On ELT's that take "D" sized batteries I replace them every year at annual . Take old batteries and put them in flashlights etc. The battery for the "new " ELT/406 is not changeable in field and 200-300 bucks .
I'm staying with "old "121.5 /243.0 ELT and SPOT for me.

I forgot to mention: an earlier post in this thread asked about registration of 406 ELTs. Registration is mandatory every 2 years, but it's free and can be done online. Then NOAA sends a new sticker to apply to the ELT. Same requirement for a 406 PLB and a 406 EPIRB (marine). It's purpose is so that the SAR folks can call first and second contacts to find out if the signal is for real, who the person is, what to look for, etc.

Cary

I purchased a new ACK 406 as soon as they were approved. That's the unit that had a faulty switch, and alerted, even though it was turned off. The ACK folks were very helpful, and sent me a new UNIT via second day air to replace the one with a bad switch. They called me to let me know that the switch would activate with little more than a 1 g acceleration. The new unit has been fine, though I haven't crashed to validate the functionality of the switch in THAT mode. I did, however, test the new switch, as specified by the manufacturer.

And, by the way, you all are aware that testing the G switch is a mandatory test to be done annually? On ALL ELTs, 121.5 and 406.

MTV

mtv wrote:.....And, by the way, you all are aware that testing the G switch is a mandatory test to be done annually? On ALL ELTs, 121.5 and 406.

Aka the "slam test"-- slam it into the bench & see if it beeps..