General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Garmin 920 users - battery life Rss Feed  
Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller Reply
2015-04-16 8:40 AM

User image

New user
175
100252525
Houston, Texas
Subject: Garmin 920 users - battery life
Hi all,

So I recently started paying VERY close attention to my 920's battery life and I'm starting to worry. I have IMTX coming up and I'm doing some math on the battery life and thinking that it's going to push it to get the watch to finish. Here's what I've found.
On the bike: a 6 hour ride (117miles) took the watch from 100% down to 37-39% (no glonass)
On the run: my last 16 mile run took it from 95% down to 77% - so roughly just over a percent per mile.
I haven't had a chance to do any OWS so that's a big unknown.

I'm hoping to complete this even in about 12-13 hours. If watch starts out at 100%, then I loose maybe 5-10% on the swim??? So I start the bike at 90ish% and go down to 33% at the end of the bike, that will be just barely enough to finish the run IF I run the whole thing.....

Are other's seeing about these same percentage drops or is mine dropping quicker?

Some things to note: For whatever reason (and garmin tech has been working with me on this) my watch likes to drop my PM and Speed/Cad sensor all the time. So for my long rides I leave the PM connected to unpair the S/C to help battery so it isn't trying to repair all the time. I just want to get this straight before race day...

Thanks
Justin

Edited by toodamnbroke 2015-04-16 8:40 AM


2015-04-16 9:13 AM
in reply to: toodamnbroke

User image

Extreme Veteran
1018
1000
Subject: RE: Garmin 920 users - battery life

Is this with bluetooth on?  I'd turn it off and see how that helps.

2015-04-16 9:26 AM
in reply to: toodamnbroke

User image

Member
1748
100050010010025
Exton, PA
Subject: RE: Garmin 920 users - battery life
You don't get much info from your watch during the swim, so just leave in T1 and turn it on when you get in. This gets you an extra hour + to work with.

I am surprised the 920 can't go for 12- 13 hrs, I thought it was advertised as 20 hrs?
2015-04-16 10:27 AM
in reply to: mike761

User image

New user
175
100252525
Houston, Texas
Subject: RE: Garmin 920 users - battery life
I learned really fast to turn Bluetooth off. It's fine if I'm just going to do a ride or run, but to maximize battery I'll have to leave it off. The numbers posted above are with Bluetooth off.

I may end up leaving it in T1, but then I will be "hoping" that it finds the sat signal in T1 before I start moving too much... And I bought a watch that is supposed to get me through an Ironman without worry. I will most likely leave my old 310 on the bike (which I still use as my heads up display while riding) and I guess I can grab it and throw it in my Tri top pocket for the just in case.
2015-04-16 12:15 PM
in reply to: #5108571

User image

Master
2151
20001002525
Johns Creek, Georgia
Subject: RE: Garmin 920 users - battery life
I'm having / had the same issue with mine. Just finished IM Melbourne & thankfully the batteries last, but barely. Turn off Bluetooth. Wi-Fi, use smart recording, don't turn on until right before the start, and cross your fingers! I don't understand why it drains so fast.
2015-04-16 2:24 PM
in reply to: toodamnbroke

User image

Member
1748
100050010010025
Exton, PA
Subject: RE: Garmin 920 users - battery life
turn it on before the swim so that it locks onto a gps signal, then turn it off. When you turn it on again after the swim it should lock on quickly. Not ti mention its an IM, most people spend a couple minutes in transition anyway, so it should have time to lock on.


2015-04-16 3:10 PM
in reply to: toodamnbroke

User image

Subject: RE: Garmin 920 users - battery life

You don't have the back light set to always on do you?  IME, the back light is by far the biggest drain on any of the garmin units.  Or maybe the back light is set to stay on for over a minute after any button press?  I usually have my devices set to only 15 seconds.

 

2015-04-16 4:07 PM
in reply to: karen26.2

User image


928
50010010010010025
Subject: RE: Garmin 920 users - battery life
This is disappointing and it sounds like my phone! I don't have one but I was thinking of getting the 920xt or a Fenix 3 to replace my 910xt.
2015-04-16 6:31 PM
in reply to: jennifer_runs

User image

Veteran
2842
200050010010010025
Austin, Texas
Subject: RE: Garmin 920 users - battery life

I haven't experienced that rate of drop.  Glonass on, no backlight, no Bluetooth, but it drops very slowly.  Well less than 10% for a 2 hour run.  About that, IIRC, for a ~3hour bike (I've been usually using my 800 on rides, but did use the 920 a couple times early on).

Bummer to hear yours is doing this.  Will they entertain a warranty replacement, as it sounds quite different than advertised?  Customer service has been absolutely excellent in my experience with Garmin.

I'm very happy with mine, although the OWS has been less accurate than my 910 in head to head.  They just sent a new unit out, so I'm hoping that will be resolved...

Good luck!

Matt

2015-04-16 8:38 PM
in reply to: mcmanusclan5

User image


643
50010025
Subject: RE: Garmin 920 users - battery life
I don't have a 920 (910 user here) but that battery life sounds pretty bad. How many accessories do you have? I know I took a tiny hit adding power but even a ~20% drain in 2 hours seems like something is up. Could be a bad battery. My original 910 was great and then 3 months later I could only get 5 hours out of it. Sent it in for warranty and got a new refurb that has been going strong ever since.
2015-04-16 9:47 PM
in reply to: Blastman


471
1001001001002525
Subject: RE: Garmin 920 users - battery life
wifi off
bt off
glonass off


2015-04-16 10:15 PM
in reply to: zedzded

User image

New user
175
100252525
Houston, Texas
Subject: RE: Garmin 920 users - battery life
I've spoken with Garmin Technical support a few times, but more about issues concerning connectivity with PM, Speed/Cad etc.. They have been great just as they were with my old 310 when it had some problems. I'm going to give them another shout tomorrow and see what they think about this.

