VansAirForceForums  
Home > VansAirForceForums

- POSTING RULES
- Donate yearly (please).
- Advertise in here!

- Today's Posts | Insert Pics


Go Back   VAF Forums > Main > RV Ongoing Maintenance Issues
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Today's Posts

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 10-31-2010, 02:53 PM
n5lp's Avatar
n5lp n5lp is offline
fugio ergo sum
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Carlsbad, NM
Posts: 1,912
Default ACR PLB battery replacement?

Seems like yesterday when I got the super new tech ACR AeroFix 406 PLB. Now the five year batteries are expired.

Best I can tell my options are to ship the unit to an authorized battery replacement facility (closest one seems to be Houston) and pay about $280 plus shipping for the service. ACR says the batteries are not even available to the public, much less that the public should replace them.

or

to buy a brand new ACR unit from Amazon for about $200 that would be smaller and updated.

Am I missing something?

It would seem that there would be no reasonable resale demand for a PLB with expired batteries. ACR gives no instructions but I would presume the thing to do to retire the unit would be to de-register it, take it apart and remove the batteries and dispose of them.
__________________
Larry Pardue
Carlsbad, NM

RV-6 N441LP Flying
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 10-31-2010, 04:18 PM
frankh's Avatar
frankh frankh is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Corvallis Oregon
Posts: 3,547
Default GPS on the new unit for $200?

If you can get the GS built in for $200 then clearly that would be the way to go..Seems too good to be true however??
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 10-31-2010, 04:33 PM
n5lp's Avatar
n5lp n5lp is offline
fugio ergo sum
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Carlsbad, NM
Posts: 1,912
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by frankh View Post
If you can get the GS built in for $200 then clearly that would be the way to go..Seems too good to be true however??
Product Features

* Includes internal GPS and a connector for external NMEA 0183 position input
* 406 MHz Satellite Search and Rescue transmitter, 121.5 MHz Homing Beacon transmitter
* Size: 1.74 x 5.71 x 3.03 in.; Weight: 12 oz. w/o holster; floats
* 24 hour transmit time
* 5 year battery shelf life

Technical Details

* Brand Name: ACR Electronics
* Model: 2798.4NH

$206.72 Free shipping

Boy, I sure hate to throw away good stuff, but they make it hard not to.
__________________
Larry Pardue
Carlsbad, NM

RV-6 N441LP Flying

Last edited by n5lp : 10-31-2010 at 04:37 PM. Reason: Added a sentence
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 10-31-2010, 05:53 PM
Walt's Avatar
Walt Walt is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Dallas/Ft Worth, TX
Posts: 5,687
Default

That model has been discontinued, probably why its so cheap!
__________________
Walt Aronow, DFW, TX (52F)

EXP Aircraft Services LLC
Specializing in RV Condition Inspections, Maintenance, Avionics Upgrades
Dynamic Prop Balancing, Pitot-Static Altmeter/Transponder Certification
FAA Certified Repair Station, AP/IA/FCC GROL, EAA Technical Counselor
Authorized Garmin G3X Dealer/Installer
RV7A built 2004, 1700+ hrs, New Titan IO-370, Bendix Mags
Website: ExpAircraft.com, Email: walt@expaircraft.com, Cell: 972-746-5154
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 10-31-2010, 07:39 PM
Ironflight's Avatar
Ironflight Ironflight is offline
VAF Moderator / Line Boy
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Dayton, NV
Posts: 12,256
Default

Oh dear - I probably am not that far behind you Larry! Maybe two years to go.....I'll have to check. I do remember that when Louise gave me mine, I checked the location of the service facilities, and there was one in Webster - the town I drive through on the way to the space center every day - about a block off NASA Road 1. I'll have to see if it is still there!

It is sad that a five year old unit might already be considered obsolete, but hey, that's life in the electronics world today....

Paul
__________________
Paul F. Dye
Editor at Large - KITPLANES Magazine
RV-8 - N188PD - "Valkyrie"
RV-6 (By Marriage) - N164MS - "Mikey"
RV-3B - N13PL - "Tsamsiyu"
A&P, EAA Tech Counselor/Flight Advisor
Dayton Valley Airpark (A34)
http://Ironflight.com
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 03-10-2012, 08:19 AM
AlexPeterson's Avatar
AlexPeterson AlexPeterson is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Maple Grove, MN
Posts: 2,334
Default

Anyone learn anything on this topic since it was active? Anyone take theirs apart and replace the batteries? Or, is it still cheapest to replace it, removing it from the registration system and chucking it? Sheesh.
__________________
Alex Peterson
RV6A N66AP 1700+ hours
KADC, Wadena, MN
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 03-10-2012, 09:05 AM
az_gila's Avatar
az_gila az_gila is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: 57AZ - NW Tucson area
Posts: 10,011
Question Keep longer?

