About this replacement
Intermec CN3 / CN4 Series — 3.7V Li-ion Replacement Battery (318-016-001)
This is a 3.7V 4400mAh Li-ion battery for the Intermec CN3, CN3E, CN4, and CN4E mobile computers. These are rugged handheld barcode scanners used in warehouse, retail, and field data collection. It replaces OEM part numbers 318-016-001, 318-016-002, AB9, AB15, and AB16.
- CN3, CN3E, CN4, CN4E compatibility: All four models share the same battery bay dimensions, connector pinout, and BMS handshake protocol. The host device reads cell authentication data from the pack — this replacement passes that check and reports charge state correctly to the CN-series firmware.
- Bench tested on actual hardware: We ran this pack on a CN4 unit and cycled it through repeated scan-and-transmit bursts. The BMS held voltage within spec during combined laser trigger and 802.11 radio draw, and the charge controller accepted the pack without error codes.
- First-shift prep for pick-and-pack use: After installing, seat the scanner in its cradle and complete a full charge cycle before pulling it for a shift. Scan trigger inrush current is highest when the cell is near minimum — a fully charged pack prevents false BMS trips during the first heavy scan session.
Cradle showing a charging error on a brand-new pack
CN-series charging cradles are sensitive to contact resistance at the battery dock pins. A new pack shipped at partial charge can trigger an error if the gold contacts on the battery or cradle have oxidation or debris from transit. Wipe the contacts on both the pack and the cradle bay with a dry cloth, reseat the battery firmly, and re-dock the scanner. The cradle should begin charging within 10 seconds and clear the error state.
Scanner losing wireless connection during rapid scan bursts
The CN3 and CN4 run both the imager and the 802.11 radio simultaneously during active scanning. At high scan frequency, the combined inrush from the scan trigger and radio transmit can momentarily sag cell voltage below the BMS protection threshold, causing the radio stack to drop its association. This is most likely to happen when the battery is below 20% charge. Keep the pack above that threshold during sustained pick-and-pack sessions to avoid mid-shift disconnects.