DISCRETE BATTERY PACK DISCONNECT CIRCUIT

In a power tool (10) having a brushless motor (28) and a battery receptacle for receiving a battery pack (20), a battery disconnect circuit (300) is provided between the battery receptacle and power switches for driving the motor (28). The battery disconnect circuit (300) disconnects the supply of power from the battery pack (20) if the current draw from the battery pack exceeds a current threshold for a given duration of time. The current threshold is smaller than a first current level associated a current profile of a fuse of the battery pack but larger than a second current level associated with a second current profile associated with the power switches.