A battery pack including a discharge current interruption FET which cuts
off the discharge current, and a minimum voltage detecting portion which
switches the discharge current interruption FET from ON to OFF state when
the voltage of any battery becomes lower than a minimum voltage. The
charge circuit includes a charge current switching portion which switches
the charge current so as to charge the battery pack in a main charge mode
when the output voltage is higher than a prescribed voltage, and in a
preliminary charge mode with a small current when the output voltage is
lower than the prescribed voltage. A charge current switching portion
charges the battery pack in the preliminary charge mode in the state
where the OFF signal of the discharge current interruption FET is
provided, even in the state where the output voltage of the battery pack
is higher than the prescribed voltage.