ZOLL AED 3 at a glance
The ZOLL AED 3 comes in three models: the AED 3 and AED 3 Automatic for bystanders, and the AED 3 BLS for professional rescuers. ZOLL still sells all three, and they share the same pads, battery pack and self-tests.
| Detail | ZOLL AED 3 |
|---|---|
| Made by | ZOLL Medical Corporation |
| Versions | AED 3 and AED 3 BLS (semi-automatic), AED 3 Automatic (fully automatic) |
| Adult pads | CPR Uni-padz, 5-year installed shelf life |
| Children | Child Mode: Child button with CPR Uni-padz, or Pedi-padz II |
| Battery | Non-rechargeable lithium pack 8000-000696, up to 5 years installed |
| Self-test | Every 7 days by default (or daily), plus a full-energy test monthly |
| Ready indicator | Green check in the status window; blank when not ready |
| CPR help | Real CPR Help: rate and depth feedback for adults; CPR Dashboard on the BLS |
| Storage range | -22 to 158°F (-30 to 70°C) |
| FDA approval | AED 3 BLS Dec 27, 2017 (P160022); AED 3 Feb 28, 2020 (P160015/S001) |
The AED 3 and AED 3 BLS are semi-automatic: when a shock is advised, the rescuer presses the button. The AED 3 Automatic counts down for three seconds and shocks on its own. ZOLL pitches the AED 3 at bystanders and the AED 3 BLS at EMS and hospital teams. The BLS adds an optional patient ECG display, optional audio recording and a CPR Dashboard, which shows compression rate and depth as numbers along with the time left until the next rhythm check. On the BLS, the lay-rescuer graphics are optional.
All three coach CPR through Real CPR Help when the pads carry a CPR sensor. The FDA approved the AED 3 BLS in December 2017 and the AED 3 in February 2020, and ZOLL expects each unit to last 10 years in service.
AED 3, AED 3 Automatic and AED 3 BLS: how they differ
- AED 3: The semi-automatic model for bystanders, with full-color rescue graphics and Real CPR Help; the rescuer presses the shock button.
- AED 3 Automatic: The same AED, except that it delivers the shock by itself after a three-second countdown.
- AED 3 BLS: Made for professional rescuers: semi-automatic only, with an optional ECG display, a CPR Dashboard and optional audio recording, on the same pads and battery.
Other ZOLL models we cover: ZOLL AED Plus and ZOLL AED Pro.
ZOLL AED 3 pads
The ZOLL AED 3 comes with CPR Uni-padz (8900-000280-01), one pad set that works on adults and on children. ZOLL rates them for 5 years once installed; replace them by the date on the package and after every use.
ZOLL lists five pad types for the AED 3. CPR Uni-padz are the standard set and the only ones that work for both adults and children. CPR-D-padz, CPR Stat-padz (a two-piece set) and Stat-padz II are for adults only, and Pedi-padz II are for children only. For Real CPR Help, use CPR Uni-padz, CPR-D-padz or CPR Stat-padz. With Stat-padz II or Pedi-padz II attached, you get a steady metronome but no feedback on your compressions.
The ZOLL AED 3 ships with CPR Uni-padz, and its on-screen graphics for lay rescuers appear only when those pads are connected. Keep the pad cable plugged in at all times, check the use-by date on the package, and fit a new set after every rescue: pads are single use.
Using the ZOLL AED 3 on children
Yes. Press the Child button with CPR Uni-padz connected, or plug in Pedi-padz II, and the ZOLL AED 3 switches to Child Mode, with lower shock energy, for children under 8 or under 55 pounds.
Child Mode is meant for a child younger than 8, or one lighter than 55 pounds (25 kg). There are two ways in: press the Child button while CPR Uni-padz are connected, or plug in Pedi-padz II, which light the Child button by themselves. In Child Mode the AED switches to a rhythm analysis built for children and cuts its default shocks from 120, 150 and 200 joules to 50, 70 and 85 joules.
With CPR Uni-padz, a child gets the same pads as an adult, placed front and back as the AED's prompts show. Child Mode drops the depth prompts and keeps only a steady metronome. For an infant under 1 year, ZOLL says to take off the purple CPR sensor and lay it next to the baby. ZOLL's 2018 guide described Child Mode with Pedi-padz II only; the Child button with CPR Uni-padz appears in the 2024 edition, so check which guide came with your AED.
For the general rules on child pads, ages and placement, see our guide to pediatric AED pads.
ZOLL AED 3 battery
The ZOLL AED 3 runs on one non-rechargeable lithium battery pack, part 8000-000696. It lasts up to 5 years installed with weekly self-tests, but about 3 years with daily self-tests or automatic Wi-Fi reports turned on.
All three models take the same pack, part 8000-000696, a lithium manganese dioxide battery that can't be recharged. Its life depends on how the AED is set up. With the default weekly self-test and Wi-Fi reporting off, ZOLL rates it for 5 years installed. Switching to daily self-tests brings that down to 3 years, and so does turning on automatic Wi-Fi self-test reports. ZOLL's figures assume the pack waited no more than 2 years at 73°F (23°C) before going in, so check its install-by date first.
A new pack typically gives about 140 full-energy shocks or 6 hours of monitoring. When it runs low, the AED beeps once a minute while off, says CHANGE BATTERY when on, and leaves the status window blank. At the first CHANGE BATTERY in a rescue, there's energy for about 3 more full-energy shocks. ZOLL says to keep a new spare pack with the AED.
How other models compare is in our AED battery replacement guide.
