Garmin Edge 520 battery life
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Garmin Edge 520 battery life
Anyone here uses Garmin Edge 520? I love it but it's been a headache when planning longer rides. The battery died soon. How long is yours?
#2
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Did it die, or give you a low battery warning? Sometimes mine will give a false low battery warning, but go for hours more. I think there's an issue with the battery warning system that maybe has been updated. I'd say I get at least 12 hours out of a charge, maybe more.
If it did die within 6 hours of having a full charge, or even 8, I'd check the display settings and see if it's on constant bright or something.
If it did die within 6 hours of having a full charge, or even 8, I'd check the display settings and see if it's on constant bright or something.
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I've seen battery life issues with the 520 with new firmware revisions. Recently version 12.9 seemed very bad for me so I rolled it back to 12.6. Performance seems better but the battery fuel gauge is atrocious. I've had it operate for 5-6 hrs after the fuel gauge hits 0%. I think cold temps wreak havoc with the fuel gauge. I think I'm getting 10+ hrs these days.
#4
Non omnino gravis
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My Garmin 705 started showing "low battery" after 2 or 3 hours when it was about 4 years old. I never tested it to see if it could actually run for hours with the warning, perhaps the older battery just had a slightly lower voltage, making the "low" warning show up sooner.
Replacement battery
I got a newpower99.com battery almost 5 years ago. I didn't expect it to last as many years as the original, but it's still good, lasting at least 6 or 7 hours after all these years. I recharge after most rides.
Some Garmins are welded/glued shut, and not replaceable. My 705 was quite easy, with 4 small screws and a ribbon connector. The newpower99 video was useful. They supplied a tiny screwdriver and a plastic tool to pull the connector.
They have your 520 battery.
but it's more complicated than my 705, needing to strip some wires, etc.
Replacement battery
I got a newpower99.com battery almost 5 years ago. I didn't expect it to last as many years as the original, but it's still good, lasting at least 6 or 7 hours after all these years. I recharge after most rides.
Some Garmins are welded/glued shut, and not replaceable. My 705 was quite easy, with 4 small screws and a ribbon connector. The newpower99 video was useful. They supplied a tiny screwdriver and a plastic tool to pull the connector.
They have your 520 battery.
but it's more complicated than my 705, needing to strip some wires, etc.
Last edited by rm -rf; 02-15-19 at 10:45 AM.
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Mine is good for about 5-7 as I currently have it set up with brighter back light and all the sensors and screens rolling. I am ok with it. I am going to get the 1030 for the larger screen this spring because I need a larger dang screen! Getting old suck!
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Also look at the Edge Explore. It’s the size of the discontinued 1000, doesn’t have all the bells and whistles for Workouts and other fitness related stuff. More a replacement for the Touring line. $249
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I do like that unit but it won't connect to a power meter according to DC Rainmaker. No go...ugg
Last edited by sdmc530; 02-15-19 at 05:05 PM.
#12
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3 years old and I got 11 hrs to 20% today. Backlight and bluetooth off, not much map use or scrolling. It's pretty warm down here though 60-80*F, expect worse in winter.
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Good luck with your Garmin 520. I've used Garmin for years including the 520. I recently switched to the Wahoo Element Bolt for ease of use, and battery life and couldn't be happier.
#14
Non omnino gravis
I should point out that lifespan for the battery isn’t determined by age, but charge cycles. I ride 5-6 days a week, totalling around 700 hours a year. My 520 is well past the charge threshold, so battery life is only going to get worse. That said, I never got anything like 11 hours out of my 520.
My wife has an Edge 500 that was bought refurbished in 2015, and it could probably run for 20+ hours on a single charge. If you ride a typical amount, 5+ years out of a GPS unit shouldn’t be a problem.
My wife has an Edge 500 that was bought refurbished in 2015, and it could probably run for 20+ hours on a single charge. If you ride a typical amount, 5+ years out of a GPS unit shouldn’t be a problem.
