Garmin HRM question

Garret C

Hi,

I've got the soft strap garmin HRM that comes with the Edge 500 premium bundle. Does anyone know if I should be disconnecting the HRM unit from the Soft Strap after use? i.e does it effects battery life?

Thanks.

Lumen

Garret C wrote: »

I've got the soft strap garmin HRM that comes with the Edge 500 premium bundle. Does anyone know if I should be disconnecting the HRM unit from the Soft Strap after use? i.e does it effects battery life?

I've taken no particular precautions with my Garmin strap and I haven't needed to change the battery in 4 years.

buffalo

The strap? The elasticated bit with the buckle? Am I missing something, or why would that affect the battery?

Although, in a word of warning, if you are changing the battery, make sure you put it back it the correct way around. I think I shorted out my HRM that way.

clod71

Sorry if I get into the conversation, but I am going into my LBS to buy the Garmin Edge 500 in abot 2 hrs.

Question:
if I buy the base model without HRM and cadence can I add these features in the future? The Bundle (with HRM and cadence) is out of stock and I don't want to wait anymore...

Garret C

clod71 wrote: »

Sorry if I get into the conversation, but I am going into my LBS to buy the Garmin Edge 500 in abot 2 hrs.

Question:
if I buy the base model without HRM and cadence can I add these features in the future? The Bundle (with HRM and cadence) is out of stock and I don't want to wait anymore...

Yes you can buy the extra bits at a later date.

Garret C

buffalo wrote: »

The strap? The elasticated bit with the buckle? Am I missing something, or why would that affect the battery?

Although, in a word of warning, if you are changing the battery, make sure you put it back it the correct way around. I think I shorted out my HRM that way.

Im just wondering if attaching the HRM to the stap switches it on? i.e wasting the battery.

clod71

Garret C wrote: »

Yes you can buy the extra bits at a later date.

thank you Garret

buffalo

Garret C wrote: »

Im just wondering if attaching the HRM to the stap switches it on? i.e wasting the battery.

No, afaik it's on all the time. Or perhaps on some sort of standby mode waiting for a heartbeat. The strap is just a bit of plastic though.

Garret C

buffalo wrote: »

No, afaik it's on all the time. Or perhaps on some sort of standby mode waiting for a heartbeat. The strap is just a bit of plastic though.

I have the premium strap, so theres a hrm unit that attaches to the soft strap via two metal buttons. The soft strap then has the bits that contact with your skin. Your probably right though, it must be on stand-by all the time.

buffalo

Garret C wrote: »

I have the premium strap, so theres a hrm unit that attaches to the soft strap via two metal buttons. The soft strap then has the bits that contact with your skin. Your probably right though, it must be on stand-by all the time.

hmmm... I have this one:

I don't know anything about the new one, so maybe disregard my ramblings as those of a lunatic.

seamus

To the best of my knowledge, it's based on the idea that each time the heart beats, a small current is generated in the skin. By taking this measurement at two different points on the body (either side of the heart being ideal), you can do some simple calculations to derive a very accurate figure for HR.

I would be skeptical that the strap is always on standby. I would suspect that the strap "wakes" when a current is induced in the electrodes. The current induced is inadequate to power anything really, but could be used to engage some kind of control switch which then activates the battery circuit to do the real work.

Or maybe it does sit on standby, but the batteries seem to last forever.

Rofo

From the Premium HRM product guide:

"The Heart Rate Monitor is on standby and ready to send data"