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Instinct 2 - solar charge not working after USB charge

I have had my Instinct 2S Solar for a couple weeks now. I noticed that every time I charge to 100% with the USB cable, the solar charging function stops working. Even after I use the watch normally and the state of charge drops (90, 80, 70%), the solar charging never kicks in. If I turn the watch on and off the solar starts working again.

Anybody else experiencing this? A bug fix would be nice so I don’t have to remember to restart my watch after charging.

Edit: I believe I’m on the latest software (v13.19)

Edit: Added state of charge detail

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0 Ayanami over 1 year ago

It' just how the solar charging works, not a bug. When charged to 100% with USB, the solar charge stops automatically. Restarting the watch will consume some battery energy so the solar charging starts working again.

0 p.shindig over 1 year ago in reply to Ayanami

Thanks, that makes sense. But I forgot to mention something important in my post. I would charge to 100% with USB, use the watch normally to use up battery, and the solar charging never kicks in regardless of the state of charge (90, 80, 70%). When I reset the watch, solar starts working right away.

*adding that detail to my original post

0 joeyboon over 1 year ago

I would just like to confirm I have the same Issue. There is no solar intensity data (after charging to 100%). Even if the battery drops to lower percentages. I will reboot the watch and see if it charges tomorrow (since the sun has set for today) and will update this post. I'm on the Instinct 2S Solar on software version 13.19.

0 joeyboon over 1 year ago in reply to joeyboon

small update, after a reboot the watch begins charging again in the sun.

0 joeyboon over 1 year ago

Another small update, As far as my testing goes, it shuts of even when not charged to 100%. So even if I charge it from 50 to 60 percent, the solar panel won't work until reboot. Hope there is a fix soon.

0 p.shindig over 1 year ago in reply to joeyboon

Interesting. So anytime you charge with USB the solar stops working, until reboot?

0 joeyboon over 1 year ago in reply to p.shindig

Only tested it once, but it seems so. Will test again tomorrow.

0 Recycled over 1 year ago

I have exactly the same fault. I think it started after the latest update (13.19). It is nothing to do with the watch being charged to 100%, nor being overheated etc, so please don't post with stock replies. This is a fault.

0 edsjon over 1 year ago

I too have noticed this following the 13.19 full release update on my Instinct 2S Solar. I would guess it's either that solar charging isn't working or that perhaps it is working but for some reason the graphs aren't depicting anything, despite being outdoors in very bright sunny conditions.

0 kiecherb over 1 year ago in reply to edsjon

I wonder if since update 13.19 and 13.21 Garmin has not introduced the system similar to Genix 7, let me explain:

when i had a fenix 7 i noticed that when the battery charge was above 90% the watch had a lot of trouble receiving solar power, see did not receive it at all, then below 90 % it was good again.

Thursday evening I did the 13.21 update on my instinct 2x, letting it load at 100%, there it is at 98% and I notice the same effect, loading intermittently or not at all, and this despite a hard reset.

My instinct 2x tactical which is at 67% just next door charges normally, the same for my descent g1 which is at 62%, also charges normally.

So I guess garmin must have introduced an additional protection system, like the one that must be present in the fenix 7.

To see when the instinct 2 solar is below 90% how it will behave.

Last clarification, when I was vacationing with the 2x instinct with a 12.xx build, whether it was below or below 90%, it normally charged up to 100% by sunlight.