EPIRB Battery Replacement: Can My EPIRB Be Serviced or Replaced?
Need EPIRB battery replacement? An approaching battery expiry date does not automatically mean that you need to buy a new beacon. Depending on the EPIRB model, age, condition and support status, servicing may remain practical—or replacement with a new Jotron EPIRB may provide better long-term value.
Not Sure Whether to Service or Replace Your EPIRB?
Download the F&C Marine EPIRB Service & Replacement Assessment Form. It includes a checklist of the beacon and vessel information needed to assess your options.
Your EPIRB Has Been Sitting Quietly for Years
Perhaps the hydrostatic release unit has also reached its replacement date. Maybe the beacon came with the vessel and its service history is unclear.
The practical question is not simply whether the beacon is old. It is whether it remains supported, serviceable and worth maintaining.
Service, Replace or Upgrade?
The correct route depends on the individual beacon. A supported EPIRB in good condition may be suitable for servicing and battery replacement.
Where a beacon is older, damaged, unsupported or expensive to return to service, replacement may be the more sensible option.
For a Jotron EPIRB, provide the beacon details shown in this guide. Where you do not already have a suitable beacon, F&C Marine can use the vessel information to help identify an appropriate Jotron replacement.
Why Does an EPIRB Need Periodic Attention?
An EPIRB may remain unused for most of its working life, but its battery, seals, housing, bracket and release arrangements continue to age. Emergency equipment must be dependable after years of exposure to vibration, moisture, temperature changes and salt-laden air.
A successful self-test is useful, but it does not remove the need to follow the beacon manufacturer’s stated battery replacement, inspection and servicing requirements.
Battery Life
EPIRB batteries have a marked replacement date. The correct interval depends on the beacon model and manufacturer.
Waterproof Integrity
Seals and housing condition matter because the beacon may need to operate while floating in severe sea conditions.
Release Arrangements
Float-free installations also depend on the bracket and hydrostatic release arrangement being correctly installed and within date.
An EPIRB inspection should include the battery date, hydrostatic release unit, registration details, housing condition and mounting bracket.
An Expired Battery Date Should Not Be Ignored
The battery is specified to support the beacon’s required emergency operating period under defined conditions. Once the marked replacement date has passed, the beacon should be assessed rather than assumed to remain suitable for continued service.
Should You Service Your EPIRB or Replace It?
Servicing is not automatically the cheapest route, and replacement is not automatically necessary. The decision should consider the beacon’s age, physical condition, service support, battery replacement cost and the value of moving to newer technology.
The most cost-effective option depends on the beacon model, age, condition, support status and long-term vessel requirements.
Service the Existing EPIRB
May suit a supported beacon in sound overall condition.
- Beacon remains supported by the manufacturer or service network
- Housing, controls and antenna are in acceptable condition
- Replacement battery and required parts remain available
- Servicing cost remains proportionate to the beacon’s value
- The existing specification still suits the vessel’s requirements
Replace the EPIRB
May offer better value where the existing beacon is older or unsupported.
- Beacon model is obsolete or no longer economically supported
- Housing, bracket, controls or antenna show significant damage
- Service cost approaches the cost of a new beacon
- Service history is unknown or unreliable
- A new Jotron model offers a worthwhile technology upgrade
You Do Not Need to Make the Decision Alone
Send F&C Marine the EPIRB make, model, serial number, battery date and clear photographs. For Jotron equipment, these details help us assess the available route. Where replacement is more appropriate, vessel information can be used to identify a suitable new Jotron EPIRB.
View the Assessment ChecklistWhy EPIRB Battery Replacement Is More Than a Simple Battery Change
An EPIRB is safety-critical, sealed equipment. Opening the housing may disturb seals, fittings or internal connections. Correct servicing may therefore involve more than installing a battery pack.
Identification
The exact manufacturer, model, serial number and existing battery specification must be confirmed before parts or service options can be assessed.
Housing Inspection
The casing, antenna, controls and visible seals should be examined for damage, contamination, corrosion or previous interference.
Correct Reassembly
The beacon must be reassembled in accordance with the applicable service procedure so that its physical integrity is not compromised.
Functional Checks
The required checks depend on the manufacturer, beacon type, vessel requirements and the work carried out.
Do Not Rely on Appearance Alone
A clean casing and successful routine self-test do not confirm remaining battery capacity, seal condition or full emergency performance. Use the date labels and manufacturer requirements to plan the next action.
Do Not Forget the Hydrostatic Release Unit
A float-free EPIRB installation depends on more than the beacon itself. The hydrostatic release arrangement is intended to free the beacon from its housing if the vessel sinks and the unit is submerged.
The hydrostatic release unit has its own marked replacement date. The housing must also be correctly mounted, unobstructed and positioned so that the beacon can release and float clear.
