Exhibit 23



                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS



We consent to the  incorporation by reference in the  registration  statement of
C&D   TECHNOLOGIES,   INC.  and  subsidiaries   (the  "Company")  on  Forms  S-8
(Registration Nos.  33-31978,  33-71390,  33-86672,  333-17979,  333-38891,  and
333-59177) and Form S-3 (Registration  No.  333-38893) of our report,  dated May
14,  1999,  on our audits of the  combined  financial  statements  of  Specialty
Battery  Division  as of  September  30, 1998 and 1997 and for each of the three
years in the period ended  September 30, 1998,  which report is included in this
Form 8-K/A.


/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
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PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
May 14, 1999