A charger (1) includes a box enclosure (2), terminals (11, 12, 13), and a protective terminal cover (14) which in turn includes a top plate (15) extending at right angles to a pair of guide rails (6). The terminal cover (14) is pivotally supported by a pair of pivot pins (17) inside the box enclosure (2) such that the terminal cover (14) is pivotal between a protruding position, in which the top plate (15) is located directly above and protects the terminals and a retracted position, in which the terminal cover (14) is completely retracted inside the box enclosure (2). The terminal cover (14) is biased to the protruding position by a torsion spring (18) when a battery pack (40) is not set on the charger (1) for a recharge, whereas the terminal cover is manually moved to the retracted position against the biasing force of the torsion spring when the battery pack is slid on the charger into a set position.