Tracking Device Teardown

Ever wonder how your tax dollars were spent? I followed the ifixit.com link shown in the poster on a Dwellar's photoblog thread and came up with this. It's a teardown of a custom built FBI GPS tracker. Neat stuff.

http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Tracking-Device-Teardown/5250/1

The device is powered by four lithium-thionyl chloride (Li-SOCl2) D cell batteries.
Each cell is good for 13,000 mAh! That's about double the capacity of the iPad 2's battery.
These cells are suited for extremely low-draw applications where longevity is needed, making them ideal for powering an always-on transmitter/receiver. Their service life is rated at 10 to 20 years.

Wow. If these things were rechargeable, I'd buy a dozen.

Very interesting article, and the one about the lady the FBI tracked was even more interesting. Better check my bumper.....:tinfoil:

TheMercenary;743372 wrote:

Very interesting article, and the one about the lady the FBI tracked was even more interesting. Better check my bumper.....:tinfoil:

With the new cellphones tracking us I even wonder if these things are necessary anymore.

richlevy;743365 wrote:

Wow. If these things were rechargeable, I'd buy a dozen.

Lithium-thionyl chloride does not mean those batteries can power it for ten years. Ten years plus is estimated shelf life for this expensive technology.