BATTERY PROTECTION CIRCUIT AND METHOD FOR HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENTS

A clamshell battery for a portable radio provides protection from excessive current for operation under HazLoc environments. Three loops of current protection are provided to protect two energy storage elements (cells and bulk capacitor). The first current loop blocks current from one cell pack from charging cells in another cell pack, and also constrains cell pack discharge current to be below a safety threshold. The second loop blocks a reverse current loop from the bulk capacitor to the cell pack, and constrains a high forward current loop from the cell pack to the bulk capacitor. The third loop blocks excessive forward current looping from bulk capacitor to the battery, and constrains high reverse current looping from radio device capacitors/load to the bulk capacitor.