FYI - Solar Charging with Tactix Delta Solar

I've tried this exact same thing with my fenix 6x pro solar and did not see any increase in battery percentage. Even Garmin reports that solar charging on the fenix series of watches is only suppose to slow down battery drain, not actually increase the amount of charge the watch has.

...solar charging on the fenix series of watches is only suppose to slow down battery drain, not actually increase the amount of charge the watch has"

I would agree with you if you to wear the watch but from my experience, the solar charging characteristics was obviously more than sufficient to sustain current power demands and able to charge the Tactix Delta

ZuhMan said:

I would agree with you if you to wear the watch but from my experience, the solar charging characteristics was obviously more than sufficient to sustain current power demands and able to charge the Tactix Delta

I think what you may be observing is an increase in the percentage charge shown on the watch due to an increase in temperature because of the solar exposure - not a real increase in state of charge of the watch's battery.

If you leave your watch in direct sunlight continuously for several days, do you observe an increase in in the indicated state of charge after several days?  Or just on the first day after a temperature rise in the watch itself?

A definite increase in the state of charge. I was able to sustain 61% at the end of each of the 3 full sun days I've had.

I've tried this very test with my Tactix Solar Delta, and absolutely cannot get an increase in charge. In fact, I even put it outside for one hour, and this is under Phoenix AZ overhead April sunlight, and still the battery drained, didn't even stay level. 

Just posted on another thread that it does seem like Solar, with good irradiation by the sun, might do as good as slow current drain from battery down to zero. But I really doubt you gonna charge it unless you are in a power savings mode. Absolutely for sure not with WiFi on.

Also I would not leave my Delta Tactix out in the sun to charge, it would get way way too hot without my wrist there to keep it cool, and the LiON battery would surely get damaged and lose capacity. You simply can't stop that damage from happening, it's just the battery chemistry of LiON.

One hour in the sun is not going to do it. My test involves 8 to 12 hours in the sun, As I have previously mentioned, the indicated charge percentage increase is 1% per 3 to 4 hours of exposure (at 100% intensity).

Good point on the possible heat damage to the battery but the Tactix Delta can solar charge when its temperature ranges from 32F to 140°F

I think the difference between our tests is getting true maximum insolation on to the watch face, I doubt I got as much as you did. Good to know about your tests.

140F is easily reached, and once the watch body goes higher, your battery can get damaged, it's just how LiON works. Research it for yourself, but once that damage happens, LiON capacity will be reduced permanently.

just let the watch sit perpendicular to AZ morning sun, through a window screen, and the solar intensity pegged at 100%, for two hours. Effect on battery:  charge level went from 48.6% to 48.3%.  So negative charging of 0.15% per hour, more or less. I think the solar panels are simply too small to offset smartwatch operating current consumption. My normal consumption is reported to be about 0.2 to 0.3% per hour. 

So again, in my testing, solar charging cannot fully offset battery drain, and only serves to slow battery drain, but not actually add charge level period. Leaving it in the sun for 8 hours will only cause 8 hours of reduced drain, but will never net-net increase battery charge level, at least with my settings. 

I might try a power savings mode with no wireless connections, and see how that works with Solar charging.

Hi Tone Loke!  I'm looking at purchasing a Tactix Delta Solar.  I have a Fenix 5X Sapphire at the moment.  I'm also curious if the unit can be charged (most likely very slowly) with no wireless connections.  When I'm up in the mountains in CO, my phone is useless in a lot of areas and I shut it off.  I'm curious if I could charge it with a connection to only my inReach.  Thanks for this information, it's very helpful! 

I did try charging the Delta Solar outside in the Power Saver Mode, which is just basically basic time that updates each minute, and heart rate tracking. All wireless is off. Not sure what else is on. In this mode, but with full sun, yes the solar charging does manage to increase charge percentage. So if you just want basic time, and heart rate tracking (pls look up what else is active in Power Saver Mode, maybe steps, and ABC dunno), then you might be able to run the watch indefinitely with solar charging. But the face of the watch has to be perpendicular to the sun, to get full charging.