Walk into any older US school gym, small-business lobby, or municipal building and there's a strong chance the AED on the wall is a Cardiac Science Powerheart G3 or G5. Tens of thousands of them were sold during the 2000s and 2010s, and most are still on the wall, still working, still saving lives. The device hardware is fine. What runs out is the pads.

United AED keeps current-dated Cardiac Science AED pads in stock for both Powerheart generations — adult Intellisense electrodes, pediatric pads, and the ZAP-PAK pre-bundled pad-plus-battery kit. We carry FDA-cleared, authorized inventory through Cardiac Science's distribution chain (now operated under ZOLL since the 2021 acquisition), not aftermarket substitutes.

Powerheart G3 vs. Powerheart G5 — Match Your Pads to Your AED

The Powerheart G3 and the G5 look similar from the front, but the pad connector and the data handshake changed between generations. Adult electrodes do not cross over. Pediatric pads do.

Powerheart Model	Adult Intellisense Pads	Pediatric Pads	ZAP-PAK Combo Kit
Powerheart G3 / G3 Plus / G3 Pro	9131-001	9730-002	XBTAED001A (pads + battery)
Powerheart G5	9131-002	9730-002 (same pediatric as G3)	XELAED001A

Shop by exact model: Cardiac Science G3 pads or Powerheart G5 pads. Browsing complete defibrillators? See the Cardiac Science Powerheart AED catalog.

If you don't know which model you have, open the carry case. The Powerheart G3 has a single green status indicator and a smaller display; the G5 has the Rescue Ready indicator on the front panel and supports both English and Spanish voice prompts.

Intellisense Pads — Why the Chip Matters

Cardiac Science adult pads contain an Intellisense chip that talks to the Powerheart. When you install a new pad cartridge, the AED reads the chip and starts an internal expiration countdown. As the date approaches, the device warns you weeks in advance — visually through the Rescue Ready indicator and audibly via voice prompt. Most other AED brands rely entirely on the printed pouch date, but Powerheart tracks the pad lifecycle electronically.

This is why aftermarket Cardiac Science-compatible pads are a problem. The chip handshake either fails or the AED reports incorrect expiration data. Stick to genuine Intellisense electrodes — 9131-001 for the G3, 9131-002 for the G5.

The ZAP-PAK — A Pad-and-Battery Combo That Usually Saves Money

Cardiac Science sells the ZAP-PAK — a single boxed combo with the matching Intellisense pads and a fresh battery, pre-paired and dated together. If your Powerheart's battery is within 12 months of expiration when you're due for new pads, the ZAP-PAK is almost always cheaper than buying the items separately.

The ZAP-PAK math:

• Powerheart G3 ZAP-PAK (XBTAED001A) bundles 9131-001 pads with a 9146 battery
• Powerheart G5 ZAP-PAK (XELAED001A) bundles 9131-002 pads with the G5 Intellisense battery
• Both batteries and pads start their expiration tracking the day you install — replacing them together synchronizes the next refresh cycle

If your battery still has 18+ months of life left, order pads alone. If both are due within a year, ZAP-PAK is the smarter buy. Need a stand-alone battery instead? See AED batteries.

Pediatric Powerheart Pads — Same SKU, Both Generations

Unlike the adult electrodes, the pediatric pads (9730-002) cross over between the G3 and G5. The chip recognizes a pediatric pad and the Powerheart automatically lowers the defibrillation energy and switches to pediatric voice prompts. No button toggle, no manual mode — the pad tells the AED what it is.

Use pediatric pads on patients under 8 years old or under approximately 55 lbs (25 kg). If a pediatric emergency happens and you only have adult pads in stock, place them anterior/posterior on the child and let the AED proceed — American Heart Association guidance is explicit that an adult-pad shock is better than no shock.

Shelf Life, Storage, and Self-Test Behavior

Cardiac Science pads typically carry a 2-year shelf life from the date of manufacture printed on the pouch. The Powerheart runs daily self-tests (the G5 is more aggressive about it than the G3) and the Rescue Ready indicator on the front of the device communicates pad and battery status without you having to open the case. Green dot = ready. Red or no indicator = something failed — usually the pads.

Store at 32°F to 122°F (0–50°C). Heat is the silent killer of AED pad gel — a Powerheart parked near a sunny window or in an uncooled warehouse will burn through pad life months early. For workplace AED program compliance, document an inspection at least every 30 days; FDA recommends a quarterly minimum.

Powerheart G3 Is Discontinued — You Can Still Get Pads

Here's the situation a lot of G3 owners are facing: ZOLL (which now owns Cardiac Science) stopped selling new G3 units several years ago, and G5 is on the same long-tail support path. Some buyers panic-buy a replacement AED because they assume parts are gone. They aren't.

