lies flat inside the device or within a circuit. It is open-faced and has button terminal contacts.
Through-Hole Surface Mount:
This is best suited to hold batteries where space is a constraint. Instead of being inserted into a cavity in a device, it is fixed on the surface of the device through holes.
Battery holders are often not taken seriously enough when designing systems. However, a reliable battery holder is an important component that contributes to the reliability of the entire system.
