EPIRB - Triggered by battery-less LED torch

[Wooly]

Just a word of warning to anyone that has one of those new no-battery LED torches (the ones you shake to recharge).

If you carry one of these torches on your boat, I suggest that you keep them well separtated from your EPIRB.

I was cleaning up Friday arvo after a trip to Wide Caloundra when I herd a beeping from my safety gear storage area. It turned out to be my personal EPIRB (I have 2 onboard, personal (MT310) and the std Pains Wessex bulkhead mounted).

I first thought the the test button must have been depressed, no. But when I put the MT310 back in its spot it again started transmitting. After a bit of trial and error I discovered that may hi-tech battery-less LED torch was the source of the inadvertant triggering. I guess it is some sort of electromagnetic field generated by the torches charging system or perhaps the capacitor that triggered the EPIRB.

I called AMSA and reported the event.

So if you have both an EPIRB and LED tourch in your grab bag or similar you may consider checking that you too have not been transmitting a signal.

Cheers

[marlinqld]

I wonder would this apply to one of theose battery less radios?

I have a small radio you wind the handle like hell for a minute or 2 and it charges and runs for 1/2 an hour.

Better check that out, thanks for the heads up mate


Mike

[finga64]

Good thread matey.
How many would know AMSA's contact details to report the incident to start with??
To be honest I don't know their phone number of the top of my head. I just know VHF ch16

[seatime]

Wooly, thanks for an example of an accidental activation of one of the 121.5mhz EPIRBs.
You did the right thing and prevented a lot of people running around looking for the source.

This is the main reason why 121.5mhz will soon (2009) cease to be monitored as a distress frequency.
97% of activations of these EPIRBs are false (accidental or malicious), an enormous amount of resourses are tied up investigating each alert to confirm their authenticity, as the source is anonymous.

It's quite common for electronic equipment on-board the boat to trigger these units, regularly happens with aeroplanes.
Vibration, heavy knocks, jolting and solar flares may also trigger an EPIRB. Even heard of steadily dripping water onto an EPIRB activating it.
At least if it happened to a 406mhz beacon, and you were unaware,
AusSAR would contact you to confirm the situation, and mobilise SAR if needed.
If distress beacons aren't stowed in brackets, it's best to keep them in an upright position. If you realise one has been accidentally activated, do as you did and contact RCC Australia.

regards

[finga64]

What are the contact details for them Gelsec??

[seatime]

Here's the phone number if a beacon is accidentally activated;

Australian Search And Rescue (AusSAR) 1800 815 257.

[finga64]

Beauty, thanks mate.
That phone number can be written onto the EPIRB now and also on my list of contacts I keep in the boats.
Cheers

[Wooly]

I called the Maritime Rescue number at AMSA 1800 641 792. I think the nuber posted by GELSEC is the Aviation Rescue number. Probably both go to the same area anyway.

cheers

[finding_time]

Wooly

I noticed you mentioned the no battery torch. Is this your only torch on board? I'm pretty confident that the laws require that your torch on the boat has to be water proof and bouyant eg. Dolphin type torch. A mate recently got cautioned by boating patrol because although he had a torch onboard and it was water proof it wouldn't float.

Ian

[Wooly]

Ian

Thanks for that.

No just a backup, I carry 4 torches, inc 2 dolphin type torches.

cheers

[seatime]

Wooly, AusSAR is responsible for maritime and aviation search and rescue, it's a combined organisation, all in the one building.

you are correct, 1800 815 257 is listed under the aircraft section, but it is the only number provided for accidental activations on their website.

another, 1800 641 792 is listed to call if the beacon continues to transmit after carrying out a self test, not distiguishing between maritime or aviation.

on stickers provided by AMSA there are two 24 hour emergency numbers;
Aviation: 1800 815 257
Maritime: 1800 641 792

but then the maritime number is listed under aviation on their website also?

http://beacons.amsa.gov.au/Maintenance/Testing.asp

http://beacons.amsa.gov.au/Maintenance/index.asp

if either number is used the message will be logged and get to the right dept.

regards
Steve