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Two dead HRM in less than a year

Drigobarreto
over 2 years ago

An upset story.

After two years using the HRM-Run, bought mid 2019, and a single battery change, my HRM began a weird behavior. It started with miss reading the HR and then after a month died. 

As I wouldn't loss activity precision, decided to buy a clip in model and got a HRM-Dual in October 2021 wondering it wasn't going to have same fate. Couldn't made same wrong choice twice!

Last June I had to change the Dual battery. It has last for about three weeks and same behavior developed. First HR misreading and it died.

Now I really don't know what to do. I'm currently using my Fenix 6X to relay HR to the Edge while cycling, unfortunately the precision for this kind activity is almost useless.

Is it time to look other brands?

Here is some images showing cracks in the case body, mostly on the RUN. On the Dual there is a single crack in the screw housing however the circuit board is filled with salt and probably the other side is for sure corroded. The Dual cap is clean, concluding that moisture and sweat hadn't went trough the seal.

 

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    Looking at some of these pictures the first thing I’d suggest is that you get used to cleaning the strap after each and every use whichever strap you decide to buy in the future. I have straps that are much older and much cleaner probably because I thoroughly clean them after every use. My straps are still going strong and showing no signs yet of any problems. There have been other reports of cracked screw bosses without the corruption due to grot and grunge build up that you show. It might well be worth contacting Garmin Support and see what they say.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to Dr Phil

    Actually they were cleaned and hand washed after every use. The one in poor conditions is the HRM Run, that spent about 10 month in the drawer. You may notice that the HRM-Dual is very clean. 
    The photos were taken yesterday. 
    Furthermore, both had heavy usage, at least 6X per week and soaked in sweat. After that time isn’t  that hard to built salt and dust. 
    And the macro photos pull things we can’t see at naked eye.  

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    When you replace the cover screws after changing the battery, what procedure do you use to tighten the screws?

    With machine screws around M2 size (I don't know if they are metric or imperial in the HRMs) it is very easy to over-torque them without being aware that you have. It would be helpful if Garmin published a torque setting for the screws but even if they did I expect very few users have access to a torque screwdriver that goes that low.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to Scillonian

    As you already said, there is no recommended torque and is user feeling.

    I used the method following:

    - place the cap watching the o-ring to not bite it

    - press gently until full course

    - place screws in X pattern until reach some resistance

    - ‘check’ screw torque by loosing it with light torque but no free movement. This is very subjective.
    However I’m used to work in my bike, car, electronics and other stuff. I have some experience with tools and hand work that gives me confidence to do much more complex task than this. 
    And you may see that it’s not as hard to the average user, that may just watch a YouTube video from Garmin itself showing that. 

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    I've had multiple Garmin HRMs fail after only a single battery swap, with no visible sign of corrosion. I'm convinced their screw-down battery door is at fault...and they've all but admitted as much with the release of the HRM-Pro "Plus" which is identical to the HRM-Pro...with the exception of a new, tool-free, twist-lock battery door!

    After 5+ years of daily use, my Polar H10 is still going strong but I'm giving Garmin another chance and just ordered the HRM-Pro Plus. You can bet I'll be reporting on how it holds up compared to the H10.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to Otto-Destruct

    I'm about to buy a Polar H10 until tomorrow if Garmin does not give me a good reason to stay.
    Unfortunately, down here in Brazil the Pro Plus haven't arrived yet, and when it does, is going to cost two (yes, taxes are nasty here).

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to Otto-Destruct

    Hi, I had Polar H9 and I got strange high HR on bike while going downhill. I read somewhere that's because of static electricity and that H10 has better wider electrodes. I bought H10 and it never happened again. But now time to time I get the same while running. Seems that now I have to tight the strap more and put more gel on it. So I'm wondering about HRM-Pro Plus to replace H10 and RD Pod. But I'm afraid of the quality and the electrodes seems similar like on H9. Does anyone had same HR spikes while going downhill on bike with Garmin straps?