This week’s EYE ON NPI (video) is from a supplier that will challenge your expectations! It’s Challenge Electronics’ IP68/IP65 Waterproof Battery Holders – a series of durable, waterproof battery cases that will do great at powering your board, even in intense dusty and wet conditions!
Challenge Electronics’ IP-rated battery holders provide a low-profile form factor with a watertight seal. Designed for AA and AAA batteries, these holders feature a sleek and easy-to-integrate design ensuring waterproof mounting under the harshest environments to save time in the design cycle.
A lot of electronic devices these days are designed to be sealed plastic enclosures – and if they are battery powered, the battery is a LiPoly that is tucked inside and recharged. But there’s a lot to be said for common AA and AAA batteries. These are available anywhere around the world, instantly recognizable, and come in various temperature grades and recharability. For user-or-field replacement, or in use of extreme temperatures, they’ve still got a place in product design.
The down-side is that battery cases are often plastic-retained clips that allow dust, humidity, and spilled-diet-coke in, which can cause icky corrosion to the steel or tin terminals.
This Flickr image shows a similar self-corroding affect, but having dampness won’t help!
Challenge’s battery holders are compact, but have 4 screws for secure closure and a built-in gasket that will get you IP65-level sealing. That means fully dust-tight and water-proof to jets of water. Note this doesn’t mean you can dunk it underwater – for that you’d need IP67 or IP68 – these are better for outdoor use or in some industrial settings where there may be liquids flying around.
Challenge Electronics makes Waterproof Battery Holders in three varieties, with AA and AAA sizes. All have the same IP65 rating. If we had to pick one, the 3xAA will give you a good 2500-4000mAh and 3.6V to 4.5V nominal, great for powering a 3.3V LDO project, and AA’s are the most common battery. All three types are available right now at Digi-Key for immediate shipment. Book and order today and it will ship immediately so you can have it in your hand tomorrow afternoon.
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