Edge 830 Backlight

Its a shame that Samsung don't manufacture cycle computers, then we'd probably have perfect devices!!!

Getting to be the time of year (in the northern hemisphere) when this feature would be very handy.

Would also be good if the auto brightness was less aggressive. Every time I pass under an LED street light the screen brightness suddenly gets cranked up briefly. The constantly changing brightness gets annoying so I turned off auto.

Once again, every time it gets dark and I need to turn on the backlight while riding I'm reminded of this thread. It's very frustrating that Garmin spends the time and resources to make the Di2 battery indicator into a graphic, something literally no customer asked for, but ignores a very useful feature like the option to automatically turn on the backlight at night.

It is like it is. For you this has priority, for other different one.
My guess? You will not get it. And I will tell you why.
The hardware and auto-brightness for the 830 works much better, then on older devices like the 1000.
It will not drain battery massively anymore. I use auto-brightnes permanently since I got it.
I never experienced it will drain battery quickly. I am doing nightrides, so have the same issue as you coming from daylight into dark.
I never was able to drain battery fully during one day. Even with all time navigation and map permanently in front.
So try it it out and do not just assumptions. ;-)

It is one of the reasons why I liked Cyclops/Powertap Joule GPS, which was sold as a no-map cycling computer, but full with practical features Garmin never added. Since then Garmin added backlight after sunset to Fenix watches, but it is not exactly we are speaking about, because one has to either push a key after sunset,  or to get an alert  to make the backlight on. Actually it is not a real PITA, but it is Fenix, and not Edge.

Sidenote, but Powertap Joule (GPS) counted the surges (sprints) of different levels and calculated the peak power over different time span during the activity. 

Unfortunately they could not get enough buyers and decided to close the cycling computer business line.

The "auto brightness" is barely readable at night. I would like to have the backlight on. In the older units, you could access the backlight settings quickly by pressing the power button. Now that just locks the screen, and the backlight settings are buried in menus. I think you can also tap something on the "dropdown", but give me a break, it's nearly impossible to tap a small spot while riding with full fingered gloves.

I found the manual of Joule GPS, the relevant section is

”Backlight Level
0-4. Level of backlight brightness.

Smart Backlight
Yes/No. Yes means, when the Joule GPS is on, the backlight will automatically turn on, 15 minutes before sunset and turn off 15 minutes after sunrise. The GPS location is used to determine when sunrise and sunset occur.

Contrast
0-5. Level of screen contrast.

Backlight Timeout
Never on, 10 sec, 20 sec, 30 sec, 1 min, Always On.”

EDIT:

In the meantime I checked how my Bryton 410 works (I dont use it since I acquired my 530), and it also has an auto backlight option.

Quoted from the manual: “NOTE: Auto depends on the sunrise and sunset time to automatically adjust the backlight off setting.”

My note is that in case of Bryton Rider cycle computers you switch the backlight on with a short push of power button similarly to some Garmin wearables, handheld units and older Edges, and the timeout can be auto meaning it wont switch off if you are sunset and before sunrise.

EDIT: I have a 530, and I just simply forgot that 830 has a touchscreen. So maybe my advice below works only for 530.

Wes-m, i figured out a sort of simplifying trick with 530/830.

Right now you have to push the buttons at least for 18 or 19 times to get to stays on option in display menu and to revert, if you are recording an activity.

1. Back (to the main page)

2. Down (to get Menu)

3. Up (to get Settings)

4. Enter

5. Up (to get System)

6. Enter

7. Enter to Display

8. Down

9. Down again to Timeout

10. Enter

11 Up/Down or 11&12 or to get to Stays on in the shorter directions

+1. Enter to choose it

+1. Enter to confirm the warning message

+4 times Back to revert to the main page

+1 Enter to get to the Data screens

My Solution:

As a default setting choose stays on and the level of backlight you need in the night, lets say 50% as an example. But at the same time choose Auto Brightness to be ON.

When there is dark my sequence is

1. Back (to the main page)

2. Up (to get the I dontknowhowtocallit SpecialMenu)

3. Enter

4. Down (to gps)

5. Down again (to Auto Brightnress)

6. Enter (to switch off Auto Brightness)

7. Back

8. Back again (to the main screen)

9. Enter (to the Data Screens)

So half of the job is saved.

As I said earlier in my reply Tisztul_A_Visztula your suggestion is what I have suggested and what you call (to get the I dontknowhowtocallit SpecialMenu) is called the "Status Page" and here is the online manual link to do it. https://www8.garmin.com/manuals/webhelp/edge530/EN-US/GUID-B5D04501-B045-4F8C-A957-CDA23D127C21.html

I have set my manual brightness to 20% and have the backlight to Stay On, since I have done that, I never have had an issue.