Garmin being charged status

If, by “standard watchface”, you mean the factory-installed Digital watch face, you should be able to discern when the watch is charging using a power source other than a computer's USB port. (Nothing else that you do – whether it's installing some other Connect‑IQ watch face published by Garmin, or develop your own – can be considered “standard”, so please don't use that word if you only mean your choice of watch face but not Digital.)

https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?369284-My-Garmin-235-only-charges-to-98&p=946004#post946004

The photo in the post linked to above was taken of a Forerunner 235, but I doubt the FR230 behaves any differently.

I didn't see anything in the api docs.

While I too would like a boolean attribute (or return value of a function) to test for that, it's not available, and a thread search in the forum would have told you that (because that's how I found it).

It's a bit tricky, but the way I do it is in my watchfaces I watch for the battery level going up, and then watch for it going down, and keep track of how long it's been in that state.

If it's going up, you're charging, down, it's not, but I also have some logic if it's staying the same for a period of time (if it hasn't changed for a minute, it's no longer charging, as it might take 5-10 minutes to actually go down with a watchface). Also, for going up or down, I look for a change > a certain amount, as there will be small changes in battery (due to outside factors) where the battery level bounces around a bit do to heat, etc.

Then when I decide it's charging, I change the battery icon.

having something like an "isCharging" flag in the API has been requested in the past, but it's not there.

Thanks jim_m_58 for your reply.
Unlike the earlier response, your response has a positive "perhaps you could try this" tone.
ASmugDill's "Nothing else that you do ... can be considered “standard”, so please don't use that word" + "it's not available, and a thread search in the forum would have told you that (because that's how I found it)." comments seem a bit harsh.

I didn't check the forums but, did review the api docs.
Had I searched and come across the earlier thread, should that have stopped me from posting?
- That thread is a month old. In that time Garmin may have decided to add this functionality to their roadmap and my posting could've prompted someone over at Garmin to say it's coming soon
- I add to the list of developers calling for such a capability
- Someone may have come up with another solution or an explanation/reason as to why the watch behaves differently when connected to a PC vs. USB wallcharger.

My only crime is that maybe I should've updated the original thread. :(

I've had the logic in my watchfaces for probably more than a year now, and I will say it can be a bit of a challenge to do (eliminating the "false positives" is the tough part), but something to also understand, is that's it kind of well known that CIQ watchfaces don't usually show it. I'm not sure people notice I have it in mine :)

Also, if you charge using a USB port on a PC, you'll get the standard charging screen (there are some varions here based on specific devices, as to when they are in mass store mode vs "garmin" mode). Another thing you might run into is how the battery level is seen in CIQ. Some return just an integer value, some also have a decimal part, and for non watches (like the Oregon) the battery level only shows in 20% increments (if it's at 40% and charging, the next you'll see is 60%)

Thanks again. Sounds very tricky.
The reason I'm suddenly interested is that I somehow managed to "charge" the FR230 overnight with the connector upside down. :o
Good thing FR230 has decent battery life!!

It would be nice if the watch buzzed when properly connected.

Any updates on getting a "isCharging" status bit in the API?
One of the threads I found (from 2016), indicated it was on Garnin's todo list.

No change. I think it was first requested in 2015, and I really don't expect it soon. Like I said in an early post, I just do it the best I can based on what I see.

Thanks Jim.

I wanna update my watchface to indicate when it's charging.
I'd rather not re-invent the wheel.

Mind sharing your (I'm certain, expertly written :)) source code?
Post the snippet here or github ptr?

Well, this is interesting.
The reason I want a notification is so I can tell that I've got the usb charging cable properly connected.
I've messed up a few times (generally, late at night, no lights on in the kitchen ...) plugging the cable upside down.

Today, I plugged my watch in to charge while it was displaying a widget & I get an alert saying "xx %, Charging".
I've never seen any alerts on my main watchface - see link
What's the deal with that???
Can you guys (Garmin) please fix that (make it consistent)?

https://apps.garmin.com/en-US/apps/b84538b1-0e3d-4875-a7eb-fb14ada15289