Question: how can you tell when your heart-rate monitor needs a new battery
03-30-21, 06:05 AM
#2
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That looks more like dry electrodes on your HRM strap -- was it cool on that ride?
No pulse reading after wetting the electrodes is my tip-off. HRM says my heart's not beating, but I feel fine...
No pulse reading after wetting the electrodes is my tip-off. HRM says my heart's not beating, but I feel fine...
03-30-21, 07:25 AM
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You can measure battery voltage with a $10 multimeter from Harbor Freight.
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03-30-21, 08:13 AM
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Off hand, I'd say when my Garmin is no longer recording my heart rate.
BTW I find changing the battery a real pain. The screws and TINY and strep very easily. I've had to take my mine to a watch maker to get the screws out.
BTW I find changing the battery a real pain. The screws and TINY and strep very easily. I've had to take my mine to a watch maker to get the screws out.
03-30-21, 08:35 AM
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I wouldn't go by just one ride's data. As mentioned other things can cause the drops or bad data. I'd really look into other things first. And though HR is nice to know, do you really need it perfect all the time?
Measuring coin batteries with a multimeter is really a guess. They'll tell you when a coin battery is really good, but they'll have you throwing a lot of good ones away too.
If you are going to go through the trouble of opening it to check, then just replace it with a new one and forget about checking.
Measuring coin batteries with a multimeter is really a guess. They'll tell you when a coin battery is really good, but they'll have you throwing a lot of good ones away too.
If you are going to go through the trouble of opening it to check, then just replace it with a new one and forget about checking.
03-30-21, 08:58 AM
#6
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FWIW, I've been using this particular HRM for close to a year. I've had it fail to read altogether when the contacts are dry, but I've never had janky readings like these before. That point where the reading jumps up and holds perfectly steady about 4/5ths of the way through came after I unsnapped the transmitter pod.
It was obvious something was wrong shortly after I started my first interval. Even before that, my heart rate was about 8 bpm lower than it should have been, but I was pretty tired, which might have explained it. And then it didn't ramp up with my effort (and subjectively, I knew my heart was beating faster).
I just replaced the battery. That seems to have done the trick.
It was obvious something was wrong shortly after I started my first interval. Even before that, my heart rate was about 8 bpm lower than it should have been, but I was pretty tired, which might have explained it. And then it didn't ramp up with my effort (and subjectively, I knew my heart was beating faster).
I just replaced the battery. That seems to have done the trick.
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Adam Rice
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Last edited by adamrice; 03-30-21 at 09:03 AM.
03-30-21, 11:07 AM
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I do not need graphics to tell me my HRM battery is off.
I use a separate HRM, not part of my GPS or bike computer.
My chest strap batteries last for years, but if it gives me screwy data, batteries are cheap and I keep spares on hand. My old HRM died, screen showed gibberish, I suspect water infiltration. I replaced the HRM a couple years ago with a Sigma ID.GO, that battery is still good, but I suspect that a weak LCD display would be a good hint for a bad battery.
https://www.sigmasport.com/en/produk...d-series/id-go
I use a separate HRM, not part of my GPS or bike computer.
My chest strap batteries last for years, but if it gives me screwy data, batteries are cheap and I keep spares on hand. My old HRM died, screen showed gibberish, I suspect water infiltration. I replaced the HRM a couple years ago with a Sigma ID.GO, that battery is still good, but I suspect that a weak LCD display would be a good hint for a bad battery.
https://www.sigmasport.com/en/produk...d-series/id-go
04-01-21, 10:11 PM
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Yeah, I normally get a year out of the battery of my HRM. I figured since I wear the thing every time I ride, that's not too bad.
04-01-21, 11:13 PM
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It works until it's dead then there's no reading 👌
04-04-21, 02:41 AM
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Usually when it takes longer to pair and won't stay paired reliably. About every six months with my Wahoo Tickr. I use the Elite HRV app every day before workouts and if I notice persistence problems pairing the Tickr or glitches in the app reading, it's usually time to replace the battery. I just replaced it this weekend, about six months since the last battery change.
04-04-21, 06:31 AM
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don't try this at home.
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My Wahoo Tickr has a bluetooth phone app. RIght now, it shows the standard CR2032 battery is at 4 out of 5 bars.
It seems to work well, I like it.
It seems to work well, I like it.
