Replace Acr 406 battery or get new device

The ACR 406 is a great PLB.  It does one thing and does it very well and is relatively inexpensive.  Satellite communicators (Garmin and Spot are the industry leaders) have become more and more common because they are more versatile:  most allow for two-way text communication and tracking features allow those at home to see your progress and location, and you still have an SOS button.  That is where the industry advertising $ seem to be focused.  Just depends on what you want out of your device.

$80 is a good price for a battery replacement.  I paid approx. $125 several years ago.  The replacement had a 6-yr life, better than the 5-yr original battery which was already a year old when I bought the thing.  Personally, I would not gamble with using the device past the battery life.  Yeah, it could work, but seems like that kind of defeats the purpose of a piece of gear that your life is depending on.

$80 is a good price for a battery replacement.

Yeah, mind sharing where you got that quote?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/ACR-ResQlink-PLB-Replacement-battery-pack-Resqlink-Beacon-PLB-375-2880-2881-/332810112016?oid=131874929936

Not my listing nor any financial interest. I’ll let you google other DIY links, they are out there.

YMMV. Whether ACR or an authorized rep replaces them it could still potentially fail.

^True. ACR or an authorized rep would do more than just replace the battery, the service “includes a full physical integrity check, pressure test, data transmission test, replacement of seal and o-rings, installation of the new battery, and disposal of the old battery.” I like the assurance of these services/tests over a DIY approach for something as important as a PLB.

Glad I have my SPOT Gen 3. Not an In Reach Garmin but still very good and uses easily replaceable lithium batteries.

But I do have an old ACR strobe light I used to use for sea kayaking and it too needs that d@mn battery.

Thanks all for posting.

It was a company in Florida that ACR recommended that I got the quote from. I need to dig out the name.

I switched to an inReach Mini when my epirb battery expired. I have found the Mini to be pretty handy so far. The downside with the Mini is that you start out with an expensive piece of electronics, and then thanks to the monthly subscription cost you just keep paying. Otherwise it seems like an easy choice to me.

I wonder if the Florida company that Stephen M read about was Solution One Marine?  That is who replaced my ACR-PLB battery, and they did a great job with fast turnaround.  As I recall, I had the unit back within 7-10 days.  They were easy to work with.

<span class=”profile-data”>@philip-ak</span>

“The downside with the Mini is that you start out with an expensive piece of electronics, and then thanks to the monthly subscription cost you just keep paying.”

I paid $260 for my inReach SE, $580 in subscription $$$…just a data point confirming your observation.