A battery disconnect unit for selectively coupling a battery pack to a load, comprising: a charging relay, a pre-charging relay, and first and second contactors (70, 74); a base portion configured to hold the first and second contactors (70, 74), the pre-charging relay, and the charging relay, thereon; a circuit board having first, second, third, and fourth bus bars (90, 92, 94, 96) coupled thereto extending outwardly from the circuit board for coupling to terminals (214, 216; 234, 236) of the contactors (70, 74) that are not disposed directly underneath the circuit board; the first and second bus bars (90, 92) being electrically coupled to first and second terminals (214, 216), respectively, of the first contactor, the first bus bar further configured to be electrically coupled to a first node and a positive terminal of the battery pack, the second bus bar further configured to be electrically coupled to a second node; and the third and fourth bus bars (94, 96) being electrically coupled to third and fourth terminals (234, 236), respectively, of the second contactor, the third bus bar further configured to be electrically coupled to a negative terminal of the battery pack, the fourth bus bar further configured to be electrically coupled to a third node; wherein the load is electrically coupled between the second and third node (270, 280) when coupled to the battery disconnect unit; and wherein the circuit board further includes a pre-charging resistor disposed thereon, the pre-charging relay and the pre-charging resistor being coupled in series with one another, and further coupled in parallel to the first contactor, and configured such that a first control signal induces the pre-charging relay to connect the battery pack through the pre-charging resistor to the load, and a second control signal induces the second contactor to connect the battery pack to the load, for pre-charging the load. a charging relay, a pre-charging relay, and first and second contactors (70, 74); a base portion configured to hold the first and second contactors (70, 74), the pre-charging relay, and the charging relay, thereon; a circuit board having first, second, third, and fourth bus bars (90, 92, 94, 96) coupled thereto extending outwardly from the circuit board for coupling to terminals (214, 216; 234, 236) of the contactors (70, 74) that are not disposed directly underneath the circuit board; the first and second bus bars (90, 92) being electrically coupled to first and second terminals (214, 216), respectively, of the first contactor, the first bus bar further configured to be electrically coupled to a first node and a positive terminal of the battery pack, the second bus bar further configured to be electrically coupled to a second node; and the third and fourth bus bars (94, 96) being electrically coupled to third and fourth terminals (234, 236), respectively, of the second contactor, the third bus bar further configured to be electrically coupled to a negative terminal of the battery pack, the fourth bus bar further configured to be electrically coupled to a third node; wherein the load is electrically coupled between the second and third node (270, 280) when coupled to the battery disconnect unit; and wherein the circuit board further includes a pre-charging resistor disposed thereon, the pre-charging relay and the pre-charging resistor being coupled in series with one another, and further coupled in parallel to the first contactor, and configured such that a first control signal induces the pre-charging relay to connect the battery pack through the pre-charging resistor to the load, and a second control signal induces the second contactor to connect the battery pack to the load, for pre-charging the load.