I was wearing my my Garmin 920XT with its heart rate monitor for a run the other day and today and it flashed to me that the battery for the heart rate monitor is low. I got the whole set up brand new for Christmas.
I know it probably sat in the box for a while before it got to me but wow!
Is this normal to get 7-8months of use out this heart rate strap?
You can’t change out the battery on these at all, correct? I just need to get a new one?
The battery is replaceable
HRM batteries last 2-3 years with regular use. That’s not normal. Replace the battery (CR2032), and if it happens again then assume the HRM is defective and drawing more power than it should. But it’s probably the battery.
Replacing the battery is easy. You just need a good precision phillips screwdriver. Here, Wiha are the best:
Make sure the waterproof gasket goes back correct, and make sure not to strip the threads. It’s just plastic.
HRM batteries last 2-3 years with regular use.
Define regular use? Garmin suggest about 300 hrs battery life. There’s never any certainty about the quality of the battery either.
Overall, if you are training several times per week, you could well be up for changing your battery before a year is up.
if you’re doing a run a week they might last 2 to 3 years.
got the same message over the weekend, think this will be my second change this year. remove the 4 small screws at the back, pop in a new 2032, make sure to put the little rubber seal back on the battery, pop back on the cover and replace screws. make sure not to lose a screw, they are very small and easily lost.
simples
I change my battery about once a year. Just scared it will go out on me during something important and I have a pack of batteries in the junk drawer, so why not. Takes 2 minutes and costs almost nothing. No help in determining exactly he long it will last ,but ~8 hours a week for a year doesn’t kill them in my experience.
if you’re doing a run a week they might last 2 to 3 years.
got the same message over the weekend, think this will be my second change this year. remove the 4 small screws at the back, pop in a new 2032, make sure to put the little rubber seal back on the battery, pop back on the cover and replace screws. make sure not to lose a screw, they are very small and easily lost.
simples
I also got the same message over the weekend (I have a year old trihrm). Coincidence? or did we get a firmware update that is triggering this?
Well within range of normal, just replace the battery takes 2 min.
if you’re doing a run a week they might last 2 to 3 years.
got the same message over the weekend, think this will be my second change this year. remove the 4 small screws at the back, pop in a new 2032, make sure to put the little rubber seal back on the battery, pop back on the cover and replace screws. make sure not to lose a screw, they are very small and easily lost.
simples
I also got the same message over the weekend (I have a year old trihrm). Coincidence? or did we get a firmware update that is triggering this?
nah, i;ve had my 920 almost 3 yers now, i got a very early release one, and this is line with the regular replacemant time
if you’re doing a run a week they might last 2 to 3 years.
got the same message over the weekend, think this will be my second change this year. remove the 4 small screws at the back, pop in a new 2032, make sure to put the little rubber seal back on the battery, pop back on the cover and replace screws. make sure not to lose a screw, they are very small and easily lost.
simples
I also got the same message over the weekend (I have a year old trihrm). Coincidence? or did we get a firmware update that is triggering this?
nah, i;ve had my 920 almost 3 yers now, i got a very early release one, and this is line with the regular replacemant time
Right, I have had mine a long time as well (and have replaced a number of HRM batteries), but until this weekend I have never gotten a “low HRM battery” warning on my 920 – the HRM just stopped working.
Thank you. total brain fart moment. I will change out the $2 battery!
As far as usage time before it died, In looking at your responses to time. Yeah I killed it in 7months from training. Thanks for all the responses.
i’m pretty sure i’ve gotten the low battery warning in the past. at least the last time. i honestly don’t remember if it always came up from day 1
Like others here, I’ve changed mine probably before seeing the message. I get a bit concerned about it failing after a year of use. Not worth the angst of losing some data if it’s really important to you.
Do you guys disconnect the transmitter unit from the strap when the HRM is not in use? I always do that. That battery lasts easily 2 years. I replace it every other season. One time I think I let it go 3 seasons and it died. I use the HRM for 5-6 runs weekly and about 3 rides.
I always do. Primarily because it allows the contacts to dry out and not go rusty. It’s a good thing to do especially as the transmitter still transmits when the strap is removed from the body.
And as for the battery life - duration will depend on battery quality and usage. While some might get “easily 2 years” others might get less. There is no definite statement that can be made. As noted, Garmin suggest 300hrs of usage. That could be 5 years, that could be 6 months.
I do on my old HRM-Run, but the new Garmin straps you cannot remove the transmitter, it is permanently installed.