The FDA still permits use of the Powerheart G3 and G5. Pads and batteries remain available through United AED's distribution. There's no compliance reason to retire a working Powerheart unless your facility wants to consolidate on a newer platform for fleet-management reasons. Keep the pads and battery current, run the self-tests, and the G3 stays rescue-ready for years to come.

If you do eventually want to upgrade for warranty or features, browse our current AED lineup or complete AED packages bundled with cabinets and signage.

FDA Clearance, Authorized Distribution, and Avoiding Aftermarket

Every Cardiac Science AED pad we ship is FDA-cleared, sourced through authorized ZOLL/Cardiac Science distribution, and stored climate-controlled. We do not carry aftermarket Powerheart-compatible electrodes. The Intellisense chip system means generic pads either fail the device handshake or report bad expiration data — defeating the whole point of the Rescue Ready indicator. Stick to genuine.

After a Rescue: Replace, Document, Re-Deploy

1. Replace the pads. Single-use, no exceptions. Even if no shock fired.
2. Check the battery. If it's within 12 months of expiration, swap with a ZAP-PAK.
3. Pull the rescue data. The Powerheart stores event data — download via Cardiac Science's Rescue Link software for medical records.
4. Log the event. Date, responder, outcome, patient handoff. Required for OSHA and Good Samaritan documentation in most states.
5. Self-test before re-mounting. Confirm Rescue Ready green indicator.

Training Pads for CPR/AED Courses

Live Intellisense pads are chip-locked and single-use. They'll register an install date the moment the device sees them. For CPR/AED instruction, use Cardiac Science training products — dedicated training pads designed for the Powerheart Trainer, not the live device. Don't waste a ZAP-PAK on a classroom.

Bulk Orders, AED Program Support, and Long-Term Supply

United AED supports facilities running large Powerheart fleets — schools, hotel chains, municipal buildings — with scheduled pad refresh programs and volume pricing. Because we hold authorized distribution, we can guarantee supply for legacy Powerheart G3 customers as long as ZOLL keeps the parts in production. Common segments we serve:

• Business AED packages for offices and corporate campuses
• School AED packages for K–12 compliance
• Healthcare AED packages for clinics and outpatient sites

Cardiac Science Pads vs. Other AED Brands

AED pads don't cross brands — if your facility mixes Powerheart with other defibrillators, you'll need separate inventories:

• Philips HeartStart pads — SMART Pads II, SMART Pads III, FR2 electrodes
• Zoll AED pads — CPR-D-padz, CPR Uni-padz, Stat-padz II, Pedi-padz II
• All AED pads — complete catalog across brands

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Powerheart G3 pads still available in 2026?

Yes. ZOLL (which acquired Cardiac Science in 2021) continues to supply pads, batteries, and ZAP-PAK kits for the installed Powerheart G3 base. United AED keeps current-dated 9131-001 Intellisense pads in stock and ships from US inventory.

Can Powerheart G5 pads be used on a Powerheart G3?

No — adult Intellisense electrodes are model-specific. The 9131-001 fits the G3 only; the 9131-002 fits the G5 only. The chip handshake will fail if you cross them. Pediatric pads (9730-002), however, work on both generations.

What is a ZAP-PAK and should I buy it instead of pads alone?

A ZAP-PAK is Cardiac Science's combo box — matching Intellisense pads and a fresh battery, pre-paired and ready to install. Buy a ZAP-PAK if your battery is within 12 months of expiration. Buy pads alone if the battery still has 18+ months of life remaining.

How do pediatric pads switch the Powerheart to child mode?

Automatically. The Intellisense chip in the pediatric cartridge tells the AED which pad type is installed. The device lowers shock energy, switches voice prompts to pediatric guidance, and adjusts CPR pacing — no button toggle required.

How much do Cardiac Science Powerheart pads cost?

G3 adult Intellisense pads typically run $130–$170. G5 adult Intellisense pads are $150–$190. Pediatric pads are $130–$170. ZAP-PAK combo kits price between $250 and $400 depending on model. Volume discounts apply at 5+ units.

What shelf life do Powerheart pads carry?

Approximately 2 years from manufacture, printed on the sealed pouch. The Powerheart's Intellisense chip tracks the install date and warns through the Rescue Ready indicator as expiration approaches.

What's the warranty on replacement pads?

United AED guarantees that every pad shipped is factory-sealed, current-dated, and within the manufacturer's pad warranty window. If a pad fails out of the box, we replace it free.

Should I upgrade my G3 to a newer AED?

Not for compliance reasons — the FDA still permits G3 use and pads remain available. Upgrade only if you want fleet consolidation, newer features, or active warranty coverage.

Keep your Powerheart rescue-ready. Browse all AED pads, the Cardiac Science catalog, or refresh with current AED batteries.