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| Your device | Adult pads | Pediatric option | Battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| HeartStart OnSite (M5066A) | M5071A, ~$99, 2 yr | M5072A Infant/Child cartridge (Rx only) | M5070A, ~$249, 4 yr |
| HeartStart Home (M5068A) | M5071A, ~$99, 2 yr | M5072A Infant/Child cartridge (Rx only) | M5070A, ~$249, 4 yr |
| HeartStart FRx (861304) | SMART Pads II, 989803139261, ~$89, 2 yr | Infant/Child Key 989803139311, ~$121 to $139, reusable | M5070A, ~$249, 4 yr |
| HeartStart FR3 | SMART Pads III (different part, different device) | Separate FR3 accessory | FR3 battery, not M5070A |
The wrong part you almost ordered
Quick answer
Mistake 1: M5071A on an FRx. The OnSite and the FRx are both HeartStart devices with a cartridge slot, and the parts are not interchangeable. The FRx takes SMART Pads II, part 989803139261. If you own an FRx, that eleven-digit number is the only one that matters.
Mistake 2: SMART Pads III. SMART Pads III belong to the Philips FR3, a professional device that is not the FRx despite the one-letter difference. Ordering III for an FRx buys a part that will not serve. We published this error once ourselves and corrected it, which is exactly why it is worth flagging: even people who do this for a living mix these two up.
Mistake 3: assuming the pediatric cartridge ships like the adult one. The adult configuration of the OnSite and Home is approved for over-the-counter sale under the FDA-approved labeling on PMA P160029. The Infant/Child SMART Pads cartridge (M5072A) is Rx Only: federal law restricts its sale to the order of a physician. Established dealers handle that, but it is why a pediatric cartridge sometimes needs a phone call when the adult one does not. Full detail in our home AED prescription table.
What Philips consumables cost over ten years
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| Device | Pads (part, price, life) | Battery (part, price, life) | 10-yr consumables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philips OnSite / Home | M5071A, $99, 2 yr | M5070A, $249, 4 yr | ~$894 |
| Philips FRx | 989803139261, $89, 2 yr | M5070A, $249, 4 yr | ~$854 |
| ZOLL AED Plus (for contrast) | CPR-D-padz, $230, 5 yr | Battery set, ~$100, 5 yr | ~$330 |
| HeartSine 350P (for contrast) | Pad-Pak, $236, pads and battery in one cartridge | ~$472 | |
Do expired Philips pads still work?
Quick answer
The scale of the risk is documented. In a review of 40,787 AED failures reported to the FDA, batteries accounted for 23.2% and pads or connectors for 23.7%, so roughly 46.9% of all reported AED failures traced to consumables (DeLuca et al., Annals of Emergency Medicine, 2012). The device almost never fails. The parts you were supposed to replace do.
Practical rule: expired pads stay in the case as a backup behind the in-date set, never as the primary. If an arrest happens and expired pads are all you have, use them. They are better than nothing by an enormous margin.
Pediatric: what Philips actually charges
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This is where Philips’ two families diverge sharply. The FRx key is inserted into the device and converts the adult pads to pediatric energy, so there is nothing extra to expire or reorder. The OnSite family instead needs a separate pediatric cartridge on its own replacement clock. If children are a regular part of your setting, that difference is worth more than the sticker price gap between the two devices. Compare against the ZOLL AED 3, whose Uni-padz cover both populations at no extra cost, in our AED 3 review, and see the institutional version of the same math in the best AED for schools guide.
The AHA permits adult pads on a child when pediatric equipment is unavailable: place one pad on the chest and one on the back. No child should go unshocked because the pediatric part was not in the bag.
Fleet math: what pads cost across multiple units
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| Fleet size | Philips OnSite, 10-yr consumables | ZOLL AED Plus, 10-yr consumables | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 unit | $894 | $330 | $564 |
| 5 units | $4,470 | $1,650 | $2,820 |
| 10 units | $8,940 | $3,300 | $5,640 |
| 25 units | $22,350 | $8,250 | $14,100 |
Recertified units: when your clock starts
Quick answer
Recertified is the largest category across the network we track, and the Philips OnSite is its single biggest seller. A recertified OnSite at about $875 arrives with fresh consumables installed, which means the first pad replacement is two years out and the first battery four, both measured from a date you actually know. Buying a new device from a warehouse can hand you a cartridge already a year into its shelf life.
What to verify before buying: that new pads and battery are included rather than sold separately, that the warranty is stated in writing, and that the reconditioner documents serial history so you can check the unit against FDA recall listings. The full checklist is in how to choose a refurbished AED, with model detail in the recertified AED pillar, the recertified OnSite page, and the OnSite review. Owners comparing brands should also see the FRx review, the recertified HeartSine, and the 2026 rankings.
When to reorder, in practice
Three habits cover almost every failure mode. First, write the printed expiry date, not the install date, into a phone reminder set 60 days early, because a cartridge manufactured months before you bought it expires on the manufacturer’s clock. Second, replace the battery on schedule even if the status indicator looks fine, since the indicator confirms current charge rather than remaining service life. Third, keep the expiring set in the case as backup when you swap; two sets of pads in a case has never made anyone less safe.
If your device is a recertified unit, it shipped with new pads and battery, so your clock starts at the purchase date. The recertified OnSite breakdown covers what that includes, and the recertified FRx page does the same for the FRx.
Order the right part
Philips pads and battery FAQ
What pads does the Philips HeartStart OnSite use?
What pads does the Philips FRx use?
How long does the M5070A battery last?
Do expired Philips AED pads still work?
Do I need a prescription for Philips AED pads?
What is the cheapest way to keep a Philips AED in service?
References
- FDA Premarket Approval database: P160029 (Philips HeartStart OnSite M5066A and Home M5068A, including SMART Pads M5071A and M5072A) and P180028 (HeartStart FRx 861304). FDA-approved labeling on P160029 designates the adult configuration for over-the-counter sale and restricts the Infant/Child cartridge M5072A to prescription.
- DeLuca LA et al. Analysis of automated external defibrillator device failures reported to the Food and Drug Administration. Ann Emerg Med. 2012 (PMID 21872969): 40,787 reported events, batteries 23.2%, pads and connectors 23.7%.
- American Heart Association guidance permitting adult pads on a child when pediatric pads are unavailable.
- Seller prices and part numbers: AED Leader product and accessory pages, checked August 2026.