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I don't mind only getting 7ish hours out of a unit. I mean people complain about charging it every 2-3 rides or so if you ride a lot but most people have to charge the cell phone every night and don't even think twice about it.
If your a person who rides long distances and out on the trail for days on end yes, it would be super annoying. But really short of that anything I can stretch over 7 hours will do me fine if I would change my power settings. I just don't see this as a huge complaint or downfall of what we expect this little computer to do.
If your a person who rides long distances and out on the trail for days on end yes, it would be super annoying. But really short of that anything I can stretch over 7 hours will do me fine if I would change my power settings. I just don't see this as a huge complaint or downfall of what we expect this little computer to do.
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spot on...this is why my old 500 was doing awesome for so long. Wasn't using it as much as I use my 520. My 500 seemed to last forever before the battery started to fail and the charging port got wanky. I don't expect that kind of life of my 520.
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I've seen battery life issues with the 520 with new firmware revisions. Recently version 12.9 seemed very bad for me so I rolled it back to 12.6. Performance seems better but the battery fuel gauge is atrocious. I've had it operate for 5-6 hrs after the fuel gauge hits 0%. I think cold temps wreak havoc with the fuel gauge. I think I'm getting 10+ hrs these days.
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Did it die, or give you a low battery warning? Sometimes mine will give a false low battery warning, but go for hours more. I think there's an issue with the battery warning system that maybe has been updated. I'd say I get at least 12 hours out of a charge, maybe more.
If it did die within 6 hours of having a full charge, or even 8, I'd check the display settings and see if it's on constant bright or something.
If it did die within 6 hours of having a full charge, or even 8, I'd check the display settings and see if it's on constant bright or something.
#19
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My 520 was used so much the battery life became annoyingly short. I bought a 520 plus partly because I wanted more memory for maps and partly fr teh battery. At the time I couldn't find instructions fo replacing the 520 battery.
That said, when I rode doubles I usually used a battery extender. I had a "Minty Boost" I soldered myself. With lithium batteries I was good forever. Later I got a small usb brick I velcroed to the stem. The Garmin will use it while running. That may be your best and cheapest option for long rides. Good luck.
That said, when I rode doubles I usually used a battery extender. I had a "Minty Boost" I soldered myself. With lithium batteries I was good forever. Later I got a small usb brick I velcroed to the stem. The Garmin will use it while running. That may be your best and cheapest option for long rides. Good luck.
#21
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I've had mine for 2+ years. I power off at stops of more than 30min, it will suck the juice in sleep mode. I also keep the backlight at 0 or 20%, which is plenty to see while night riding. I haven't done an actual test, but I haven't heard the low battery warning since taking these precautions. I charge it once a week if I'm just commuting, and make sure there's a full charge if going on a long weekend ride.
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I have been able to manage 6-8 hours if the Bluetooth connection to my phone is off. I usually sync everything to my phone now after a ride.
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Did it die, or give you a low battery warning? Sometimes mine will give a false low battery warning, but go for hours more. I think there's an issue with the battery warning system that maybe has been updated. I'd say I get at least 12 hours out of a charge, maybe more.
If it did die within 6 hours of having a full charge, or even 8, I'd check the display settings and see if it's on constant bright or something.
If it did die within 6 hours of having a full charge, or even 8, I'd check the display settings and see if it's on constant bright or something.
A software update fixed the problem.
#24
The Crank
I get a false low battery warning on my 520-plus from time to time. At the moment it gives this alert on startup, even though the battery is at 100%. I've keep the software updated.
Even though I 'know' is a false warning, it still causes a little anxiety - 'is it really?'
Anyone else have this problem, or a fix?
Even though I 'know' is a false warning, it still causes a little anxiety - 'is it really?'
Anyone else have this problem, or a fix?
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full discharge even with the garmin edge 520 turned off
After charging 100% the battery will full discharge even with the garmin edge 520 turned off after a few hours.
Does anyone have any idea what the problem might be?
Rgds
Ivan
Does anyone have any idea what the problem might be?
Rgds
Ivan