I've not been successful searching ETS for info on this topic other than one poster saying that replacement was about the cost of a newer unit.

My beacon (ACR SARlink vintage 2011) is old enough to need battery swap. It still passes self-test but that doesn't speake to battery capacity remaining.

I've sent emails to 3 listed businesses that allegedly do support for ACR.

Does anybody have their experience to add?

After calling around I figured it was better to buy a new unit than to have the battery replaced. I will probably get a SPOT rather than a new ACR ResQLink.

So far I've received a quote of $150 plus shipping to change the battery, replace the gasket and pressure test it. That would be the thorough approach advised by ACR's attorneys to prevent spurious lawsuits.

But really, buying a new unit because the batteries are expired? This bothers me.

I found a YouTube video of a guy changing the batteries. It takes a little soldering (which I'm completely comfortable doing) but wouldn't pressure test afterwards. Considering I don't go kayaking or do really rugged stuff I'm considering doing the swap myself.

Hi,
Check out the end of
252413 Let's Talk PLBs......

There is a link for U.S. COAST GUARD MAINTENANCE PROCEDURE CARD
and it doesn't seem to mention pressure testing at all,
just a visual inspection for cracks/damage (not scratches)

That might be more a thing for the self-deploy... boat mounted beacons, ... there is probably a card out for one of those too

$150 sounds like a lot, but I just checked the SPOT subscription and that is more and just for a year. Ok a spot can do more; but if you only plan to use it for emergencies, a PLB is still far less expensive per year.

That was a great thread that I didn't find. Thanks.

I'm still using a 14 year old cell phone so I think Doug would call me one of those pound foolish people.

I've done enough soldering in my life and enough fixing of LOTS of other stuff so the procedure to replace the batteries doesn't frighten me at all. Yes, I'm an amateur. An Extra Class Amateur licensee (who has built many, many Heathkits :-)

For $30 in batteries and about an hour of solder tinkering I can refresh my PLB. Spending $150 for someone else to do it or spending $250 for a newer unit just doesn't work for me.

I went to the local Batteries Plus store this morning and bought 4 CR123A batteries. They spot-welded the tabs on for me for free while I waited. The guys were all my age or older. (geezers!) The spot-welding machine looked quite serious and well-used.

It appeared to me that the shop assembles battery packs for lots of different items and I'd expect that if I just took them the packs from my PLB that they could fab up replacement packs quickly and for a very nominal charge. I'll hold that thought in the event that I fail at doing it myself.

I thought I'd post this idea in case someone else wants to refresh their battery packs for less cost though trading off manufacturer final testing in the process.

I finally got around to actually changing the batteries in my SARLINK PLB. Took about an hour and 15 minutes.

Open back of unit. Disconnect and remove two battery stacks.

Unsolder 2 solder connections on each of the two battery packs.
Solder two new batteries nose to tail. Repeat for 2nd pair.
Solder 4 wire connectors to battery tabs.
Tape/insulate appropriately.
Install.
Self test both beacon and GPS - PASS BOTH.

Label unit with next battery change date 3/2023.

You guys are the kind of down to earth cheap smart people that made this such a great country!!!! I am so very impressed! :-) :-)