theotter
Well-Known Member
What is the best deal/idea anyone has come across for replacing batteries (5 years expiring) in a McMurdo EPIRB?
Replacing batteries in an EPIRB
- Thread starter theotter
- Start date
PetiteFleur
Well-Known Member
DIY ?? Don't know about yours but I did one a few years ago, bought the batteries on-line, soldered them up, inserted them and resealed the compartment. From memory about £25 - the dealer wanted about £160!
William_H
Well-Known Member
I think the trick is to consider the battery replacement concerns before buying the EPIRB.
I used to be involved with the aircraft industry where one popular type of beacon.(NARCO) (crash locator beacon) ran on 8 D cells. They were replaced every year easily. In fact you could carry a spare set in the grab bag. In fact being such large batteries the beacon ran for a long time anyway.
I don't think anything like this is available for the new EPIRB system but it would be great.If it were. olewill
I used to be involved with the aircraft industry where one popular type of beacon.(NARCO) (crash locator beacon) ran on 8 D cells. They were replaced every year easily. In fact you could carry a spare set in the grab bag. In fact being such large batteries the beacon ran for a long time anyway.
I don't think anything like this is available for the new EPIRB system but it would be great.If it were. olewill
mlthomas
Well-Known Member
RS Components (on line) offer up a good range of batteries
http://uk.rs-online.com/web
http://uk.rs-online.com/web
charles_reed
Well-Known Member
Before we all rush off and do this (and £160 is so low as to make me suspicious), if it is done according to the rule-book, the dealer sends it off to the national distributor, who changes the battery, tests the instrument and sends it back with a certificate as to Fitness-for-use.
Of course, if you are certain of your workmanship, have the kit to test the frequency and strength of the signal and can replace the seals to ensure the unit remain watertight, good.
If you haven't and really think you might want the unit to save your life one day, perhaps the difference in price might not be worth it!!!
The replacement battery for my ACR, in the UK, costs about £250. I had it done in France by the one and only SOLAS appointee for €330 and have the two certificates with which it came back.
Of course, if you are certain of your workmanship, have the kit to test the frequency and strength of the signal and can replace the seals to ensure the unit remain watertight, good.
If you haven't and really think you might want the unit to save your life one day, perhaps the difference in price might not be worth it!!!
The replacement battery for my ACR, in the UK, costs about £250. I had it done in France by the one and only SOLAS appointee for €330 and have the two certificates with which it came back.
Maxi_10
Well-Known Member
I have been quoted £200 to replace the batteries in my ACR EPIRB. The best price for a new McMurdo of the same spec is £239. I will probably just buy a new one. Is it worth having a 10 year old piece of kit that has been tested once in its life to save a few pounds.
Having said that in a recent thread someone had had batteries in a McMurdo chnaged of £50 by a dealer. might be worth a search
Having said that in a recent thread someone had had batteries in a McMurdo chnaged of £50 by a dealer. might be worth a search
mocruising
Well-Known Member
I am with Charles_Reed on this one. When they replace the battery they also do a propper function test and should re-certify it.
absit_omen
Well-Known Member
Extraordinary how little value some people put on their and their crew's lives.
Rather like 'The most expensive boats have the cheapest binoculars'.
Rather like 'The most expensive boats have the cheapest binoculars'.
Chris_Robb
Well-Known Member
Charles - I rather agree with you.
When my old non GPS EPIRB came up for service, required on this model every 3 years, I found that for £150 more I could have a modern one with a 6 year life AND with GPS. - oh - I got £50 back for my old unit, which they apparently break for scrap! Rather a brain dead decision I think.
When my old non GPS EPIRB came up for service, required on this model every 3 years, I found that for £150 more I could have a modern one with a 6 year life AND with GPS. - oh - I got £50 back for my old unit, which they apparently break for scrap! Rather a brain dead decision I think.
maxi77
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Extraordinary how little value some people put on their and their crew's lives.
Rather like 'The most expensive boats have the cheapest binoculars'.
