HRM battery life

Enginette
Enginette Posts: 123 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I am sure the answer to my question varies depending on the HRM brand, but I was curious to know how long your battery typically lasts in your HRM?

I replaced the battery in the strap that goes along my chest about two months ago and I swear, when I am doing my Turbo Fire workouts and it is reading my heart rate is at 71, I know something is wrong! I am betting it is the battery, but I feel like I just changed it! I get the strap wet before every workout and my heart rate typically shows up accruately at the beginning of my workout, so it seems to be functioning well. I have a Timex HRM and I will admit it is going on 4 years old, so perhaps it might be time to retire it and get a new one.

Replies

  • Elen_Sia
    Elen_Sia Posts: 638 Member
    I got my Polar FT7 in January and the battery is still working fine. I do clean the sensors of the chest strap every day, though.
  • kokaneesailor
    kokaneesailor Posts: 337 Member
    How tight is your strap? Perhaps it's too lose? I have to really tighten it up to get an accurate reading when I'm swimming. :smile:
  • chivalryder
    chivalryder Posts: 4,391 Member
    My Polar F11 HRM (which is... ummm... 5 years old, lets say) has that issue from time-to-time as well. Sometimes it will take FOREVER to sync up, sometimes it'll start reading out 300 bpm in the middle of a workout, then go back to normal. I don't know if it's been the battery or not, but it doesn't happen often enough for my to get overly concerned. I did just replace the battery because it turned itself on when in my bag, going to visit people. It recorded for 22 hours non-stop! lol THAT killed the battery.

    When it doesn't sync up from the start, I usually have to stop and start it again several times to get it working. I also have found that wearing the chest strap tighter helps keep the measurements more consistent/accurate.

    If you add me as a friend, I can keep you posted on if the performance degrades over time. Mind you, the user manual says that a battery should last about 6 months under "regular" use.
  • TrailRunner61
    TrailRunner61 Posts: 2,505 Member
    Have you been washing the chest strap? NOT the sensor, just the strap. My owners manual says to wash the strap in a washing machine, in a bag, without bleach or fabric softener, then air dry it, after every 5 uses. I also air dry mine after each use since I sweat a lot.
    Also, I read that once the battery gets low, it will have a low battery icon on the 'watch' face and that the battery typically lasts one year with using it half an hour per day.
    I hope this helps!
  • ItsCasey
    ItsCasey Posts: 4,021 Member
    I don't think it's a battery issue. I've had a Polar FT7 for nearly a year. I rinse the strap after each workout. Started having trouble with the transmitter a couple of months ago. Changed the battery. No luck. Washed the strap in the washing machine. Worked fine for a couple of weeks, then started doing the same stuff again (not reading at all, reading 00, reading 215, etc.). Washed the strap in the washing machine again. Still wouldn't work. So finally I just ordered a new strap/transmitter.

    I think no matter how much battery life you have or how clean/tight the strap is, once sweat gets inside the transmitter casing, you're screwed.
  • Di3012
    Di3012 Posts: 2,247 Member
    Have you been washing the chest strap? NOT the sensor, just the strap. My owners manual says to wash the strap in a washing machine, in a bag, without bleach or fabric softener, then air dry it, after every 5 uses. I also air dry mine after each use since I sweat a lot.
    Also, I read that once the battery gets low, it will have a low battery icon on the 'watch' face and that the battery typically lasts one year with using it half an hour per day.
    I hope this helps!

    ^ this.

    I do exactly the same except I always, without fail, rinse mine off under running water after every use otherwise the salt solidifies and *kitten* up the sensors on the strap.

    Washing in the machine after every fifth use is essential to prolong its life, unfortunately a lot of people buy an HRM and miss that bit regarding washing it, hence problems after a few uses.
  • kokaneesailor
    kokaneesailor Posts: 337 Member
    Should you need a replacement strap or band, call 1-800-328-2677
  • chivalryder
    chivalryder Posts: 4,391 Member
    Have you been washing the chest strap? NOT the sensor, just the strap. My owners manual says to wash the strap in a washing machine, in a bag, without bleach or fabric softener, then air dry it, after every 5 uses. I also air dry mine after each use since I sweat a lot.
    Also, I read that once the battery gets low, it will have a low battery icon on the 'watch' face and that the battery typically lasts one year with using it half an hour per day.
    I hope this helps!

    ^ this.

    I do exactly the same except I always, without fail, rinse mine off under running water after every use otherwise the salt solidifies and *kitten* up the sensors on the strap.

    Washing in the machine after every fifth use is essential to prolong its life, unfortunately a lot of people buy an HRM and miss that bit regarding washing it, hence problems after a few uses.

    I find this very interesting, because I have had mine for over 5 years now, and I've NEVER washed the strap more than wiping it off after working out, and rinsing it before putting it on (as it says to do in the instruction manual).

    I have had the occasional annoyance with it, but it is not consistent. Maybe once or twice a month? It's never gotten to the point where I had to look into what's going on with it, because it would start working again properly during the time I was working out, or it would start working again when I started my next workout.

    I don't think the manual says anything about washing it in a machine. I would check yours before I dumped it into a tub of water.
  • ElviraCross
    ElviraCross Posts: 331 Member
    I think mine says something like 2 years. I can't remember. I also would make sure you have it tight enough and that the strap has enough moisture on the spots it needs it.
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    I got about a year out of my Suunto watch battery - strap is still working fine.
  • Enginette
    Enginette Posts: 123 Member
    Thanks for all the responses!

    I have not washed the sensor strap at all. I actually take an Oxy pad and wash it after every third or fourth use, but that is the extent. Luckily I don't share my strap, eh? LOL

    Maybe I need to tighten the strap...I hadn't thought of that. It is just peculiar how some days it works well while other days, it doesn't. Maybe that is the difference between a high sodium day and a low sodium day, right? haha (get it?...bloated?...aw forget it)
  • dad106
    dad106 Posts: 4,868 Member
    Have you been washing the chest strap? NOT the sensor, just the strap. My owners manual says to wash the strap in a washing machine, in a bag, without bleach or fabric softener, then air dry it, after every 5 uses. I also air dry mine after each use since I sweat a lot.
    Also, I read that once the battery gets low, it will have a low battery icon on the 'watch' face and that the battery typically lasts one year with using it half an hour per day.
    I hope this helps!

    ^ this.

    I do exactly the same except I always, without fail, rinse mine off under running water after every use otherwise the salt solidifies and *kitten* up the sensors on the strap.

    Washing in the machine after every fifth use is essential to prolong its life, unfortunately a lot of people buy an HRM and miss that bit regarding washing it, hence problems after a few uses.

    I find this very interesting, because I have had mine for over 5 years now, and I've NEVER washed the strap more than wiping it off after working out, and rinsing it before putting it on (as it says to do in the instruction manual).

    I have had the occasional annoyance with it, but it is not consistent. Maybe once or twice a month? It's never gotten to the point where I had to look into what's going on with it, because it would start working again properly during the time I was working out, or it would start working again when I started my next workout.

    I don't think the manual says anything about washing it in a machine. I would check yours before I dumped it into a tub of water.

    All the Polar Manuals suggest that you wash it in a machine once a week with soap and no fabric softener.. and just hang dry.

    If you can wet the sensors and wear it in a pool, then why couldn't you wash it with soap and water?

    i bet if you washed your strap you'd find it wouldn't muck up as much.

    To OP:
    Another thing you can try is soaking the strap in a combo of baking soda/water and then washing it with soap and water.

    The baking soda helps break down the salt deposits in the strap and make it work better.

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