From a 2008 ACR description on AC Spruce

Battery Type: Lithium-5 1/2 year replacement life (11-year useful life)

So, if it is not required equipment, is it OK to go beyond the 5 years and into the 11 year "useful" life?
__________________
Gil Alexander
EAA Technical Counselor, Airframe Mechanic
Half completed RV-10 QB purchased
RV-6A N61GX - finally flying
Grumman Tiger N12GA - flying
La Cholla Airpark (57AZ) Tucson AZ
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 03-10-2012, 09:23 AM
AlexPeterson's Avatar
AlexPeterson AlexPeterson is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Maple Grove, MN
Posts: 2,334
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by az_gila View Post
From a 2008 ACR description on AC Spruce

Battery Type: Lithium-5 1/2 year replacement life (11-year useful life)

So, if it is not required equipment, is it OK to go beyond the 5 years and into the 11 year "useful" life?
Good question - although it would really stink if it didn't work properly when one needed it...
__________________
Alex Peterson
RV6A N66AP 1700+ hours
KADC, Wadena, MN
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 03-10-2012, 09:38 AM
az_gila's Avatar
az_gila az_gila is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: 57AZ - NW Tucson area
Posts: 10,011
Smile

Quote:
Originally Posted by AlexPeterson View Post
Good question - although it would really stink if it didn't work properly when one needed it...
I agree, but the PLB tests itself, so the only issue would be how quickly lithium batteries capacity degrades.

If you keep your PLB in a nce environment in the closet instead of your plane tied down outside I bet it's actual life could be a lot longer than 5 years...
__________________
Gil Alexander
EAA Technical Counselor, Airframe Mechanic
Half completed RV-10 QB purchased
RV-6A N61GX - finally flying
Grumman Tiger N12GA - flying
La Cholla Airpark (57AZ) Tucson AZ
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 06-26-2013, 02:12 PM
Sky.bonobo Sky.bonobo is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: sumter
Posts: 3
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by n5lp View Post
Seems like yesterday when I got the super new tech ACR AeroFix 406 PLB. Now the five year batteries are expired.

Best I can tell my options are to ship the unit to an authorized battery replacement facility (closest one seems to be Houston) and pay about $280 plus shipping for the service. ACR says the batteries are not even available to the public, much less that the public should replace them.

or

to buy a brand new ACR unit from Amazon for about $200 that would be smaller and updated.

Am I missing something?

It would seem that there would be no reasonable resale demand for a PLB with expired batteries. ACR gives no instructions but I would presume the thing to do to retire the unit would be to de-register it, take it apart and remove the batteries and dispose of them.
No, you aren't missing something. The explanation of cost includes the cost of the quality battery, tests to ensure its guaranteed life, and pressure checks to make sure the re-assembled unit is as moisture/waterproof as the model is supposed to be. Even still, $130-$200 price range (I read from other's posts) seems very stiff, I can't help but say. Maybe it isn't a scam and everyone is just trying to cover their costs with necesarry equipment etc, but it doesn't change my dissatisfaction with how much hassle and cost a simple battery swap is. Battery and connector technology is too far along for such a batter swapping service to be the only way, in my opinion.

Quote:
Originally Posted by az_gila View Post
From a 2008 ACR description on AC Spruce

Battery Type: Lithium-5 1/2 year replacement life (11-year useful life)

So, if it is not required equipment, is it OK to go beyond the 5 years and into the 11 year "useful" life?
Quote:
Originally Posted by az_gila View Post
I agree, but the PLB tests itself, so the only issue would be how quickly lithium batteries capacity degrades.

If you keep your PLB in a nce environment in the closet instead of your plane tied down outside I bet it's actual life could be a lot longer than 5 years...
The battery does not have an eleven year "USEFUL" life; it has an eleven year "SHELF" life. Once you install a battery in a beacon, current is being drawn when you self test the unit during the first 5 year of operation. There is also a minute current (in the micro amp range) being drained from the battery, in the rest state of beacon.

As far as comments regarding stretching it out based on the theoretical life etc... The point is to have the PLB never below a battery level to provide at least 24 hours of beacon. I must agree with keeping the batteries fresh. Agreeing with that kind of price, on the otherhand, is much much harder. They have models with user-changeable batteries, FYI, such as the Kannad. The batteries I found are still $110, but that as just a brief search and single source. Still, if you are going to fashion your own pack, that one is designed to be water-tight regardless of user access to battery pack.. which is part of the rationalization for the "professional" service battery swapping -- checking seals after installation. I don't know if that helps anyone, but thought I'd mention it.
Reply With Quote
Reply



Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:56 AM.


The VAFForums come to you courtesy Delta Romeo, LLC. By viewing and participating in them you agree to build your plane using standardized methods and practices and to fly it safely and in accordance with the laws governing the country you are located in.