[/ QUOTE ]
I think it is very reasonable for some one to ask why changing the batteries in a bit of kit costs almost as much as replacing the wjhole bit of kit.
And any way just because it is expensive does not mean it is good. As things stand my cheap binooculars do every bit as well as my expensive ones. Value for money is the answer, does it do the job and is the price reasonable.
If some one asked me to pay more than £200 to replace a battery in an EPIRB when I can buy a new one for little more, you know I will buy the new one, it represents better value than an over priced service.
Extraordinary how little value some people put on their and their crew's lives.
Rather like 'The most expensive boats have the cheapest binoculars'.
[/ QUOTE ]
I think it is very reasonable for some one to ask why changing the batteries in a bit of kit costs almost as much as replacing the wjhole bit of kit.
And any way just because it is expensive does not mean it is good. As things stand my cheap binooculars do every bit as well as my expensive ones. Value for money is the answer, does it do the job and is the price reasonable.
If some one asked me to pay more than £200 to replace a battery in an EPIRB when I can buy a new one for little more, you know I will buy the new one, it represents better value than an over priced service.
absit_omen
Well-Known Member
If you have faith in someone's home soldering - fine, carry on.
William_H
Well-Known Member
I totally agree with Maxi the argument about the value of your crews liives has a very limited truth in reality. If you valued their lives that much you would stay at home. Or you would only take them on a large liner with professional crew. No every item of safety has its reasonable price.
You just have to be very discerning about where the limited budget is spent on safety gear.
The most important item of safety is the wisdom of the skipper.....olewill
You just have to be very discerning about where the limited budget is spent on safety gear.
The most important item of safety is the wisdom of the skipper.....olewill
rogerthebodger
Well-Known Member
Having got a time expired EPIRB I looked into this a while ago and cane to the conclusion that battery replacement is one of the simplest parts of the so called safety check.
The on board self test will check the state of the battery ones replaces and a compentent DIYer can replace the seals and couls even check it is water tight. The third aspect is the checking of the radio transmission is what concerns me.
As far as I understand the service centers test the radio transmission inside a metal faraday cage to prevent the signat beind picked up by a satellite so setting off alarms. This only takes place at once every 3 or 5 or 6 years.
IMHO this is not good enough.
When we leave harbour to go to sea the prudent skipper would do a radio check to ensure his radio is working. This is not possible and in fact is not allowed so if the equipment goes faulty after service you will not know until you try to use it and worse it could look like it worked but you will not know.
IMHO an end to end communications check should be included into all EPIRBs so the used can ensure his equipment is working correctly between services.
The on board self test will check the state of the battery ones replaces and a compentent DIYer can replace the seals and couls even check it is water tight. The third aspect is the checking of the radio transmission is what concerns me.
As far as I understand the service centers test the radio transmission inside a metal faraday cage to prevent the signat beind picked up by a satellite so setting off alarms. This only takes place at once every 3 or 5 or 6 years.
IMHO this is not good enough.
When we leave harbour to go to sea the prudent skipper would do a radio check to ensure his radio is working. This is not possible and in fact is not allowed so if the equipment goes faulty after service you will not know until you try to use it and worse it could look like it worked but you will not know.
IMHO an end to end communications check should be included into all EPIRBs so the used can ensure his equipment is working correctly between services.
lw395
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
IMHO an end to end communications check should be included into all EPIRBs so the used can ensure his equipment is working correctly between services.
[/ QUOTE ]
This is all very well, but would increase the traffic on the satellite link many times over, as checks would greatly outnumber maydays.
Probably drowning out the odd genuine call in the process.
If you do not trust the thing to work, then maybe within VHF range you are better off with a DSC set with a GPS input, and out of VHF range, a sat phone and a gps.
If you are going deep ocean, then a new epirb is probably worthwhile. If you rarely venture beyond the channel, it's overkill anyway.
Remember that none of these things make you immortal, they are no substitute for keeping the boat in one piece. Even a perfect epirb can be sunk with your yacht.
