Abstract: A unique housing (104 and 600) of a portable radio transceiver (100) is described that includes a battery as an integral structural element thereof, and a unique surface mount connector (800) that may advantageously be utilized to interconnect two or more metal printed circuit panels. In one illustrated housing (104), a stick battery (210) is attached to the side of a transmitter printed circuit panel (213). In a second illustrated housing (600), a flat battery (602) is attached to the sides of a U-shaped printed circuit panel (604). The unique surface mount connector (800) includes a plastic header (806) for retaining a plurality of spring contacts (804) and corresponding pins (802). When surface mounted, portions (810) of the plastic header (806) insulate the pins (802) from a metal printed circuit panel. The unique surface mount connector (800) of the present invention may be advantageously utilized in a variety of electrical apparatus, such as, for example, portable radio transceivers.