ELT Battery (am I getting ripped off?)

[LANCECASPER]

On 9/16/2023 at 8:15 PM, ttflyer said:

We're doing a whole new dual G3X panel and had included upgrading our 121.5 ELT to a 406 mhz in the quote.  After watching the video above, I'm removing it from the quote.  I don't fly in Alaska, almost always fly IFR or at the very least with VFR flight following and we have ADS-B out (obviously) which is always telling the whole world exactly where I am.  I'm good saving the money...

How many times would it have to work to pay for itself?

[hubcap]

I upgraded my ELT during the panel upgrade.

Buy once, cry once. Now, everything in Myrtle is new, including all the wiring, circuit breakers, rocker switches, etc.

Besides, the battery on the new ELT lasts 5 or 6 years.

[TigerMooney]

On 9/12/2023 at 10:14 PM, Aerodon said:

I have multiple yellow bricks on the shelf and will never buy a Kannad again.  Ever.  All of them draw more than the minimum standby current, and the service centre I spoke with says it is because they have been tested without an antenna. 

They say they know the problem, know what to fix, won't guarantee it won't happen again.  And the cost of the repair and a battery will add up to more than you can get a pretty decent unit from the green brick supplier.

If I'm wrong, and you can come up with a workable repair solution, let me know.

 

Aerodon

 

 

Final outcome: I called the “service center” (will go un-named, but happens to be located in the middle of the United States). 
 

I directly asked if my airplane would be un-airworthy if they just replaced the battery. Lots of run around. He said he would only discuss it with my IA and not me. I told him to call the IA. Then he called me back. Said he couldn’t just change the battery. He had a very self righteous disposition. 
 

Then while on the phone with me he said he had my unit on the bench test and said it was testing at 63.9 standby current. The original quote said 42.7. I immediately called him out, and said I had a problem trusting him. He apolozoged and said he “had a different unit he was testing and mistook it for mine”. I then replied, “I guess that’s because every unit you receive tests high in standby current?”
 

After that, he offered to “handle the repair charges” and only charge me $499(plus shipping) for the battery.  Then said they barely make any profit. 
 

Lol, then had the audacity to say he wouldn’t cover these repairs next time, when it was due again. So of course I told him “you expect it to high for standby current again, even after you repair it this time?

Anyway here I am…$499 later (plus shipping) with a fresh ELT battery. I’ll throw it in the garbage next time it’s due. Will not use that facility again or product again. 
 

Edited September 24, 2023 by TigerMooney

[wombat]

Anyone that says they will not discuss any aspect of my aircraft's maintenance with me will never get my business again, and whatever in-progress business I have with them that I can cancel, I will.

If I was in your situation, I would tell him to place that ELT in the cabin of the aircraft, close the doors and windows, and that he and his shop are not permitted to touch the aircraft again.