Coin Cell Battery Retainers

This highly reliable array of low-profile, nickel-plated, phosphor bronze retainers from Memory Protection Devices secures a wide range of coin cells. Coin cell retainers from MPD are simple metal contacts that electrically connect coin cells and hold them in place while taking up minimal additional space on the PCB. They feature nickel-plating or gold-plating, and since most coin cells have nickel shells, this helps prevent galvanic corrosion. Galvanic corrosion is an electrochemical process that can damage dissimilar metals that are in electrical contact. These retainers are designed with automation in mind and can be easily picked and placed, with both through-hole and surface-mount retainers available for most coin cell sizes.

In a typical application, the PCB acts as the negative contact. Lower heights, reduced piece counts, and saved costs of the negative terminal and its assembly are just a few of the design advantages of retainers. The shape and size of the negative pads are not critical, but the plating is. Designers should never use tin or solder paste for the surface material. Nickel or gold is very suitable to act as the negative contact on a PCB.