About this replacement
Intermec CK70 / CK71 — 3.7V Li-ion Replacement Battery (318-046-001)
This 3.7V Li-ion 4400mAh battery replaces the original power pack in the Intermec CK70 and CK71 rugged handheld computers. These devices are used in warehousing, retail, and field data collection — environments where a dead battery mid-shift costs real time. Capacity is rated at 16.28Wh and matches OEM part numbers 318-046-001, 318-046-011, 1001AB01, 1001AB02, and AB18.
- CK70 and CK71 platform fit: Both models share the same battery bay, connector pinout, and BMS communication protocol. A single cell covers both without modification or adapter.
- Bench tested on actual hardware: We ran this pack through charge and discharge cycles on a CK70 unit. The BMS handshake completed correctly, the device reported accurate charge state, and the protection circuit responded normally to load spikes from the scanner trigger and wireless radio polling.
- First-shift cradle protocol: After installing, seat the scanner in its cradle for a full charge cycle before deploying it on the floor. Scan trigger inrush current is highest when the cell is near minimum — a fully charged pack prevents false BMS trips when the first shift starts and scan frequency is at its peak.
Why the CK70 drops its wireless connection during rapid scan bursts
The CK70 pulls simultaneously from the 802.11 radio and the scan engine during high-frequency barcode reading. On a depleted or ageing cell, this combined inrush causes a momentary voltage sag below the radio's minimum operating threshold. The BMS reads this as an overload condition and briefly interrupts output, dropping the wireless session. A fresh, fully charged cell sustains voltage above that threshold through the combined draw peak.
Cradle showing a charging error after fitting a new pack
Charging errors on the dock are almost always a contact resistance issue, not a fault with the cell itself. Oxidation or debris on the battery's gold contacts breaks the communication line between the pack's BMS and the cradle's charging controller. Remove the battery, wipe the contacts on both the pack and the cradle with a dry cloth, and reseat firmly. If the error clears, charging will resume normally — the cradle expects to see contact resistance below roughly 100mΩ to initiate the charge handshake.