Battery drain issue

Same issue here. 40% drain on a 2hr ride. Admittedly, 0 degrees here in Zurich but this is the 3rd winter using my 1030 and I've never had this issue before. I expect that the latest firmware update is the culprit. I suspect that the firmware is targeted at the new generation Edge devices such as the 1030+, 830 etc, which I believe use a different chip set and hence could be causing old 1030's problems.

This happens from time to time with my Apple Watch 4, when new updates are rolled-out. Thanks for sharing your experiences, I won't go through the hassle of resetting the unit or down-grading firmware as this doesn't seem to help. Hopefully Garmin will issue a fix in the next update.  

**Update** - I read through similar threads, people suggesting to check the backlight. Mine was indeed 'always on'. The recent update has done this automatically. I switched it to stay on for 15 seconds. That has vastly improved the battery life - crica 6-8% p/hour.

However, I did a 12hr overnight ride (Lugano - Zurich) earlier this year and it only used approx. 55%, so something still isn't right... 

*Phone connected

*2-3 degrees C

*Late afternoon / dark

Thanks for the info! I will check again all the settings, but in my case I am pretty confident that the backlight is set at 15 seconds. 12 hours - 55%... it is very close to what I knew it's my edge capability. I accept that mine it's not new anymore, maybe sensors connected all the time could absorb 1-2%, but what is over 8-9% per hour it not acceptable for me. I am still testing and I don't have a conclusion yet. Do you think that Di2 could have such a great impact? Thanks!

I'm pretty sure it's firmware related. It isn't Di2 related, or at least not for me. I have Ultegra Di2 but without the d-fly, so it has no Bluetooth connectivity to the 1030 unit.

I always have Stages powermeter and HRM paired. 

SwissWardy said:

I'm pretty sure it's firmware related.

This is my opinion, too. But what should we do? Should we wait new firmware?

I haven't change backlight since my device was replaced. Higher power consumption has been present for a few months only. I cannot say exactly since when as I think together the outside temperature and the firmware cause this problem.

So last winter it was fine for the same device same backlight. Now I experienced high power consumption in cold weather. Also I have automatic backlight. So depends on the light reaching the sensor of the device.

Last test, 3 hours, temperature around 5 degreeC, backlight 0%, edge charged to 100%. During the first hour, there was a decrease of 13%. Next two hours, precisely 5% per hour. If we average, it is around 8%/hour. But I feel it's not fair to average. It seems strange the consumption in the first hour. Any ideas?

Something of an update / possible source of the problem. I did several rides between Christmas and NY, both indoor and outdoors. 

- Indoor rides, approx. 3%-4% drain p/hour

- Outdoor rides, (consistently) the first hour up to 20%-25% drain, then 6%-10% per hour after that.

It could be coincidental, but I usually ride early mornings, i.e. 6:30am-9am. It's completely dark when I start out, subsequently I have my front light on full beam. I then switch it down to preserve the battery as it gets lighter. Therefore I think the light, when on full beam, is having an impact on the Garmin 1030 light sensor.

This alone shouldn't be draining the battery by 25% in the first hour. For instance, per previous comments, the Garmin backlight remains on throughout indoor rides and the drain is only 3%-4%. I also did a 400KM ride last year in which I rode for 2-3hrs in the same light conditions with minimal battery drain.

Therefore I am sure this is software and light sensor related. 

As someone else said, this is disappointing as my 1030 now has the same battery performance as my 1000, which was, frankly, rubbish. Let's hope Garmin fixes this in the next software update.

4 hour ride outdoors today, starting at 100% ....  finished at 30%...

What the hell Garmin? the spec is up to 20h and at this consumption rate I wouldn't have made 6h, not even 1/3 of the spec!!!