An improved electrical connector for electrically connecting a rechargeable battery with an electrically powered device as well as methods of operation are provided. The connector may comprise one or more features including: integration of both first terminals for transmitting charging or discharging signals to and from the battery as well as one or more signal terminals for transmitting one or more balancing signals to and from the battery; implementation of communication signals comprising battery specific information to be received by the electrically powered device upon making an electrical connection with the battery; and, one or more safety features for preventing unsupported electrical connections between incompatible connector configurations. An electrically powered device implemented with the improved electrical connector may detect one or more characteristics of a battery upon electrically connecting with the battery and may reconfigure one or more operational settings of the device in response to the such characteristics.