EPIRB Battery Replacement

[Fatbob]

Anyone know the best place to get an ACR EPRIB battery replaced? I checked out a few places and they seem a bit pricey.

Thanks.

[StuM]

Depends where you are "SWFL" doesnt mean much on an international forum.

[Fatbob]

Originally Posted by StuM

Depends where you are "SWFL" doesnt mean much on an international forum.

Southwest Florida

[DougR]

Call ACR.

[Emmalina]

https://www.batterystore.com/brands/Saft.html

[Marathon1150]

Our ACR iPro EPIRB purchased in 2016 or so had an expiration date of 2020 for the battery. Checking with the local shop that can do this work, we can get a newer model ACR EPIRB for about $100 more than replacing the battery on the old one. One advantage of replacement other than the acquisition of a newer piece of equipment with technical updates, is that ACR will not replace batteries on EPIRBs once they are 12 years old. We learned this with our first one and I confirmed this practice in a discussion with the shop that will do the battery replacement. ACR also prefers to decommission their EPIRBs rather than risk owners simply throwing them away. So they offer a financial incentive to replace older EPIRBs with new ones, hence the small difference in cost between a battery replacement and a new EPIRB.

And yes, replacing a battery is very expensive.

[Pandor]

Originally Posted by Marathon1150

Our ACR iPro EPIRB purchased in 2016 or so had an expiration date of 2020 for the battery..

That sounds strange. I was under the impression that EPIRB batteries were supposed to have Minimum of 10 years left at point of sale. I just recently bought one (non-ACR) that had an expiration date two months shy of a full ten years and received a substantial discount because of it.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Pandor

That sounds strange. I was under the impression that EPIRB batteries were supposed to have Minimum of 10 years left at point of sale. I just recently bought one (non-ACR) that had an expiration date two months shy of a full ten years and received a substantial discount because of it.

Why would you buy just a thing often the replacement battery is as much as a new one and why buy a 10 year old piece of technology.

[Marathon1150]

Originally Posted by Pandor

That sounds strange. I was under the impression that EPIRB batteries were supposed to have Minimum of 10 years left at point of sale. I just recently bought one (non-ACR) that had an expiration date two months shy of a full ten years and received a substantial discount because of it.

New ACR and other EPIRBs now all seem to come with 10 year batteries. The replacement for our 2015/16 version comes with a 10 year battery but I can't remember if the replacement battery for our current EPIRB is good for 10 years - presumably yes.

[Pandor]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Why would you buy just a thing often the replacement battery is as much as a new one and why buy a 10 year old piece of technology.

I wasn’t clear. I did buy a whole new EPIRB and it was discounted because the battery was due to expire in 9 years and 10 months. I was surprised someone purchased an EPIRB that only had four years left before expiration.

[Marathon1150]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Why would you buy just a thing often the replacement battery is as much as a new one and why buy a 10 year old piece of technology.

Good question.

What would you recommend as an alternative?

We also have an IridiumGo with a distress button and an InReach, also with a distress button.

What would be the best way to future-proof emergency/distress signal locating devices?

[goboatingnow]

I buy GME GPIRBs. About €300 after the required period they go in the garbage

[Snore]

There are certain jobs you don’t go “low bid” on. IMHO EPIRB/PLB battery replacement is one of them.

As someone else said, for a little more, replace the unit and get the latest and greatest.

[Ambler]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

I buy GME GPIRBs. About €300 after the required period they go in the garbage

Do you pull it apart and remove the batteries first?

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Ambler

Do you pull it apart and remove the batteries first?

Nope why. The store must take it back but the latest one I just replaced and keep the old one as a spare as it still functions , I’ve only owned three in total anyway so I do not see the point of the expensive ACR replaceable units.