PCB Battery contacts - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: djococaud
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2017, 08:02:10 am
content: Hi everyone...Not sure if I'm on the right topic category...I need to power a new design with 3 AA or AAA batteries (very low power). I'm not sure what PCB connector is the best...which type of battery PCB connectors would you prefer to use ? (The batteries will be held in place by a plastic case surrounding the PCB...)(I think the 306A model is more mechanically robust, but takes more room on the PCB)Thank's guys !

author: hcglitte
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2017, 01:15:39 pm
content: You could use a battery pack and solder the wires to the pcb, and then secure the holder by adhesive tape. Make sure you use holes to enter the wires through, the solder them in new pads - for robustness.Something like this:https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3-x-AA-Battery-Storage-Case-Plastic-Box-Holder-with-Cable-Lead-for-3-Packs-Standard/32731341682.html

author: floobydust
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2017, 06:23:10 pm
content: Those battery clips are not enough - you need something to hold the batteries and center them. I find the batteries fall out if the PCB is bumped. Don't make the mistake of running PCB traces under batteries, they can chafe and short.I suggest a battery holder with plastic body and PCB pins, like MPD makes i.e :BC3AAPCAll you need are two screws to mount to PCB.For high vibration, you might PCB holes for a tie-wrap or a strap.

author: djococaud
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2017, 09:02:21 am
content: Thanks.A battery pack with soldered wires is not ideal for mass production though. A pick an place (or hand place) then wave reflow process is better.The batteries will be held in place by the plastic case and it's battery cover (as pretty much all mass produced things (think about TV remotes)).(The circuit practicaly won't be subect to vibrations at all).I only have concern about contact quality of these two type of connectors...

author: Kean
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 06, 2017, 11:49:28 am
content: So if you have an enclosure around the batteries, do you really need a more robust connector?Surely the housing can be designed to hold the other contacts? Or is the housing design already set in stone?

author: hcglitte
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2017, 11:59:30 am
content: I once saw a clip that can be placed by p&p where the clip is placed through a thin rectangular slot in the PCB (so the battery will be on the opposite side as to where the clip is soldered). But I think this was a custom clip which then was tape and reeled with custom tape etc. They had big volume.

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2017, 12:12:17 pm
content: I would, and do, use spring tabs like the second picture.I do not like folded metal tabs. Battery lengths and diameters are not quite so standard as you might think, there's fairly considerable variation in my experience. More so with the modern types like Lithium-Ion cells where you have protected and unprotected and a few quite similar sizes (19670, 18650, 17670..) but also AA and AAA cells have some variance between manufacturers.Spring tabs make it much easier to insert and remove cells which are even in the rough-ballpark of being "nominal size".Also folded metal tabs have the tendency to catch on the, for want of a better word, wrapping around the cell, and could potentially short out pos to case.3D printed frame for "somewhere around" 18650 cells.

author: Kean
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 06, 2017, 12:41:08 pm
content: Quote from: sleemanj on September 06, 2017, 12:12:17 pmAnd so much easier to also use a Batteriser!

author: TIOUK
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2017, 03:39:07 pm
content: I have used these sucessfully for AA size.http://uk.farnell.com/keystone/53/battery-clip-a-aa-tht/dp/2293266

author: djococaud
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2017, 06:22:14 am
content: Thanks all for your feedback !I will discuss it with the guy who will design the case...