REVERSE BATTERY PROTECTION FOR BATTERY-POWERED DEVICES

Reverse battery protection circuits for devices powered by parallel-coupled batteries. Each reverse battery protection circuit includes one first P-channel, one second P-channel and one first N-channel MOSFETs. Each positive battery terminal connector of a battery-powered device is coupled to a drain of the first P-channel and gates of the first N-channel and second P-channel MOSFETs. Each negative battery terminal connector of the battery-powered device is coupled to a source of the first N-channel and, via a resistor, to the gates of the first N-channel and the second P-channel MOSFETs. The battery-powered device is connected between a first node of a common connection of the sources of the first and second P-channel MOSFETs and a second node connected to the negative battery terminal connector. In the event of a reverse battery connection, one or more of the protection circuit's P-channel and N-channel MOSFETS can switch to a non-conductive state to isolate the battery-powered device's load from an incorrectly installed battery and prevent the incorrectly installed battery from prematurely discharging. In some embodiments, the load can be powered by a single correctly-installed battery.Fig. 15