Military Battery Connection Option

Status: Draft
Project: Enigma-NG
Author: Izzyonstage & GitHub Copilot
Version: v.0.1.0
Associated Hardware Revision: Rev A
Last Updated: 2026-04-26

1. Purpose

This document captures a candidate replacement for the current Power Module smart-battery connector. It exists to hold the military / NetWarrior-style option details separately from the main Power Module design until the connector pin mapping, sourcing, and mechanical integration are confirmed.

This is not yet the official Power Module battery connector.

2. Candidate Connector

Item	Value
Manufacturer	Glenair
Candidate part	807-216-00ZNU6-6DY
Distributor / source	Heilind
Heilind SKU	GLE807-216-00ZNU6-6DY
Product page	https://www.heilind.com/gle807-216-00znu6-6dy.html
Reference datasheet markdown	Glenair-807-216-datasheet.md
Connector class	NetWarrior / military battery style circular connector
Contact count	6 positions
Mounting style	Vertical PCB mount receptacle
Keying note	Trailing Y keying is the verified standard battery keying for this connector family and is specifically associated with LI-145 battery use

2.1 Additional vendor lead

An additional rugged circular-connector lead is also being tracked:

Item	Value
Manufacturer	ODU
Family	ODU AMC NP
Product page	https://odu-connectors.com/uk/products/circular-connectors/odu-amc-np/
Current state	User has contacted ODU sales for more information
Current role in this review	Alternate military-style connector family to evaluate against the Glenair path if the contact layout, cable ecosystem, or mechanical integration prove more suitable

This ODU family is not currently the selected candidate. It is being retained as a documented follow-up lead pending vendor feedback, mating-cable information, contact-layout detail, and a better understanding of how well it matches the Enigma-NG battery-interface needs.

The strongest currently identified advantage of the ODU path is integration simplicity:

• ODU appear to offer panel-mount connectors with wiring-harness options
• that may allow the Power Module battery entry to be integrated without a custom PCB interposer
• the same approach may also simplify the prototype battery-pack / adapter build by allowing a direct harnessed panel connector rather than a bespoke interposer board

3. Why This Option Exists

The currently documented Molex Micro-Fit battery connector remains electrically workable, but it is not considered the preferred long-term fit for a rugged, quick-release, military-style external battery interface.

The Glenair option is being explored because it is closer to the intended user experience:

• secure retention
• quick-disconnect battery cable handling
• a more professional soldier-power style connector ecosystem
• compatibility directionally aligned with NetWarrior / NATO battery-cable expectations

4. Current Integration Direction

4.1 Interposer concept

The chosen Glenair receptacle is a vertical-mount connector, while the Power Module battery entry must still align with the rear external face near the USB-C connector.

The active preferred integration approach is therefore:

1. retain the rear-face battery entry location on the enclosure
2. place the Glenair receptacle on a small dedicated interposer / daughterboard
3. connect that interposer back to the main Power Module PCB rather than forcing the receptacle directly into the PM board outline

This keeps the main Power Module layout flexible and allows panel alignment to be solved cleanly.

By comparison, if ODU can supply a suitable panel-mount connector plus harness assembly for the required battery signals, that path may reduce mechanical risk and remove the need for a custom PM interposer board entirely.

4.2 Prototype-only adapter board

In addition to the future Power Module interposer, a prototype-only battery adapter board is expected.

That prototype board should:

• use the same female Glenair receptacle candidate
• wire directly to the existing Accutronics / Inspired Energy smart-battery connector interface
• preserve the active 5-wire battery contract already defined by the Power Module
• live in a simple 3D-printed enclosure for cable / battery / mating validation

The purpose of that prototype unit is test and validation only; it is not part of the production Power Module design.

5. Electrical Interface Notes

The active Power Module battery contract remains the existing 5-wire smart-battery interface:

Logical signal	Current PM meaning
VBATT+	Battery positive input
SMBUS_SCL	Smart-battery clock
SMBUS_SDA	Smart-battery data
BATT_PRES_N	Battery-present sense derived from the battery auxiliary / T pin
VBATT-	Battery return

The current Power Module assumption remains the selected Accutronics / Inspired Energy N205-family battery behaviour where the T pin presents approximately 300 ohms to VBATT- for presence detection.

6. Pin-Mapping Caution

Initial downloaded material indicates that:

• connector pins 1 and 2 are documented for power / ground usage
• connector pins 4 and 5 are documented for SMBus data

However, the selected Glenair part is a 6-pin connector, while the current Power Module battery interface requires 5 logical signals.

Therefore the exact contact assignment is currently provisional and must be confirmed before any PCB is manufactured.

The connector keying itself is not provisional:

• Y keying has been verified as the standard battery keying for this connector family
• this keying is used so the connector cannot be mated to data-only ports on standard in-service devices such as STAR-PAN and STAR-PAN NG

Required confirmation items

1. the exact pin numbering and contact function for all 6 positions
2. which contact should carry BATT_PRES_N
3. whether one position is intentionally unused, reserved, or dedicated by the cable standard
4. whether the selected mating cable assembly is confirmed as a minimum 5-signal cable suitable for the Enigma-NG battery interface
5. whether the ODU AMC NP family offers a materially better cable / sourcing / panel-integration path than the current Glenair candidate
6. whether ODU can supply a panel-mount harnessed solution that also simplifies the prototype battery-pack / adapter build

7. Sourcing Rules

This candidate connector is currently treated as a special-purpose part.

For the active candidate state:

Field	Current rule
DigiKey part number	Not available / not used
Mouser part number	Not available / not used
JLCPCB catalog part number	Not available
JLCPCB assembly mode	Consignment only
Primary source	Heilind

This sourcing exception should remain explicit in the design docs if the part is later adopted.

8. Promotion Criteria

This connector option should only be rolled into the main Power Module design as the official replacement once all of the following are complete:

1. Heilind / Glenair confirm the exact contact assignment for the chosen connector and cable
2. the interposer / daughterboard mechanical arrangement is proven to fit the rear face near USB-C
3. the prototype adapter board validates the battery electrical behaviour end-to-end
4. the Power Module design docs and BOM are updated together to replace the current Molex reference

9. Cross-References

Document	Purpose
design/Electronics/Power_Module/Design_Spec.md	Main Power Module electrical specification
design/Datasheets/Glenair-807-216-datasheet.md	Combined markdown extraction of the Glenair drawing PDF and 807 NW catalogue PDF
design/Mechanical/Power_Module/Design_Spec.md	Power Module external-face and connector clearance context