The ACR Lithium Survival Battery (P/N 1066) is a professional-grade, high-capacity lithium iron disulfide (Li/FeS₂) battery pack designed specifically for GMDSS (Global Maritime Distress and Safety System) emergency equipment. Its sole purpose is to provide a long-lasting, ultra-reliable, and temperature-resistant power source for Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) and Search and Rescue Transponders (SARTs).
This is not a standard consumer battery; it is a critical, certified component of a vessel’s lifesaving apparatus.
Key Features & Specifications
-
Manufacturer: ACR Electronics, Inc. (A world-leading brand in marine safety and survival equipment, now part of ACR Group, LLC. Their products are renowned and often mandated in the maritime industry).
-
Type:Â Lithium Iron Disulfide (Li/FeSâ‚‚). This chemistry was chosen for survival equipment because it offers:
-
Exceptional Shelf Life: Typically 10 years from the date of manufacture. It has an extremely low self-discharge rate.
-
Superior Cold Weather Performance: Operates effectively in extreme temperatures (often rated from -40°C to +60°C / -40°F to +140°F), which is crucial for survival situations at sea.
-
High Energy Density:Â Provides a lot of power in a compact, lightweight package.
-
Reliability:Â Less voltage sag under load compared to alkaline batteries, ensuring the beacon transmits at full power for its entire rated duration.
-
-
Voltage: ~6.0 Volts (a stable voltage suitable for the electronics in EPIRBs and SARTs).
-
Capacity: High amp-hour (Ah) rating designed to power an EPIRB for a minimum of 48 hours of continuous transmission (meeting and exceeding international standards).
-
Compliance:Â This battery is certified to meet strict international regulations, including:
-
GMDSS Requirements
-
SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) Convention
-
IMO (International Maritime Organization) Performance Standards
-
ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute)
-
FCC (Federal Communications Commission)
-
-
Date of Manufacture: Critically, every survival battery has a manufacture date and an expiration date (usually 10 years later). It is illegal and extremely dangerous to use an expired battery in a safety device. The date is printed on the battery pack itself.
-
Physical Design:Â Engineered as a direct replacement pack for specific ACR EPIRB and SART models. It is a sealed unit with a specific connector to ensure it cannot be installed incorrectly.
Purpose and Critical Importance
This battery is the “heart” of an EPIRB or SART. When a vessel is in distress, the crew activates the EPIRB, which uses the power from this battery to send a powerful distress signal via satellite to search and rescue authorities worldwide. The reliability of this battery is literally a matter of life and death.
Who is this for? (Ideal User)
This is a replacement battery for:
-
Commercial vessel operators (cargo ships, tankers, passenger ferries) who are legally required under SOLAS/GMDSS to carry certified EPIRBs with in-date batteries.
-
Professional fishermen operating offshore.
-
Serious offshore recreational sailors and yacht owners who prioritize safety and compliance.
-
Marine safety officers and ship chandlers who stock spare parts for safety equipment.