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530 keeps auto starting whilst inside

My 530 keeps auto starting whilst sat at my computer. I am assuming it is because it is losing and re-aquiring satellites and thinks it has moved very quickly but this has only started recently and is pretty annoying, It just keeps doing it before I can turn off the unit. I use the autostart and ideally would like to keep it on.

0 slimeytoad over 1 year ago in reply to Wongataa

I actually spoke to somebody at Garmin over the phone about the 530 turning on when you connect / disconnect to power. His response was that when the unit is connected to power, Garmin assumes that you are connecting to a computer and want it turned on to manage the device. When you disconnect from power, Garmin assumes that you are going for a ride and want it turned on. I informed him that the problem that I was having was that I was using a "smart" charger that turned itself off when the unit was charged (charging current drops below a set value). This would cause the Garmin to turn on and use up its battery looking for GPS and Bluetooth connections. I've had a number of instances where I've plugged the Garmin in, made sure it was fully turned off after it turned on, gone to bed, then gotten up in the morning to go for a ride only to find my Garmin with not enough charge for the ride because it had been on all night. I wish Garmin would stop assuming that they know what I want to do better than I do. I'm perfectly capable of turning the unit on and off as I want it.

0 leginswal over 1 year ago

I have had the same issue many times and still get it. It is the only device I know of and own that turns itself on when you disconnect it from a power source. It is a very stupid idea. If I want the device on, I will turn it on.

Many a time I have had it connected to my computer to charge up and upload a ride to it, forgot its still connected and turn off my computer to find next morning etc, it is flat or very little power left in it.

But, I have been told and its in the forum somewhere that the device will only turn itself on if its connected to a data power source. If its connected to just a power source, it will not turn on. But I know it does occasionally as many a time I have drove to an event the night before with the 530 connected to a charger in the car to top up the battery, to find the next morning, the 530 is almost flat. And I have even seen it turning on when I have disconnected from just a power source at home.

This is definitely a stupid Garmin idea. As for assuming your going for a ride straight away is garbage, it could be hours later I can be going for a ride especially an event.

0 slimeytoad over 1 year ago in reply to leginswal

Thanks leginswal for inspiring a thought to try out. Garmin has been specific to me about wanting to sell me Garmin cables to use. My assumption is that these cables are guaranteed to have both power and data lines in it. I have other USB power cables that won't allow my Garmin to connect to my computer - no "data" lines in those cables? I'm going to play around with other cables to see if different cables result in different behavior.

I have had my Garmin turn on plugging into a plug-in power module, but who knows what those modules do with the data lines in the USB cable.

0 PeterK_55 over 1 year ago in reply to slimeytoad

My experience is that the 530 behaviour post disconnection from a charger depends on its pre connection state, ie on, off or sleeping.

If the device is off when connected to a plain charger it stays off when disconnected.

If it’s on or sleeping when connected to a plain charger it stays on when disconnected.

When connected to a computer in any state with a data cable it goes to mass storage and always boots up when disconnected.

A charge only cable will make a computer behave like a plain charger.