Test your PLB

[Wakatere]

I was vaguely aware that I hadn't tested my PLB for a while - with the new season approaching I checked and realised that the battery was due for replacement later in the year but it was still within the expected lifetime.

So I pushed the test button and NOTHING HAPPENED - not a test fail, NO TEST AT ALL.

I sent it off for a battery change anyway and they tell me it's dead.

How long have I been carrying this thing under the delusion that it would make a difference if I was in the water? Nobody knows.

I sail single-handed, so if I go over this is pretty much my only hope.

Test your PLB regularly!!

Any advice on what to buy next?

 

[OCuea]

Which plb is it? Most strange. I have had plbs and epirbs out of date but the test function worked and a multimeter showed the voltage as spot on. Sime battery replacements cost almost as a new plb which seems wrong or odd.
Mcmurdo fast find is my recommendation. But thinking twice I used that for land and only at sea in conjunction with an epirb. Perhaps a plb with AIS , but I am out of date so can’t recommend one, but having AIS and satellite link seems a good idea.

 

[Supertramp]

A floating hand held VHF radio......

I share your concern.

 

[OCuea]

To go the whole hog- tether, life jacket with spray hood and light and plb with AIS inside life jacket and flares on your person (lifeboatmen carry them on a belt) if pyro fear carry an LED version in a pocket. Floating vhf handheld if you have any room left. Sounds like best plan is not to go over.

 

[Wakatere]

Which plb is it?

ACR ResQLink

Most strange. I have had plbs and epirbs out of date but the test function worked and a multimeter showed the voltage as spot on. Sime battery replacements cost almost as a new plb which seems wrong or odd.

Agreed - I nearly ditched it for something newer, but keeping safety equipment going shouldn't be that difficult.

Mcmurdo fast find is my recommendation. But thinking twice I used that for land and only at sea in conjunction with an epirb. Perhaps a plb with AIS , but I am out of date so can’t recommend one, but having AIS and satellite link seems a good idea.

Will consider the fastFind.
The only combined one I'm aware of is the Ocean Signal PLB3 which is expensive and bulky.

 

[Wakatere]

To go the whole hog- tether, life jacket with spray hood and light

Tether, lifejacket, sprayhood, light all present.
I've not gone over so far.

and plb with AIS inside life jacket and flares on your person (lifeboatmen carry them on a belt) if pyro fear carry an LED version in a pocket. Floating vhf handheld if you have any room left. Sounds like best plan is not to go over.

Carrying everything (apart from the expense) would be awkward.
I'm not sure I'd want to set off a pyro if the only thing keeping me alive was a fragile inflatable bladder.

 

[Mark-1]

I was vaguely aware that I hadn't tested my PLB for a while - with the new season approaching I checked and realised that the battery was due for replacement later in the year but it was still within the expected lifetime.

So I pushed the test button and NOTHING HAPPENED - not a test fail, NO TEST AT ALL.

I sent it off for a battery change anyway and they tell me it's dead.

How long have I been carrying this thing under the delusion that it would make a difference if I was in the water? Nobody knows.

I sail single-handed, so if I go over this is pretty much my only hope.

Test your PLB regularly!!

Any advice on what to buy next?

That's pretty shocking. Something like this ought to be 99.999% reliable IMHO. Or maybe it is and you bought the 100,000th one.

 

[OCuea]

Is there any guarantee applicable that you could claim with?

 

[Juan Twothree]

Any advice on what to buy next?

If it helps, the RNLI currently uses the ResQ link 375. Don't know if it's still a current model.

We do a monthly battery test, and a six monthly GPS test. Don't know if that stipulation comes from the manufacturer, or the RNLI.

 

[MontyMariner]

We do a monthly battery test, and a six monthly GPS test. Don't know if that stipulation comes from the manufacturer, or the RNLI.

ACR ResQLink Review.

This guy says "The manual mentions that you should only perform the test once. In fact, you should only use this twice, once to test, and once to activate."!
Personally, I'm on your side of the fence.

 

[OCuea]

ACR ResQLink Review.

This guy says "The manual mentions that you should only perform the test once. In fact, you should only use this twice, once to test, and once to activate."!
Personally, I'm on your side of the fence.

I bought a second hand plb once. It tested ok but I opened the battery compartment to measure the voltage - the gold pins WERE NOT EVEN IN THEIR HOLES - just happens to be squashed flat against the holes / surprising it worked and obviously a replacement battery by a fool.