Ocean saftey plb1 battery replacement

billyfish

billyfish

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So my PLB should have batteries replaced in Sept 2024. It's lived in my lifejacket all that time , tested once a year and still says . OK. Replacement batteries over a one hundred English pounds ! What's that all about ? Batteries just sit there ....right ? New PLB ?
 
"Calendar Aging" is a phenomenon of lithium ion batteries caused by unavoidable chemical reactions and thermodynamic, elevated temperatures, which accelerate the chemical reaction. The chemical reaction impacts the battery to deliver its technical specification.

Lithium-Ion Battery Degradation Rate (+What You Need to Know)

Practical Sailer did an aging test on PLB batteries and discovered that even when aged they still me the performance standard.

A Look at PLB Battery Life - Practical Sailor

The conclusion seams to be that PLB batteries will still deliver after their sell by date. Can that be applied universally across all PLBs? Who knows, but at around £100 odd pounds every 5 years, the decision to replace is an easy one, in my opinion. n However, if I am year or so late, then no problem. This year my boat has been quite hot compared to other years, so maybe that will impact post seen by date performance.

I don't buy new, I just buy a new battery.
 
Subject pops up regularly ..

Cantata

Thread 'Replacing PLB battery'

I've got a McMurdo FF210 PLB that came with the boat, 5 years ago. The battery became life-expired around the same time.
Even now, the thing still does the self-test OK but I guess I shouldn't rely on it.
What do people do about these? I found a place that will replace the battery - 'Spares Marine' - and they want £126 to do it. I can buy a brand new equivalent PLB for about double that. And an Ocean Signal equivalent is less than double that.
I can't help but wonder if I am throwing money away on a battery replacement for an old device. But it's still £120 cheaper than a new device.
I'd...

M

Thread 'Ocean Signal RescueME MOB1 DIY battery replacement'

The batteries on these devices need to be replaced periodically.

The "original" battery for this AIS is just two Energizer batteries in series. Those cost £4 a pair. On the other hand having batteries replaced by Ocean Signal or an authorised company is anywhere between £50-£100. (They add a sticker showing when the new batteries should expire.)

What could go wrong with a DIY service replacing the Energizer cells with exactly same (but new) ones - except for a void warranty?

etc
 
Last time I looked mine was £70 for a battery replacement, every 5 years or so. For a piece of equipment that really is your last line of defence that’s not too bad, shirley?
 
Replace by dates are always going to be conservative to ensure full performance after a difficult life [cynic] to make a bit more money[/cynic], so you can be pretty sure they'll work for a good while longer. However, as the battery deteriorates with age, it will work for a shorter time - not ideal if you're floating around a few miles offshore, watching your boat sail away without you.

Unless there's something really clever about the self test, all that can do is say, yes, everything's working, and the battery's delivering the requisite voltage and current for the duration of the test. It tells you nothing about whether it will still do it after running for an hour.
 
billyfish said:
So my PLB should have batteries replaced in Sept 2024. It's lived in my lifejacket all that time , tested once a year and still says . OK. Replacement batteries over a one hundred English pounds ! What's that all about ? Batteries just sit there ....right ? New PLB ?
Click to expand...
my Mc murdo fast find is now junk as the battery has expired& eyewatering to get it replaced, never again will i buy equipment that user cant change batteries, a big con the EU,was to outlaw:unsure:
 
do mcmurdo merely rebrand a cheap US unit like they do with AIS ? maybe the US will supply batteries for the pLB at a decent dollar rate ? !!
Depending on the daily trump tariff change.............🤣 :rolleyes:
 
I have a Mc Murdo Epirb that Mc Murdo refused to supply replacement batteries, so I went to a local company to get my battery replaced and cost me a 5th of the cost from Mcmurdo. that prevents over exploitation of consumers

Despite what the authorities we have the right by law to choose who we com buy anything from and like the UK we have a monopolies act
 
Some replacement batteries cost £200.

Sounds like a rip off.

I took an expired battery out (user replacement was acceptable on the model) and the voltage was as good as a new one.

A drop tester like that used for lead acid batteries would be needed to check the amps were still in the battery I suspect, do people agree?

Drop testers don’t exist for such batteries as far as I know, so there seems no way I know of, of testing the amount of amps still in a’date expired’ battery.

Could it be good still?

£200 for a replacement battery is a considerable amount of a new device.
 
Cerebus said:
Some replacement batteries cost £200.

Sounds like a rip off.....
Click to expand...

That's for a battery change by the manufacturer or their agent. I guess that also includes a service/inspection and a proper test. So that's more than a DIY battery change by someone who might not have a clue what they're doing. Maybe not a rip-off?
 
penberth3 said:
That's for a battery change by the manufacturer or their agent. I guess that also includes a service/inspection and a proper test. So that's more than a DIY battery change by someone who might not have a clue what they're doing. Maybe not a rip-off?
Click to expand...
That was the price I was quoted for me to buy a battery and DIY (which was very easy on my model; 2 screws and 2 new rubber washers).

Other models have much cheaper batteries for sale; as little as £70 iirc.
 
Just tried to replace the battery pack but the wires are the wrong way round ! See photo. Got from xcelplustore ebay £25.99
 
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