Mine is due next month, and so far it is proving to be somewhat of a big deal to get a replacement battery. The UK based maker referred me to their US distributor, and they have not responded yet, after a couple emails. I'm started to get the feeling it's no longer supported, or maybe you just throw it away and buy a whole new unit? I THINK that the unit may have to be sent in, somewhere, and they have to do the battery replacement. Anyone know?

Courierguy- please post your findings. This thread just made me discover that mine is also due for a new battery. Thanks for the reminder.
-DP

I've got about six more months, so i'm interested too

Less expensive for the manufacture to have it made in China than to pay employees to service it and ship the unit back and forth.

Example we all know:

Buy a laptop computer for $199 at WalMart. To change the battery by a technician would cost about $200 in the US. So I chuck it when it needs service and get a newer model.

EPIRBs are pretty much massed produced now.

Would like to know what they quote you? I have the same model.

Since the government is involved in PLB's, they must be "recertified" when the battery is replaced, that means sending it somewhere to have the job done for you, and the battery is not something you can normally buy on line. I paid $150.00 the have the battery replaced in my MMC brand PLB 18 months ago, they normally have 2-day turnaround time on them.

I had to send mine to Van Nuys and they turned it around in a couple of days. It came with all the certs and cost me $180.


CORPORATE AIR PARTS, INC
7641 Densmore Avenue
Van Nuys, CA 91406
Phone: (818) 997-0512
Fax: (818) 997-0425

Hope this helps

rfinkle wrote:I had to send mine to Van Nuys and they turned it around in a couple of days. It came with all the certs and cost me $180.


CORPORATE AIR PARTS, INC
7641 Densmore Avenue
Van Nuys, CA 91406
Phone: (818) 997-0512
Fax: (818) 997-0425

Hope this helps

Thanks for the info

$180 is reasonable in my opinion. Thank you for the company information.

I am due year 2017

rfinkle wrote:I had to send mine to Van Nuys and they turned it around in a couple of days. It came with all the certs and cost me $180.


CORPORATE AIR PARTS, INC
7641 Densmore Avenue
Van Nuys, CA 91406
Phone: (818) 997-0512
Fax: (818) 997-0425

Hope this helps

I'll give them a call this morning, thanks for the info. Still no response from the US distributor I was referred to by the PLB's manufacturer, and no mention whatsoever of Corporate Air's capability of taking care of the battery replacement. Kind of a puzzling response from an outfit making emergency beacons! I agree, the cost is reasonable for the piece of mind it offers, I consider mine a get out of jail free card, and I love the way I can grab it and take it with me when doing other non aviation activities. Unlike that old boat anchor of a FAA required ELT which I only have because I have to.

rfinkle wrote:I had to send mine to Van Nuys and they turned it around in a couple of days. It came with all the certs and cost me $180.


CORPORATE AIR PARTS, INC
7641 Densmore Avenue
Van Nuys, CA 91406
Phone: (818) 997-0512
Fax: (818) 997-0425

Hope this helps

Thanks, this will come in handy when the time comes.

FYI, here is my recent email exchange with Corporate Air Parts. Courierguy- is Avalon Rafts the place that wasn't returning your calls?

Hello,

I understand that you offer battery replacement for the FastFind Model
210 PLB. How can I send my unit in for battery replacement?

Thank you,

While we can perform the battery change, we are not a McMurdo facility.
Therefore, we don't stock the batteries and it would take us longer than
an authorized service facility. I would recommend you contact Avalon
Rafts in Wilmington - 310-549-9665. Please note that we are an ACR
Authorized BRC, and can handle any of the ACR products.

Let me know if I can be of further assistance.

I had an older ACR PLB and when the battery came due I just replaced the whole thing with the later ResQLink. Much smaller, and actually better range.

Like all electronics, five years old is ancient in the 1's and zeros world.

TD

I agree, when it came time to replace the battery on my ACR it was $50 more to buy a whole new unit. I also saved shipping charges both ways as they sent it for free. I figure it was a wash and I ended up with a brand new unit, will do the same thing when this battery needs replacement. Nothing like our throw away life style. I go the Home Depot and buy new flashlight lanterns with batteries cheaper than I can buy just the batteries.

Denalipilot: I had not gotten around to contacting them yet, in the meantime another S-7S pilot sent me this link. I am going to use this outfit, can't beat the price and free shipping!

http://www.solutiononemaritime.com/batt ... pping.html

courierguy wrote:Denalipilot: I had not gotten around to contacting them yet, in the meantime another S-7S pilot sent me this link. I am going to use this outfit, can't beat the price and free shipping!

http://www.solutiononemaritime.com/batt ... pping.html

Thanks CG

I just wanted to say to Solutiononemaritime,they did what they said they would, and when, it's on it's way back to me. At a great price also.

I thought I'd feel naked flying without it the last week, (several new sites landed) but I now realize I forgot I no longer had it on board, ignorance IS bliss. Now it will go back in my diddy bag under the pilot seat (though reachable in flight). If I think I'm going to crash, I get it out and put it around my neck, that's the plan anyway. If I crash and don't already have it free, I can lay hands on it in a second or two, assuming I can beat the flames down, maybe this time I'll make a lanyard and wear it all the time, including time spent not flying. Having this thing makes me think of the "I've fallen and I can't get up" commercials, same deal, hopefully it will remain unused, again.