Patent ID: 8133287

Claim:
A method of controlling arc formation within a battery pack, said battery pack comprised of a plurality of cells arranged in a parallel configuration, a first collector plate and a second collect plate, said method comprising the steps of: electrically coupling a first terminal of each of said plurality of cells, except for a first cell, to said first collector plate with a first plurality of fusible interconnects; electrically coupling a second terminal of each of said plurality of cells, except for said first cell, to said second collector plate with a said second plurality of fusible interconnects; configuring a first fusible interconnect to fuse after said first plurality of fusible interconnects fuse and after said second plurality of fusible interconnects fuse, wherein said first fusible interconnect is not one of said first and second pluralities of interconnects, electrically coupling a first terminal of said first cell to said first collector plate with said first fusible interconnect; configuring a second fusible interconnect to fuse after said first plurality of fusible interconnects fuse and after said second plurality of fusible interconnects fuse, wherein said second fusible interconnect is not one of said first and second pluralities of interconnects; electrically coupling a second terminal of said first cell to said second collector plate with said second fusible interconnect; and implementing an arc suppression system with said first cell, wherein said arc suppression system is only implemented on said first cell of said plurality of cells.