And yes, all posted numbers are with Glonass, BT and wifi off. My backlight however is set to 60 seconds since I do most of my training very early in the morning, but on the 6 hour bike ride, that was during the day and I didn't ever hit the watch over 2-3 times during the ride and I have autolap at 5 miles, not 1 mile. But that is a possibility and one I will let Garmin know about. It still seems like it should last longer than my 310's battery life though, which it doesn't.

For anyone else following, just an FYI: I love the watch!!! This has been all but a very small drawback to the otherwise stellar performance of my 920.
2015-04-17 6:45 AM
in reply to: toodamnbroke

User image

Member
1748
100050010010025
Exton, PA
Subject: RE: Garmin 920 users - battery life
Talk to a friend last night that has a 920, he said that garmin pushed out some upgrade a couple weeks ago that fixes this. We did a 2 hr run on Sunday and his watch only dropped to 97% where as before it would have been down to 60%. So check it out, there is some kind of software upgrade for it.
2015-04-17 7:59 AM
in reply to: mike761

User image

New user
175
100252525
Houston, Texas
Subject: RE: Garmin 920 users - battery life
Originally posted by mike761

Talk to a friend last night that has a 920, he said that garmin pushed out some upgrade a couple weeks ago that fixes this. We did a 2 hr run on Sunday and his watch only dropped to 97% where as before it would have been down to 60%. So check it out, there is some kind of software upgrade for it.


Oh thats nuts!!! I have all the latest firmware upgrades as of last week sadly, but I am going to mention it when I call and see if maybe it's not a published fix, or something like that. Thanks for all the help.

Justin
2015-04-17 2:13 PM
in reply to: toodamnbroke

User image

New user
175
100252525
Houston, Texas
Subject: RE: Garmin 920 users - battery life
Talked to Garmin and I have a few more things to check. Keeping fingers crossed that they work!!!

2015-04-20 8:20 AM
in reply to: toodamnbroke

User image

New user
175
100252525
Houston, Texas
Subject: RE: Garmin 920 users - battery life
UPDATE: 1 of (most likely) 2
I did my long bike ride yesterday and the watch did better. Total ride time with all the stops and all was 6h30m and the battery went from 80-27%. So that's better than before. The change was to turn off activity tracking while on the bike ride. I have my long run in 2 days and will turn it off then too to see how it fares on the run.



2015-04-20 11:37 AM
in reply to: toodamnbroke

User image

Extreme Veteran
1332
100010010010025
Subject: RE: Garmin 920 users - battery life
Originally posted by toodamnbroke

UPDATE: 1 of (most likely) 2
I did my long bike ride yesterday and the watch did better. Total ride time with all the stops and all was 6h30m and the battery went from 80-27%. So that's better than before. The change was to turn off activity tracking while on the bike ride. I have my long run in 2 days and will turn it off then too to see how it fares on the run.




That's still not that great. Half the reason I upgraded from my old 305 was to get the much longer battery life!! To this day it gets close to 8 hours still.
New Thread
General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Garmin 920 users - battery life Rss Feed  
RELATED POSTS

Garmin HR Monitor battery life

Started by KatieLimb
Views: 2721 Posts: 7

2014-12-03 8:41 AM brucemorgan

910XT battery life problem

Started by Izlude
Views: 885 Posts: 2

2012-07-08 8:06 PM EKH

Garmin 305 Battery Life for Ironman

Started by DV 1
Views: 2182 Posts: 17

2012-04-24 9:57 PM rmiller1976

Garmin 305 battery life

Started by Bearintheair2000
Views: 1287 Posts: 8

2015-01-24 5:28 AM Toefuzz

Power Tap Battery Life

Started by tri808
Views: 4096 Posts: 7

2011-08-30 10:39 AM GoFaster
RELATED ARTICLES
date : November 12, 2009
author : Coach AJ
comments : 0
In this review, we put the Garmin Forerunner 405 and the Suunto T6C heart-rate and GPS watches through the wringers.
 
date : September 28, 2009
author : Coach AJ
comments : 0
New products from Athlete 3, Fuji, Garmin, Kestrel, LiveStrong, Reynolds, Scott, Specialized, Shimano and Vision Tech
date : June 18, 2008
author : Team BT
comments : 3
Easily transfer your workout data from your Garmin, Polar, Timex and more directly into your BT training log. Eliminate the manual entries. Save time!
 
date : May 19, 2008
author : peteo
comments : 0
Well it is mid-life crisis time. I could get a mistress but I still think my wife is hot. Or I can abuse my body like I was still 19. Triathlon world here I come!!
date : March 26, 2008
author : Team BT
comments : 0
Instructions on how to directly upload routes from your Garmin training device into your training logs.
 
date : September 4, 2005
author : Michael
comments : 5
But just when I was beginning to think that life is consumed by only darkness, just out of my sight, there it was...A glimmer of light.
date : September 3, 2005
author : chrisandniki
comments : 0
This is not an easy task, especially for the “9-to-5er” with family. But you can do it – all without sacrificing your marriage, job or family.
 
date : July 17, 2005
author : chrisandniki
comments : 0
“Too bad there’s not anything like this for triathletes.” There are a million books and articles on how to train. One of the toughest parts of triathlon training is how to fit them into everyday life.