Kannad Integra ELT battery replacement

[Tsquared]

My FX3 ELT is approaching 6 years old so time to replace the ELT battery.

In calling around to my local Avionics shops, several of them were willing to replace the battery (available from Aircraft spruce for $454) but none of them are Authorized/Approved Kannad battery service centers. One shop I spoke to said he could replace the battery but he could not sign off on it due to liability since he wasn't an authorized center.

The only approved center I could find is Mid-Continent Aviation Services out of Wichita KS. They are able to replace the battery and test the unit for $550 plus shipping. Turn around time is 5-7 days plus shipping.

Has anyone here needed to replace their ELT battery and if so how did that work? Did you use an Authorized shop locally, do it yourself or send it off to a Service Center like Mid-Continent?

 

[Cactus Charlie]

Mine is due later this year and I has planned to change it myself.

A search for "0141823" or "BAT200" finds sources less expensive that Spruce. Size D Lithium Manganese Dioxide cells are under $40 each.

 

[ve6yeq]

I had mine changed at a local authorized service center (there a couple within 30 min flight) that is 20 min flight and has a nice private grass strip so no shipping necessary The battery was the same price as Aircraft Spruce and the installation covered retesting for waterproofing as well the RF tests.

As a Canadian Amateur built aircraft, I am expected to maintain things to the same standards as certified aircraft so that means things such as ELT maintenance, propeller overhauls and avionics calibrations all need to be done with calibrated test equipment so I have been locating local shops with the test equipment as necessary as for most things, owning and maintaining (periodic recalibration, etc) the test equipment is just not efficient. In a past life, I worked at places that had all test equipment and more but those days are long over.