Battery bypass assembly

A battery bypass mechanism for bypassing a battery cell, the battery cell having a first battery contact and a second battery contact, the battery bypass mechanism comprising:

• a first bypass contact electrically connected to the first battery contact;
• a second bypass contact electrically connected to the second battery contact;
• contact means selectively movable to close the circuit between the first battery bypass contact and the second bypass contact;
• and
• expansive actuating means for actuating movement of the contact means to close the circuit and bypass the battery cell upon occurrence of a predetermined event.

A method for bypassing a battery cell with a battery bypass assembly, the battery bypass assembly having a first bypass contact electrically connected to a first battery contact and a second bypass contact electrically connected to the second battery contact, the method comprising:

• selectively moving a conductive bar between the first battery bypass contact and the second battery contact from a first position to a second position to close the circuit;
• providing a plunger rod within an expansive material;
• expanding the expansive material upon the occurrence of a predetermined event;
• substantially ejecting the plunger rod from the paraffin material;
• moving the conductive bar to the second position;
• and
• closing the circuit and bypassing the battery cell.