A New EPIRB Does Not Correct a Poor Installation
When replacing a float-free beacon, confirm that the housing, release unit, mounting position and surrounding structure remain appropriate. The installation must allow the beacon to deploy as intended.
Check the Beacon Registration at the Same Time
EPIRB registration connects the beacon’s coded identity with the vessel, owner and emergency contact information held by the relevant registration authority.
Registration details should be reviewed following a change of vessel ownership, change of vessel name, replacement of the EPIRB or any change to the recorded contact information.
For UK-coded 406 MHz beacons, you can register a new EPIRB or update the registered details through the UK Beacon Registry.
Replacing the Beacon Means Updating the Registration
A replacement EPIRB will have its own coded identity. Ensure the new beacon is registered correctly and that any superseded beacon is dealt with in accordance with the applicable registration guidance.
What Information Should You Send to F&C Marine?
Clear information allows the beacon to be identified and helps avoid unnecessary delay. Photographs are especially useful where labels are worn, multiple variants exist or the beacon’s history is uncertain.
Provide the EPIRB identification details, battery date, vessel information and clear photographs so the available options can be reviewed.
EPIRB Information
- Manufacturer
- Model number
- Serial number
- Battery replacement or expiry date
- HEX identification code, where available
- Photographs of the beacon and labels
Vessel Information
- Vessel name
- Vessel type and use
- Flag state
- MMSI or call sign, where available
- Manual or float-free installation required
- Required delivery location or timescale
What Happens After You Contact F&C Marine?
The aim is to identify the practical route without asking you to arrange unnecessary work or purchase the wrong replacement beacon.
The EPIRB service and replacement process begins with accurate beacon details and ends with a practical route for returning the vessel to sea.
Send the EPIRB or Vessel Details
Complete the downloadable form and attach clear photographs of the beacon, labels, bracket and hydrostatic release unit where applicable.
Identify the Beacon and Review the Requirement
The manufacturer, model, age, battery date, support status and vessel requirement are reviewed.
Compare Service and Replacement Routes
Where servicing is practical, the appropriate route can be discussed. Where replacement offers better value, a suitable Jotron option can be identified.
Confirm Supply, Service or Replacement
The agreed solution is confirmed before equipment is sent, work is arranged or a replacement beacon is supplied.
Update Registration and Vessel Records
Where a replacement beacon is supplied, the new beacon identity should be correctly registered and the vessel’s records updated.
Return the Vessel to a Ready-for-Sea Condition
Confirm that the beacon, bracket, hydrostatic release arrangement and registration are all addressed before departure.
Start Your EPIRB Service or Replacement Enquiry
Use the F&C Marine EPIRB Service & Replacement Assessment Form to gather the necessary information before contacting us. The form helps reduce delays and allows the available route to be reviewed more efficiently.
The Form Covers
- Customer and company details
- Vessel name, type, flag, MMSI and call sign
- EPIRB make, model and serial number
- Battery replacement or expiry date
- Hydrostatic release unit details
- Beacon and bracket condition
- Required service, replacement or upgrade advice
Recommended Photographs
- Front of the EPIRB
- Rear and side of the EPIRB
- Manufacturer identification label
- Battery date label
- Float-free housing or manual bracket
- Hydrostatic release unit and date
- Any visible damage or corrosion
How to Use the Assessment Form
- Download the editable Word form.
- Complete as much information as possible.
- Take clear photographs in good lighting.
- Attach the completed form and photographs to your email.
- Send the enquiry to F&C Marine for review.
- Do not activate the beacon or transmit a distress alert as part of the assessment.
Download the EPIRB Assessment Form
Download the editable Word assessment form.
Download Editable Word FormAssessment depends on the accuracy of the information and photographs supplied. Availability of servicing, replacement parts and suitable replacement equipment varies by beacon model, age, manufacturer support and vessel requirements.
Jotron EPIRBs Available from F&C Marine
Where replacing the existing beacon is the practical route, the correct choice will depend on whether the vessel requires a float-free or manual-release installation and on the applicable operating requirements.
Jotron Tron 60AIS Float Free
For suitable automatic-release installations.
A float-free EPIRB package for installations requiring automatic release from its approved housing.
View Float-Free EPIRBJotron Tron 60AIS Manual
For suitable manual-release installations.
A manual-bracket EPIRB package for vessels where a manually released installation is appropriate.
View Manual EPIRBSort the EPIRB Before It Becomes an Urgent Problem
An expired battery date, unknown service history or unsuitable bracket should be dealt with while there is still time to assess the options properly. Download the assessment form, send the beacon or vessel details to F&C Marine and establish whether servicing or replacement is the most practical route.
Download the Assessment Form Email F&C Marine