A protection circuit device for protecting a secondary battery from an overcharge and/or an overdischarge has first and second terminals, across which a charger and a load are alternatively connectable. A first switch and/or a second switch may be provided in series with the secondary battery between the first and second terminals. In a charging operation mode, the second switch is kept conductive. A charging operation is performed with the first switch made conductive. When the battery is overcharged for some reasons, the first switch is turned off. Upon connection of a load across the first and second terminals, the first switch is restored to a conductive state for a discharging operation which releases the battery from an overdischarge state. In a discharging operation mode, the first switch is kept conductive. A discharge operation is performed with the second switch made conductive. When the battery is overdischarged, the second switch is caused to remain conductive even after commencement of the overdischarge, so that the battery can continue the discharge operation if the temporary overdischarge does not last longer than the predetermined period of time.