About this replacement
Intermec SF61 / SF61b — 3.7V Li-ion Replacement Battery (1016AB01)
This is a 3.7V, 2600mAh Li-ion cell built to the same spec as the OEM pack for the Intermec SF61 and SF61b handheld barcode scanners. It fits both the standard SF61 and the SF61b variant without modification. Voltage and capacity match the original: 3.7V nominal, 9.62Wh.
- SF61 and SF61b compatibility: Both models run the same 3.7V single-cell architecture with identical connector pinout and BMS handshake protocol. The same pack works in either unit — the firmware reads cell voltage and charge state through the same communication line.
- Bench tested on actual hardware: We cycled this pack through charge and discharge on the SF61 platform. The BMS accepted the cell without fault codes, reported state-of-charge correctly to the scanner's status indicator, and handled the inrush from the scan trigger without tripping a protection event.
- First-shift preparation for pick-and-pack use: After installing, seat the scanner in its cradle and run a full charge cycle before the first shift. Scan trigger inrush current peaks when the cell is near minimum — a fully charged cell prevents false BMS trips during the opening burst of a busy pick run.
Cradle showing a charging error on a new pack
The SF61 cradle reads pack voltage through pogo-pin contacts on the battery base. If those contacts have oxidation or debris from shelf storage, the dock reports a charging fault even though the pack is electrically sound. Wipe the gold contacts on both the battery and the cradle with a dry lint-free cloth, then reseat the scanner firmly until the charge LED changes state. If the error clears within 30 seconds, the pack is fine — the fault was contact resistance, not a cell problem.
Scanner dropping wireless connection during rapid scan bursts
The SF61 runs its radio and scan engine simultaneously during high-frequency scanning. The combined current draw — scan trigger inrush plus sustained wireless polling — can pull cell voltage below the radio's minimum operating threshold if the pack is below roughly 3.5V. The scanner reconnects once the load drops, but the wireless session resets each time. Keep the pack above 50% charge during high-frequency scan tasks to stay clear of that voltage floor.