When you go offshore you should be prepared to look after yourself, not expect instant help via electronic toys.
IMHO an end to end communications check should be included into all EPIRBs so the used can ensure his equipment is working correctly between services.
[/ QUOTE ]
This is all very well, but would increase the traffic on the satellite link many times over, as checks would greatly outnumber maydays.
Probably drowning out the odd genuine call in the process.
If you do not trust the thing to work, then maybe within VHF range you are better off with a DSC set with a GPS input, and out of VHF range, a sat phone and a gps.
If you are going deep ocean, then a new epirb is probably worthwhile. If you rarely venture beyond the channel, it's overkill anyway.
Remember that none of these things make you immortal, they are no substitute for keeping the boat in one piece. Even a perfect epirb can be sunk with your yacht.
When you go offshore you should be prepared to look after yourself, not expect instant help via electronic toys.
maxi77
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
If you have faith in someone's home soldering - fine, carry on.
[/ QUOTE ]
To be honest I personally do have considerable faith in my soldering, and I do have a fair idea when it is not good enough to rtust my life to it. That though was not my point, a point that you I suspect deliberately missed which was if the re-battery and service cost nearly as much as the replacement, isn't the replacement the better option, oh and that big price does not always mean big value, as equally little price does not always mean little value.
My liferaft will be due for service shortly, and if the price is to high in my estimation the option would be to buy new instead rather than a DIY job, mainly because I have little experiencxe of liferafts, whilst I do have experience of soldering, and becaus I feel that in my circumstances specifically a new life raft may be better value.
If you have faith in someone's home soldering - fine, carry on.
[/ QUOTE ]
To be honest I personally do have considerable faith in my soldering, and I do have a fair idea when it is not good enough to rtust my life to it. That though was not my point, a point that you I suspect deliberately missed which was if the re-battery and service cost nearly as much as the replacement, isn't the replacement the better option, oh and that big price does not always mean big value, as equally little price does not always mean little value.
My liferaft will be due for service shortly, and if the price is to high in my estimation the option would be to buy new instead rather than a DIY job, mainly because I have little experiencxe of liferafts, whilst I do have experience of soldering, and becaus I feel that in my circumstances specifically a new life raft may be better value.
absit_omen
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
a point that you I suspect deliberately missed which was if the re-battery and service cost nearly as much as the replacement
[/ QUOTE ]
No, the point I was arguing was specifically against the DiY solution. Manufacturing economics are clearly in favour of full replacement rather than servicing and, whilst I abhor waste, that is the way of the world and the clock cannot be turned back.
In my own case, I will only have my liferaft serviced by the manufacturer and not by some back street mob recommended by someone in a bar because it is 'only one third of the price'. In fact, in some ways I would prefer to ditch the old one and buy new. Yes, about £600 every five years but better than watching your liferaft fail to inflate when to need it.
I so not know the details of EPIRB batteries. What I do know is that I would rather have a first year dental student do root canal work or the 'handy' guy down the road service my brand new Porsche.
It is all false economy at best. Rather like having 'cheap' motor insurance which is worth diddly squat when the [--word removed--] hits the fan.
a point that you I suspect deliberately missed which was if the re-battery and service cost nearly as much as the replacement
[/ QUOTE ]
No, the point I was arguing was specifically against the DiY solution. Manufacturing economics are clearly in favour of full replacement rather than servicing and, whilst I abhor waste, that is the way of the world and the clock cannot be turned back.
In my own case, I will only have my liferaft serviced by the manufacturer and not by some back street mob recommended by someone in a bar because it is 'only one third of the price'. In fact, in some ways I would prefer to ditch the old one and buy new. Yes, about £600 every five years but better than watching your liferaft fail to inflate when to need it.
I so not know the details of EPIRB batteries. What I do know is that I would rather have a first year dental student do root canal work or the 'handy' guy down the road service my brand new Porsche.
