About this replacement
Intermec RT1700 / DT1700 Series — 7.2V Ni-MH Replacement Battery (317-081-010)
This 7.2V 1500mAh Ni-MH battery replaces the OEM pack in the Intermec RT1700, DT1700, RT1710, and T1700 handheld barcode scanners. These units are workhorses in warehouse pick-and-pack, retail inventory, and logistics scanning. The physical dimensions match the original bay: 101.21 × 47.96 × 14.75mm.
- RT1700 / DT1700 / RT1710 / T1700 fit: All four models share the same battery bay geometry, contact layout, and 7.2V supply rail. The scanner firmware does not enforce OEM authentication, so the BMS handshake completes without prompts or lock-out messages.
- Bench tested on actual hardware: We cycled this pack through charge and discharge on the RT1700 platform. The BMS responded correctly to cradle charge current, held voltage within spec across a sustained scan sequence, and showed no thermal flags at the end of a full shift load.
- First-shift preparation for scan trigger inrush: After installing, place the scanner in its cradle for a complete charge cycle before use. Scan trigger inrush current peaks when the cell is near minimum charge — starting the shift with a full pack prevents false BMS trips on the first burst of rapid scans.
Cradle showing charging error on a new Ni-MH pack
Intermec charging cradles use contact resistance to detect a seated pack before starting the charge cycle. If the dock contacts on the battery or cradle have oxidation or debris, the cradle may flag a fault rather than begin charging. Ni-MH cells also require the cradle to see a specific impedance signature at the start of charge — a dirty contact skews that reading. Wipe the gold contacts on the pack and cradle tray with a dry cloth, reseat the scanner firmly, and confirm the charge indicator activates within 10 seconds.
Scanner losing wireless connection during rapid scan bursts
The RT1700 draws from the same cell to power both the radio module and the scan trigger simultaneously. During a rapid burst sequence, the combined inrush can drag cell voltage low enough to reset the wireless stack, dropping the connection mid-session. This is most common when the pack is partially discharged — the internal resistance of an aged or low Ni-MH cell amplifies the voltage sag under dual load. Start each shift with a fully charged pack and check that the battery contacts seat flush in the grip bay to keep contact resistance at minimum.