Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting the presence of a battery in a battery charging circuit is provided. An inductor is placed in series with a charging circuit and the battery connection leads. A switching device and a capacitive device are connected in parallel to one another and in series with a gated device to form an indicator circuit. The indicator circuit is connected in parallel with the battery connection terminals. A series of pulses is applied to the gated device, allowing current to flow into the capacitive device during each pulse and energize the switching device when a battery is present. When no battery is present, the inductor prevents sufficient current from the charging circuit from energizing the capacitive device and the switching device.