Refurbish GME PLB?

[cooperplace]

The battery on my MT410G PLB expires next month and I'd like to send it back to GME for a refurb, but it's a "dangerous good". I looked on the Australia Post website and couldn't get a clear answer on whether they would ship it. I asked at my local PO and the lady said she had no idea. I emailed GME who referred me to their website, which I'd already looked at, saying I should consult my courier about shipping it. A useless answer.

 

No-one can tell me the answer. How do I ship my PLB back to GME in Sydney? Thanks.

[onetrack]

It's only a DG if it's listed on airline DG lists. PLB's can be carried onboard, or in checked baggage, without restrictions.

Just make sure it's packed securely and well-protected, so the mail-handling gorillas can play football with it, without damaging it.

 

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/travel-info/baggage/dangerous-goods/recreational-and-sporting-petrol-powered-equipment.html#epirbs-and-personal-locator-beacons-plbs

[walrus]

I pulled mine apart. The “dangerous goods” are four sonneschein cr125 lithium batteries in a well engineered plastic carrier. Anyway, it all went int o the bin as it was about 2010 vintage and i’ve ordered a new ACR PLB. I miht have kept the 410, it was well engineered, but I figure the electronics have improved in the last ten years.

[Yenn]

If you get the manufacturer to refurbish the battery it will cost nearly as much as a new better quality PLB.

I still have the old one and maybe i should look at replacing the battery myself, but it is no longer registered with AMSA.

[tillmanr]

I had mine factory refurbished 2008. The cost was $201 including credit card surcharge. Plus the cost of posting it to Sydney.

[Downunder]

[Akromaster]

Has anyone had a Fastfind 220 battery replaced? Looks like the folks on amsa site are not there anymore and the ‘new’ company doesn’t support these now.

 

Ak

[Downunder]

4 hours ago, Akromaster said:

Has anyone had a Fastfind 220 battery replaced? Looks like the folks on amsa site are not there anymore and the ‘new’ company doesn’t support these now.

 

Ak

Made by Mcmurdo...

They do mention battery replacement on their support page.

You may have to send it to the UK/Europe which won't be cheap for postage both ways....

 

[Akromaster]

Yea..I’ve enquired to see if it’s worthwhile. If anyone’s had one replaced it’d be good to know if it’s been worth it. Seems such a waste to just bin it.

[Yenn]

I had a GME and it may or may not have been that model. The cost of replacing the battery was about 80 of a new better model of PLB, so I went with the new one.

[Akromaster]

Thanks Yenn.  That seems to be the consensus...Looks like a new one is on the cards.

[Downunder]

My Old GME still passes the "self test" several years after the official expiry date. 

I also replaced it in my aircraft.

It is still useful to keep in the car or on local bike rides etc....

[Steve L]

Akro, I have the same fast find 220 and I am going to see a guy who claims to repack with Panasonic cells and provide a new official date tag at a fraction of the cost. Mine has a removable battery on the back, new Mcmurdo replacement around 300+. I’ll keep you posted. 

Edited October 1, 2020 by Steve L

[Akromaster]

That’s ace...be good to see how you go.

[Steve L]

Had my Fast Find PLB re-batteried and date stamped till 2026. $110 which is near 1/3 of the price of a new battery. Much better than throwing a perfectly good PLB away. He’s in SA so pm me if you want his number, not sure if im breaking rules posting his number here. 
BTW he ships them all over OZ so postage shouldn’t be a problem.

Edited October 8, 2020 by Steve L

[Akromaster]

Wow..not bad. Check PM...