Epirb replacement battery
On my new to me boat I acquired an old Alden Marine (since acquired by Northern Airborne Tech. Inc.) 406 Epirb. When I put in test position (at 5 minutes past the hour) I didn't get positive indication of operation. Being that the battery expiration tag indicated 2003 date I assumed it was due to bad battery. I figured with nothing to lose, I would check to see if I could find a replacement battery. Carefully disassembled and it is a very simple pack connected with 2 pic connectors. Volt meter shows 0 (zero) volts.
Seems Alden Marine got their batteries for this unit from Bluestar Batteries Inc of Surrey, Canada. Bluestar appears to not be in operation anymore.
I've checked numerous battery cross reference sites online but cannot come up with a replacement. What I do know it this....Original battery is LM-3455, 12 vdc, LiSO2. Nomenclature states it is 4 D cells and the package certainly looks like 4 D cells but is shrink wrapped. 4 D cells is just 6 volts though.
Being an older style Epirb, I don't want to spend a fortune just getting a battery but as I don't have one of the newer ones I thought I'd try to replace it if reasonable price can be found. Otherwise, I'll replace with a newer Gpirb.
I've checked with manufacturer and with a firm called Westpac who hasn't responded yet.
The USCG et al are very adamant about getting batteries replaced by "authorized" firms....I understand the risk but how hard can replacing a battery pack and o-ring be?
Thanks in advance
Joel Wilkins
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-----Original Message-----
The USCG et al are very adamant about getting batteries
replaced by "authorized" firms....I understand the risk but how
hard can replacing a battery pack and o-ring be?
Joel Wilkins
REPLY
Joel, it isn't so much a case of physically changing the battery but of
gettign the correct type whihc will last the specificed timeperiod and also
having a competent technician visually and electrically check ou tthe Epirb
for correct operation at the same time.
An "authorized" firm is one that has th erequisite technical service
manuasl data, the right replacement batteries and th ebench test equipment
to safely and correctly test the unit.
So you get a battery pack from XYZ battery company and do the self test
again. Ifthe test apparently goes okay then you happily stick the Epirb in
its hoder and forg4et about it till your boat is sinking or the expiry date
comes up. when the boat is sinking is not the time to discover a flaw with
unit.
If the self test doesn't come out right then you need to take it to someone
anyways, who is equipped to repair the unit. AS I recall ther was a
technicallimitation to the early Epirbs. Thsi was rectified in l;ater 406B
models. Is your model one of the early orlater versiosn?
Arild
Update on Epirb battery replacement.
After sending out several requests I got replies from 2 differnet authorized Epirb battery replacement facilities. I spoke to each on the phone to get quotes and description of work.
For my particular Epirb, the battery pack runs about $170-190. Labor was estimated to be 30-45 minutes at $85/hr, for a total of $212 - 253. Description of work was as follows. Disassemble lower case from upper case. Remove and replace battery (O-ring adds and extra $7.95) Visually inspect unit for anything abnormal. Reassemble, and test with built in self test feature.
That's it....no testing of watertight intregity, no testing of anything beyond what is expected of the Epirb owner once a month.
From one list member I received a lead on "Alexander batteries" in Canada who will sell me the individual D cell sized, 3volt LiSO2 batteries for 19.95 each plus shipping. So figure around $100 for batts and shipping and tax ..a hour or so to assemble into a pack and voila....a refreshed epirb battery pack for a significant savings....
YMMV
Joel Wilkins
St Pete
m/s Miss Magoo
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Here is the info on Alexander Batteries:
Alexander Batteries Canada
60-8 Bristol Rd.
Mississauga, ON L4Z3K8
Phone: 905-568-9877
Fax: 905-568-9879
http://www.batteries.ca
Lee
Ankara
Begin forwarded message:
From: Joe W cruiser6003@yahoo.com
Date: June 6, 2006 22:22:15 GMT+03:00
To: Trawlers-n-Trawlering trawlers-and-trawlering@lists.samurai.com
Subject: Re: T&T: Epirb replacement battery
Update on Epirb battery replacement.
After sending out several requests I got replies from 2 differnet
authorized Epirb battery replacement facilities. I spoke to each on
the phone to get quotes and description of work.
For my particular Epirb, the battery pack runs about $170-190.
Labor was estimated to be 30-45 minutes at $85/hr, for a total of
$212 - 253. Description of work was as follows. Disassemble lower
case from upper case. Remove and replace battery (O-ring adds and
extra $7.95) Visually inspect unit for anything abnormal. Reassemble,
and test with built in self test feature.
That's it....no testing of watertight intregity, no testing of
anything beyond what is expected of the Epirb owner once a month.
From one list member I received a lead on "Alexander batteries" in
Canada who will sell me the individual D cell sized, 3volt LiSO2
batteries for 19.95 each plus shipping. So figure around $100 for
batts and shipping and tax ..a hour or so to assemble into a pack and
voila....a refreshed epirb battery pack for a significant savings....
YMMV
Joel Wilkins
St Pete