Has anyone ever replaced the battery in their Polar watch (specifically the 710i) and successfully created the waterproof seal again? I would like to have the watch for a race in a week and thought I would just do it myself, but don’t want to ruin the seal. Any tips on how to be successful?
Mark
I tried and failed. I ended up sending it back to Polar.
Other times, I succeeded by taking it to a local jeweler/watch store along with the correct battery.
David K
When you say you failed, did it leak or could you just not put it back together again?
I did, it was easy until I stepped in the pool 
Send it BACK if you don’t wanna take a chance.
For the 710i specifically, you may want to see if you can even find that battery. My 710i battery died a few weeks ago, and I didn’t want to be without it for a couple of weeks, so I tried to change it myself. After trying all the local drugstores, Radio Shack, and multiple watch repair places I had no luck finding that battery. I ended up trading it in for 30% off on a new 625x.
Nurts. Looks like I may be sol for next week.
Thanks folks.
Mark
I replaced my 720i battery 2 weeks ago. The waterproofing test ended up being Timberman and there were no issues. If you can be without the watch for a couple weeks sending to Polar is the sure fire bet.
Also changed my battery on 720i. It takes a large battery that you’ll need to locate on internet since RShack et al don’t stock them. Battery cost about $5.
I wasn’t going to wear HRM during swim but forgot at last race; seal seams to be fine. The screws were really tight initially so the trick might be to given them a good crank once you’ve changed the battery.
On separate note…is there anyway of knowing how much life is left in the chest sensor? Mine seems to be going forever but at some point, it will die…
Replacing your own battery will change the waterproofing to splash proofing. Good to about 2 feet and then after that, the pressure will push in on the seals.
I took my out of warranty Polar to a Jeweller/watch store that reseals watches (not everyone does it) and it cost $25.00 for the whole shebang. Try a department store.
I just had the battery in s625x replaced by polar service center in Michigan. It took about a week.
I decided to send my in after messing up a couple of Nike watches and an ipod mini. You would have thought I’d have learned my lesson after one. Oh well.
What’s shocking to me is everyone’s acceptance of the ‘normal’ factor - it’s ok to lose your watch for a week and be forced to pay $25+ for a $5 battery replacement in a watch…
What’s more upsetting to me is that I literally drive right past the Canadian head office everyday. I asked if I could bring it in and have it done - Nope. Can drop it off, but they’ll send it back, I pay the shipping…
I had a Timex that I changed the battery on 10+ times over the 6 years that I wore it - never a problem. I’m practically scared to take the cover off the Polar, for fear of messing it up…
Anyhow, just my grumpy thoughts today…
I changed my own battery but all my polar gets is rain from riding. A friend changed his and went kayaking and toasted his polar. I bought the batteries on Ebay for cheap.
What’s more upsetting to me is that I literally drive right past the Canadian head office everyday. I asked if I could bring it in and have it done - Nope. Can drop it off, but they’ll send it back, I pay the shipping…
I cannot do a workout or race without my polar hrm. Waiting for a week or two without it while someone changes the battery is not acceptable to me. I’ve replaced several batteries polar. They batteries need to be purchased at a battery store since Walmart and most of those stores don’t carry the right size. Just be careful to not have the internal seal twisted, misaligned, or out of its groove when you put it back together. After you get it back together, make sure it works, including the buttons. Then test it in a sink or bucket full of water. Do not push buttons when the watch is submerged! If your watch leaks, open it up and let it dry out. It has happened to me more than once. Its not the end of the world and the watch will still work. Be a little more careful the second time and pay attention to what you are doing.
Polar pressurize the case with Nitrogen when they replace the battery. This is part of the water proofing you won’t be able to do yourself. I sent mine in to get the battery changed and the watch was returned to me in 2 days.
Also, if you send it to Polar you can include any of the the other bits like the strap and sensors and they will check them and let you know if their are any issues - they detected a problem with my transmitter which explained some problems I had been having with heart rate readings which I had attributed to a loose strap.
I think if your watch is really old and you don’t swim with it it would be ok to change it yourself, but otherwise not worth the hassle and risk.
Count me as one of those who murdered a perfectly good S210 by having someone other than Polar replace the battery. If you go with an RS400, you can replace the battery yourself (its got one of those coin opened circular doohickies on the back, and it takes a CR2032 that you can find anywhere). Same with the HRM transmitter that comes with it.
Spot
Try taking it to a watch place at the mall (usually one of the island kiosks), and the battery can usually be found at a “Batteries Plus” store. I just had mine changed and then did the Luray Intl race with no problems. The guy used silicone on my o-ring and scraped the dried salt and all the other debris that could stop the watch from sealing properly, and since he didn’t have the battery and I had to go and buy it from batteries plus (right down the road) he did it for free.
I sent mine back. It wasn’t that expensive and I got it back pretty quickly.
I cannot do a workout or race without my polar hrm.
That might be one of the funniest things I’ve read in a while. I’ve had some of the best workouts of my life in the last two weeks since I killed my 710i. I was almost sad to see the 625x arrive in the mail today.
i just sent back my timex bodylink after flooding it. i also fucked up my original polar.
send it back or just throw it away.