Steve Jernigan developed an alternative to the manufacturer’s expensive and hard-to-find replacement battery for a McMurdo-branded GPS-enabled personal locator device. The package he prepared consists of a custom circuit board, two 6-volt lithium manganese dioxide batteries, and a 3D-printed housing; it also uses a two-component potting compound to protect the components against environmental effects.
Jernigan states that this solution is intended only as a backup and that the original battery should be preferred if there is a genuine possibility of rescue.
Why it matters
This development shows that in the use of personal emergency beacon devices, the energy source is not merely a technical component but one of the critical elements of the safety chain. It highlights the importance of repair and backup options for users seeking alternative solutions when access to the manufacturer’s battery is difficult or costly. However, it is clearly stated that a handmade package may not offer the same level of reliability in an emergency as the component supplied by the manufacturer. Therefore, although the project is of interest to those who want to keep their device ready for extended periods, it does not change the priority regarding which option should be used in the event of a genuine rescue possibility. The unresolved issue is the extent to which the alternative package will operate reliably under different environmental conditions and during long-term use.
Background
DIY is not a new name in the FikirPilot archive: we published a news report mentioning this name in the last 90 days; that article was dated August 30, 2026.