EPIRB

[Rum_Pirate]

I have acquired a share in a yacht (long story).

There is an EPIRB.

A Global Fix by ACR Electronics, Inc.
On side (manufactured?) Date : 0405



Label on front says replace battery by : 08/2009

The plastic surrounding the antenna has perished (with age?) and disintergrated.

Should we bother replacing the battery?

Can we do it our self?

OR

Should we buy a new EPIRB?



???????

 

[Gixer]

I’ve got one of these in the garage in exactly the same condition. I came to the conclusion to just buy a new one but haven’t got around to doing it yet.

Interested to hear people thoughts as well ?

 

[Atlantic Dream]

Check with the manufacturer. Sometimes you get a good discount on a new one for sending in the old one. The batteries tend to not be user changeable.

 

[KompetentKrew]

EDIT: ACR's website seems to have better support for their Artex models than for their marine range,

However they have a page for their legacy marine products - this looks like a GlobalFix RLB-35 (slightly different shape of case from the Satellite2).

Google shows a UK-based battery replacement service for £260 or an American supplier of batteries-only for $99. I would be tempted to open the battery pack and see what cells are inside.

 

[William_H]

If you buy a new one get one with GPS fitted. Far better for pecise location assuming old one is not GPSenabled.m ol'will

 

[KompetentKrew]

If you buy a new one get one with GPS fitted. Far better for pecise location assuming old one is not GPSenabled.m ol'will

If my identification of it is correct then you can see from the product page that it has GPS.

 

[Rum_Pirate]

If you buy a new one get one with GPS fitted. Far better for pecise location assuming old one is not GPSenabled.m ol'will

https://forums.ybw.com/index.php?threads/epirb.580728/reply&quote=7934181

This one in the OP has gps.

 

[awol]

The battery cells are available but probably need welded connections to make the pack. The £260 gets you a test certificate to say it actually works, the seal checked/replaced and a new, probably 6 year, battery.
Sitting in a cheap liferaft (if it actually inflated!) wondering if the flashing light means the EPIRB is working can be avoided by following Blondie Haslar's maxim.

 

[ash2020]

I think this is a no-brainer. If it was a year or two out of date it would be sensible to replace the battery but in this case there are probably other components and circuitry that have failed or are failing.