ZOLL AED 3 part numbers and shelf life
These are the parts an AED 3 owner replaces, with ZOLL's part numbers and shelf lives. The same pads and battery fit the AED 3, AED 3 Automatic and AED 3 BLS.
| Part | Part number | Shelf life | Replace |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPR Uni-padz Adults, and children in Child Mode | 8900-000280-01 | 5 years installed | By the package date, or after any use |
| CPR-D-padz Adult pads for Real CPR Help | 8900-0800-01 | 5 years | By the package date, or after any use |
| CPR Stat-padz Adult two-piece pads with CPR sensor | 8900-0402 | 24 months | By the package date, or after any use |
| Stat-padz II Adult pads, no CPR sensor | 8900-0801-01 | Not stated by ZOLL | By the package date, or after any use |
| Pedi-padz II Children under 8 or under 55 lb | 8900-0810-01 | 2 years | By the package date, or after any use |
| AED 3 battery pack Battery (non-rechargeable lithium) | 8000-000696 | Up to 5 years installed (3 years with daily self-tests or Wi-Fi reporting) | When the AED says CHANGE BATTERY, or at the end of its rated life |
AED Log's catalog lists two of these pads as CPR Uni-Padz III and CPR Stat Padz, HVP Multi-Function. Neither name appears in ZOLL's documents, which call them CPR Uni-padz and CPR Stat-padz; the part numbers above are ZOLL's. For CPR Uni-padz we show 8900-000280-01, the number in ZOLL's 2024 Administrator's Guide and accessories brochure; ZOLL's accessories web page shows 8900-000260 instead, so compare with your own package. CPR Stat-padz also come as an 8-pack, 8900-0400.
Need replacements? Total AEDs, AED Log’s sister store, sells pads, batteries and the AED itself for the ZOLL AED 3. Any authorized distributor works; the FDA advises buying AED accessories only from authorized sources.
ZOLL AED 3 self-test and status indicator
The ZOLL AED 3 tests itself every 7 days by default and charges to full energy in a monthly test. A green check in the status window means it passed; a blank window means it failed and isn't ready.
Besides the weekly check, which can be set to run daily, the AED 3 tests itself when a battery pack goes in and each time it's switched on. Once a month the test charges the AED to a full 200 joules. The self-tests also confirm that the pads and the battery pack are still inside their expiration dates.
The status window shows a green check after a passing test. There's no red X on the AED 3: an empty window is the warning, and it means the AED isn't ready. To run a test whenever you like, hold the On/Off button for 5 seconds.
If the indicator ever shows a problem, our guide to AED self-test failures and status lights covers what to do first.
ZOLL AED 3 maintenance checklist
ZOLL asks AED 3 owners to look for the green check every week and to inspect the AED, its pads and its battery pack regularly. Run through the same checks after every use.
- Every week, the status window shows a green check, not a blank window, and the AED isn't beeping.
- Switched on, the AED shows the green check.
- The pads are plugged into the AED, still sealed in their package and within their date.
- Any Pedi-padz II or spare pads on hand are sealed and in date.
- The battery pack is within its rated life, and a new spare pack is kept with the AED.
- The case is clean, with no cracks, damage or loose parts.
- The AED is stored within ZOLL's range of -22 to 158°F (-30 to 70°C).
After the ZOLL AED 3 is used
- Check the AED for damage and clean it.
- Connect a new set of pads, after checking that their date hasn't passed.
- Hold the On/Off button for 5 seconds to run a self-test.
- Replace the battery pack if the AED says CHANGE BATTERY.
- Put the AED back in service.
Print our free AED inspection checklist to record each check, or read the full AED maintenance guide.
ZOLL AED 3 recalls
We found no FDA recall of the ZOLL AED 3, its CPR Uni-padz or its battery pack in the FDA's Medical Device Recall database.
We found no FDA recall of the ZOLL AED 3 or its pads and batteries in the FDA’s Medical Device Recall database when we last checked, on October 12, 2026.
Every AED recall, by manufacturer, is on our AED recall list.
How AED Log tracks the ZOLL AED 3
In AED Log you pick the ZOLL AED 3 from the built-in catalog, record its pads and battery with their lot numbers and dates, and get a warning before either expires, plus a monthly inspection reminder.
Each pad set and battery is its own record with its own expiration date, so a pad set or battery never lapses unnoticed. Choose the part from the catalog and its shelf life fills in the expiration date for you; you can always type the date printed on the package instead. Alerts go out by email, Slack, Teams or Discord to the people responsible for that site, and the monthly inspection checklist asks about the status indicator, the pads and the battery. See pad and battery expiration tracking and AED management for more, or see every AED model.
ZOLL AED 3 FAQ
How long do ZOLL AED 3 pads last?
ZOLL gives CPR Uni-padz, the standard AED 3 pads, a 5-year installed shelf life. CPR Stat-padz last 24 months and Pedi-padz II 2 years. Replace any pads by the date on the package, and after every use.
How long does the ZOLL AED 3 battery last?
ZOLL rates the AED 3 battery pack (8000-000696) for up to 5 years installed with weekly self-tests. Daily self-tests or automatic Wi-Fi reports cut that to about 3 years. Replace it sooner if the AED says CHANGE BATTERY.
Can you use the ZOLL AED 3 on a child?
Yes, for children under 8 or under 55 pounds. Press the Child button with CPR Uni-padz connected, or plug in Pedi-padz II, and the AED switches to Child Mode with lower shock energy.
What's the difference between the ZOLL AED 3 and the AED 3 BLS?
The AED 3 BLS is made for professional rescuers. It's semi-automatic only and adds an optional ECG display, a CPR Dashboard with rate and depth figures, and optional audio recording. Both use the same pads and battery pack.
What battery does the ZOLL AED 3 take?
The ZOLL AED 3 battery pack, part 8000-000696, a non-rechargeable lithium pack shared by the AED 3, AED 3 Automatic and AED 3 BLS. Check its install-by date before fitting it, and keep a new spare with the AED.