It costs what!!!

[Mike36c]

My ACR EPIRB is due for battery replacement so I called the local dealer, good thing I was sitting down... $295 for a friggin battery? Has anyone else been to this rodeo and found a suitable aftermarket battery for a reasonable price?

 

[34Hatt]

My ACR EPIRB is due for battery replacement so I called the local dealer, good thing I was sitting down... $295 for a friggin battery? Has anyone else been to this rodeo and found a suitable aftermarket battery for a reasonable price?

Crap mine is over due also
Life raft was $1,100 last year!

 

[stormchaser]

That's actually not bad...I've heard of $400 batteries for some of the newer ones...

 

[SeaEric]

ACR's stuff is all big $$. I had to get a repair part for one of their (unnecessarily complicated) remote control searchlights. It was outrageous. I would not buy their products, knowing what I know now.

 

[Canuck Dennis]

These I believe are two lithium batts welded together, I went to a specialty battery outlet, (industrial), showed them the batt, they asked what it did, I told them it was for underwater photography and they said they could duplicate the same thing for 50.00.did it 2 yrs ago, seems to re test ok.

 

[saltshaker]

These I believe are two lithium batts welded together, I went to a specialty battery outlet, (industrial), showed them the batt, they asked what it did, I told them it was for underwater photography and they said they could duplicate the same thing for 50.00.did it 2 yrs ago, seems to re test ok.

I've done this with some specialty equipment I use for work. Had a battery belt that the manufacturer wanted $1200 for new cells. Found a company to put something together for me as a replacement. I spent under $150 on the first one. After a couple of years of good service, we redid the others with great results. I'll try to dig up the name of that Co. for you.

 

[saltshaker]

This is the co. I've used.
http://www.rathboneenergy.com/index.html
I've also used these guys but not sure they would have what you need.
http://www.batteryrefill.com/index.phtml
Let me know what you find out.

 

[34Hatt]

Mike

Have you decided what to do about your battery???

I just keep thinking am I crazy to do the battery myself or should I send it back and have it changed and tested??
Hate to have it not work over a couple of hundred boat bucks

So what do the rest think??

 

[mobilemn1]

Mike,

I fly RC airplanes and we constantly make our own battery pacs....as long as they are put in a heat skrink sleeve, shaped to the correct configeration to go in the device and all jumpers are soldered onto the batteries after the heat shrinking step, charged and cycled properly you shouldn't have any trouble,,,,,I have flown 35 and 40 lbs planes,,,mostly 1/4 scale,,,,,and at 40 to 80mph,,,,you want them to hold up. Tower Hobby has a good selection of different size batteries to make these packs. other suppliers should have as well....I had to trust my batteries due to the dangers of flying a plane in close proximity to spectatars. As for the purpose its used for I guess each has to weigh that to determine its value,,,,but batteries are just batteries afterall

 

[Boatsb]

Mike,

I fly RC airplanes and we constantly make our own battery pacs....as long as they are put in a heat skrink sleeve, shaped to the correct configeration to go in the device and all jumpers are soldered onto the batteries after the heat shrinking step, charged and cycled properly you shouldn't have any trouble,,,,,I have flown 35 and 40 lbs planes,,,mostly 1/4 scale,,,,,and at 40 to 80mph,,,,you want them to hold up. Tower Hobby has a good selection of different size batteries to make these packs. other suppliers should have as well....I had to trust my batteries due to the dangers of flying a plane in close proximity to spectatars. As for the purpose its used for I guess each has to weigh that to determine its value,,,,but batteries are just batteries afterall

True but not complete. I use all types of batteries in my work. The largest manufacturer of Video and film batteries is Anton Bauer. The use individual cells and do as you say BUT they add electronics that regulate and control the battery systems. If the EPIRB battery has attached electronics they need to be replaced with similar electronics. If not the stacked cells should be usable.

 

[saltshaker]

Scott,
You can easily re-cell Anton Bauer bricks and belts. I did this for years. Haven't used their stuff for a while now since most of my work is studio based. Rarely deal with the ENG/EFP stuff anymore.

 

[Backdraft]

You know, BOAT is not a word. It's an acronym. Bring Out Another Thousand!

 

[saltshaker]

You know, BOAT is not a word. It's an acronym. Bring Out Another Thousand!

I have a mug with the definition of a powerboat, "a vessel that is propelled across the water by the rapid combustion of money"

 

[Mike36c]

Mike

Have you decided what to do about your battery???

I just keep thinking am I crazy to do the battery myself or should I send it back and have it changed and tested??
Hate to have it not work over a couple of hundred boat bucks

So what do the rest think??

I'm still pondering the issue. There are some internet site offering them in the $225 range but for only a few more bucks I can buy new. The next step is to take the battery apart and go from there. Thanks all for the responses!

 

[Trojan]

Before You buy new batteries for your EPIRB. Make sure it is on the correct frequency. The 406-MHz. unit is the only one that is monitored. The other frequencies 121 and 243 MHz. bands have been dropped and are no longer monitored as of February 1.

BILL