Acer AP18C8K Replacement Battery 11.25V 50.29Wh — OEM Compatible Bulk Supply for Swift 3, Aspire 5, Chromebook & TravelMate Series

Q1: What is the difference between AP18C8K and AC18C8K? Are they the same battery?
Yes, they are the same physical battery. Acer uses AP18C8K as the part number on Aspire and Swift variants, and AC18C8K on Chromebook variants. The hardware — connector, cell configuration, dimensions, and BMS firmware — is identical across both designations. Repair shops and distributors can stock a single SKU to fulfill orders for both part numbers without compatibility issues.

Q2: AP18C8K and AP18C4K appear on many of the same compatible model lists. Are they interchangeable?
Not reliably. AP18C4K and AP18C8K share some overlapping compatible models (particularly Aspire 5 A515-43/44 and Spin 3 SP314-54N), but they are different part numbers with different cell codes — AP18C4K uses 3ICP5/81/68 and AP18C8K uses 3INP5/82/70 or 3ICP5/81/68 depending on production batch. Some machines shipped with either variant. The safest practice is to confirm the exact P/N on the installed battery label before ordering, not just the laptop model number.

Q3: The voltage on this battery is listed as 11.25V, 11.4V, or 11.52V depending on the source. Which is correct?
All three designations refer to the same battery. Li-Polymer cells have a nominal voltage of 3.7V per cell, giving a 3-cell pack a nominal of 11.1V. Acer’s own documentation uses 11.25V as the standard rating for AP18C8K. Third-party listings sometimes reference 11.4V (measured at a mid-state-of-charge point) or 11.52V (a slightly higher nominal standard used by some aftermarket producers). All are within the acceptable operating range for this battery family and do not affect compatibility.

Q4: After installation in a Swift 3 or Aspire 5, the battery is not recognized or shows 0% charge. What should I check?
First, verify the battery connector is fully seated — the flat-cable connector on AP18C8K is easy to misalign during installation without it appearing visibly loose. If the connector is secure, disconnect AC power, hold the power button for 15–20 seconds to clear EC memory, then reconnect battery only and power on. Allow it to discharge to around 5–10%, then charge uninterrupted to 100%. If the BIOS still shows unrecognized status, check for BIOS firmware updates — some Aspire 5 BIOS versions from 2020–2021 had EC compatibility issues with aftermarket batteries that were resolved in subsequent updates.

Q5: What is the minimum order quantity and lead time for wholesale supply?
Small batch orders are supported — contact us for tiered pricing by volume. For in-stock items, standard lead time is 3–5 business days after PO confirmation. Sample orders available before bulk commitment. All shipments include UN38.3 air freight documentation. CE and RoHS compliance documents available on request for education and government procurement records.

Q6: How should AP18C8K stock be managed in a warehouse before installation?
Li-Polymer cells maintain stable capacity for 12–18 months when stored at 15–25°C at 40–50% state of charge. We ship all batteries at approximately 40–50% SOC specifically for this reason. For distributors managing education sector bulk stock — where procurement to deployment cycles can span 3–6 months — this storage tolerance is adequate for a single academic year’s procurement cycle without capacity degradation. Use first-in-first-out rotation and target installation within 12 months of receipt.