1. A protection circuit for use with a battery operated device, comprising: an over temperature detector; a controller; and a voltage divider circuit comprising at least a multi-use thermistor for monitoring a temperature of at least one of a battery cell, a battery charger, and said battery operated device, said multi-use thermistor being disposed proximate to said at least one of a battery cell, a battery charger, and said battery operated device, and said multi-use thermistor being operatively connected to an input of said over temperature detector; wherein an input voltage at said input of said over temperature detector varies relative to a variance in said temperature of said at least one of a battery cell, a battery charger, and said battery operated device, said over temperature detector signaling said controller to terminate at least one event selected from the group consisting of charging of said battery cell and discharging said battery cell upon said temperature of said at least one of a battery cell, a battery charger, and said battery operated device exceeding a predefined value.