Thermal Switches

**RevengeoftheSeth** · 09-11-2010, 03:58 PM

Found something called a 'thermal switch' today. It's used for rechargeable batteries and cuts off the circuit to the charge port when the batteries get too hot and automatically resets when the batteries cool back down again. Pretty cool basic contraption for safety. Not sure how often PCBs fail, but could be a good backup. They are really small, too.

Does anyone have experience with these?

**Ronan** · 09-11-2010, 06:07 PM

I have used them before. Not for sabers though.

They do just as you say, but careful... they can be temperamental.

**acerocket** · 09-11-2010, 07:27 PM

Most of the Li-ion cells I get have a thermal protection circuit (as well as a charge/discharge/short protection PCB) built in.

**RevengeoftheSeth** · 09-11-2010, 10:06 PM

Yeah, I usually only buy the protected Li-Ions, too.

I guess the bigger question was - does the protection ever fail or is it very infrequent?

**Novastar** · 09-12-2010, 02:02 AM

I've used Li-Ion cells since 2005.

I've never once had a protection cell fail, although I have certainly found ways to "trip" the little cut-off circuits many times over.

I don't imagine the small PCBs will fail any sooner than any other well-taken-care-of circuit board. Short of SMASHING a component on them or leaving them out in the rain, etc. ... I would forsee few problems if any.

The Li-Ion PCB is there to "save yer butt"!!

And it does so in many ways.