It is all false economy at best. Rather like having 'cheap' motor insurance which is worth diddly squat when the [--word removed--] hits the fan.
maxi77
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
a point that you I suspect deliberately missed which was if the re-battery and service cost nearly as much as the replacement
[/ QUOTE ]
No, the point I was arguing was specifically against the DiY solution. Manufacturing economics are clearly in favour of full replacement rather than servicing and, whilst I abhor waste, that is the way of the world and the clock cannot be turned back.
In my own case, I will only have my liferaft serviced by the manufacturer and not by some back street mob recommended by someone in a bar because it is 'only one third of the price'. In fact, in some ways I would prefer to ditch the old one and buy new. Yes, about £600 every five years but better than watching your liferaft fail to inflate when to need it.
I so not know the details of EPIRB batteries. What I do know is that I would rather have a first year dental student do root canal work or the 'handy' guy down the road service my brand new Porsche.
It is all false economy at best. Rather like having 'cheap' motor insurance which is worth diddly squat when the [--word removed--] hits the fan.
[/ QUOTE ]
Then why bring up dogy DIY soldering in the reply to my post which said if service price was that high buy a new one.
Equally you are still banging on about paying big bucks ensuring good service and value, bollocks.
I collect little tradesmen working out of back street worshops, they only get repeat business because their customers like the work that was done and live long enough to keep recomending them.
On the other hand main franchise workshops will do anything because the assume the customer won't undestand. Just to give an example on one car of mine the main dealer quoted some £350 to fix a problem when an independant specialist made perfectly satisfacory adjustments for under £40. The main dealer, part of a big well known operation was down on volume nearing month end so stuck a few extra jobs on my service.
And before you ask did the £40 do the job, yes end of symptoms whic in this case were uneven tyre wear due to tracking adjustment.
As I said big price does not guarantee big value, you need to knoow what you are buying and who you are buying it from.
As for getting your liferaft serviced by the manufacturer, no guarantee. I test fired a life expired liferaft of a friend, which had only ever been serviced by the manufacturer and there wer parts missig from the inventory. Far better to know who is doing it.
[ QUOTE ]
a point that you I suspect deliberately missed which was if the re-battery and service cost nearly as much as the replacement
[/ QUOTE ]
No, the point I was arguing was specifically against the DiY solution. Manufacturing economics are clearly in favour of full replacement rather than servicing and, whilst I abhor waste, that is the way of the world and the clock cannot be turned back.
In my own case, I will only have my liferaft serviced by the manufacturer and not by some back street mob recommended by someone in a bar because it is 'only one third of the price'. In fact, in some ways I would prefer to ditch the old one and buy new. Yes, about £600 every five years but better than watching your liferaft fail to inflate when to need it.
I so not know the details of EPIRB batteries. What I do know is that I would rather have a first year dental student do root canal work or the 'handy' guy down the road service my brand new Porsche.
It is all false economy at best. Rather like having 'cheap' motor insurance which is worth diddly squat when the [--word removed--] hits the fan.
[/ QUOTE ]
Then why bring up dogy DIY soldering in the reply to my post which said if service price was that high buy a new one.
Equally you are still banging on about paying big bucks ensuring good service and value, bollocks.
I collect little tradesmen working out of back street worshops, they only get repeat business because their customers like the work that was done and live long enough to keep recomending them.
On the other hand main franchise workshops will do anything because the assume the customer won't undestand. Just to give an example on one car of mine the main dealer quoted some £350 to fix a problem when an independant specialist made perfectly satisfacory adjustments for under £40. The main dealer, part of a big well known operation was down on volume nearing month end so stuck a few extra jobs on my service.
And before you ask did the £40 do the job, yes end of symptoms whic in this case were uneven tyre wear due to tracking adjustment.
As I said big price does not guarantee big value, you need to knoow what you are buying and who you are buying it from.
As for getting your liferaft serviced by the manufacturer, no guarantee. I test fired a life expired liferaft of a friend, which had only ever been serviced by the manufacturer and there wer parts missig from the inventory. Far better to know who is doing it.
