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EDGE 1040 SOLAR: NO CHARGING AT ALL (only gaining some minutes during activity)

ronaldbr
over 2 years ago

Dear all,

I really have no clue what the idea is concerning the SOLAR panel on the Edge 1040.

Only in cse of a activity running the I notice the SOLAR panel to 'move'by adding some minutes.

Even in bright sun it's not much: approximately 15 minutes on a 5 hours right is not what I expected, do you?

But then, when I stopped the activity and leaving the EDGE 1040 SOLAR in the sun and 'on' , nothing seems to happen, whereas I expected the unit to be charged.

Also, in power off and leaving the unit in the sun for some hours: battery is not being charged. In contradiction: power level seems to lower a bit.

Can anyone advise how to check whether the SOLAR panel does work properly and how the SOLAR panel must work at all?

Kind regard,

Ronald

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    The EDGE is getting to hot if you place it in direct sun light and will stop charging. Only when on the bike the wind is cooling it down and you will have some small benefits from the solar. 

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to AgentMax

    Hi done a 2h34m ride got a charge 37min about the same all 3 rides this weekend

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to laustin956

    Mine seems not to charge while loading and following a course. Every other time it is working.

    I do get 52 hours on a full charge though so I am not worried so much but want it to work. 

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    same problem here: left the Edge 1040 Solar in the sun for hours in varying situations: cool morning, over lunch time, on the grass to help cooling, on the bike in cooling wind, in sleep mode and off. The only situation my edge is charging the battery is during an activity. Outside activity it charges almost nothing (9 mins.over a sunny day of experimenting). Current software version is 12.16. 

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    Ok, I just bought my 1040 Edge Solar and was having some concerns so I did my own test out in the back yard on a bench (starting charge 57%. Unit off, 1 hour, 0 solar charge. Unit standby, 1 hour, 0 solar charge. Unit on, 1 hour, 0 solar charge. Unit running (started as if I’m riding), 1 hour, 9:48 min. solar charge at 77% intensity. 
    So basically, the only way the solar charging feature works is while actively riding. Garmin needs to update their manual and marketing. 

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to 8080236

    Hi there,

    Noted same here. So in fact it means that SOLAR is a rather useless feature. As gaining few minutes only during an activity is nice, but not worth the € 150. The regular 1040 will do

    Instead of  'Garmin needs to update their manual and markerting'  for me it should be 'Garmin needs to update Edge1040 and fix theses bugs quickly'.

    Reason for this opinion: Solar technique works during an activity so it should not be so difficult to get it to work during the other device-modes.

    A pity that early-adapters are seen as testers. Maybe in a year Garmin will have fixed issues, not only Solar but other issues as well.

    If I go through all current issues on the forum (and happening on my Edge 1040 (SOLAR) ) the roll out of Edge 1040 is a disgrace.

    Although slow I will try to buy an Edge 1030 (plus) as this unit at least works.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to ronaldbr

    with the Instinct 2 Solar Garmin demonstrates how it should be: the instinct charges well when left in the sun. I got mine in May and always charge it with the sun. Two hours in the sun over lunch time adds days of run time to the battery. Garmin should update the software of the edge 1040 solar to fix this issue!!!

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    I think the solar panels in the device are not that sensitive.  In Southern California I don’t get much added time.  If Garmin reads these, maybe a software update can help with solar charge sensitivity.  I would never recommend the solar device in its current state.

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    Has there been any update to this issue? My 1040 solar will not charge unless it is on.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to Biff

    Nope, enjoy the silence on tis topic ;-((