About this replacement
Intermec IP3 / IP4 — 3.7V Li-ion Replacement Battery (AB12 / 318-014-001)
This is a 3.7V, 2600mAh Li-ion battery for the Intermec IP3 and IP4 handheld barcode scanners. Both models share the same battery bay, connector, and BMS handshake, so a single pack covers either unit. Capacity figure is 9.62Wh as rated on the cell.
- IP3 and IP4 shared battery platform: Intermec built the IP3 and IP4 on the same hardware chassis, giving them an identical 3.7V power rail, the same physical connector, and matching BMS communication protocol. One replacement covers both scanners without modification.
- Bench tested on actual hardware: We ran the pack through repeated scan-trigger and wireless radio cycles on the bench. The BMS held the cutoff threshold correctly under combined inrush load, and charge acceptance via the cradle completed without error flags.
- First-shift cradle cycle: After installing this pack, seat the scanner in its cradle and run a full charge cycle before putting it into service. Scan-trigger inrush current is highest when the cell is near minimum voltage, and starting the first shift on a fully charged cell prevents false BMS trips during the opening burst of scans.
Cradle showing a charging error on a new pack
A charging error on a fresh install almost always comes down to contact resistance at the dock, not a fault with the cell itself. Dust, warehouse grime, or oxidation on the gold contacts blocks the low-level BMS handshake the cradle uses before it starts a charge cycle. Wipe the contacts on both the battery and the cradle with a dry lint-free cloth, then reseat the scanner firmly. The cradle should begin charging within a few seconds; if the error clears, contact contamination was the cause.
Scanner losing wireless connection during rapid scan bursts
During a rapid scan burst, the IP3 and IP4 draw simultaneously from the imager and the wireless radio — two inrush events stacked close together. If the cell voltage sags below the radio module's minimum operating threshold, the wireless link drops before the BMS cuts the pack entirely. This typically appears as brief, repeatable disconnections during the heaviest scanning periods rather than a full shutdown. Check cell voltage at rest; anything below 3.5V under no load indicates the pack is at end of life and needs replacement.