PLB battery replacement?

[Moab Randy]

I should say that Satellitephonestore was/is a authorized center for ACR; I found them by contacting ACR. So, if you have another brand, call your manufacturer.

[Sam Farrington]

Thanks all for the added info.  Sometimes specs have to be dug out, though.  And not sure that tackling all the data is worth the time.  Did order a PLB 1 battery for under $30, and hope the packaging will include instructions for installation, but will reread the thread for service info.  Will stick with that.  Doubt my tiny LG flip phone would have the same range, but it is easy to recharge the battery, and it displays when it is ready to go.

[Sam Farrington]

So got the new battery, but with zero instructions.  This thread suggests that replacing the battery is complex, and that it may be better to have it professionally done.  If I were not subjected to constant scams, I might be more accepting of all this.  Will look around for someone local to install and test the battery, and continue to use the LG flip phone, which I carry anyway, and is good enough to seek help in most situations.  (It happens regularly with hikers in the White Mountains of NH.)  The PLB 1 appears to be fine now.  If it does need a replacement, that will depend on the cost.

[Jerry Adams]

I found a youtube video for replacing the InReach Mini battery

[Sam Farrington]

Jerry; thank you much. Will try it when the current battery wears out.

[M B]

The issue with the ocean signal rescue me PLB-1 battery replacement….. Is that it was bought by ACR recently.    It’s now sold under ACRs brand.. still called PLB-1….

Anyway…. So all the battery replacement sites for Ocean signal no longer apply.  There’s no longer a contract with datrex  to replace batteries.     ACR has their own service centers… Which are usually just dealers near you.   If you call them and ask them they will refer you to one.

 

ACR service centers also don’t have the batteries…yet

They can get them but it will take several weeks to order.

If you have it done at a service center you can expect to pay almost $200 which is about half of the cost of a new one.

Who knows what the future holds    ACR might just discontinue it to get rid of the competition…..

 

[M B]

Plbs have a test mode … To be used very infrequently

ACR also has a test service…. 406 link….. That provides a text message to you to confirm that your test was received and your Plb is correctly functioning .

 

It’s additional  service that you pay for…… But you could use your PLB and send tests….. Such that somebody somewhere receiving the texts… would understand that you were okay when you tested your PLb

 

Actually it looks like they discontinued that service September of last year with existing contracts to expire September 2024.  It was kind of a sketchy use of the PLB test

[Author]

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