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If I wear my Garmin Chest Strap HRM Pro all day at work for my commute home run, will the chest strap battery be draining all day as I am moving, or does it only turn on when I start an activity on my watch?

I usually commute home from work by running, and I am also starting Zone 2 Training. I want to use my chest strap, but I can't really put it on at work, so I would have to wear it from the morning when I leave, with my run being like 8 hours later. 

My question is will the HR strap battery being running all day long as I move around if I am wearing it, or will it only start up when I start an activity?

  • The strap starts transmitting (and thus draining battery) as soon as it detects heart rate impulses on the electrodes. So if you wear it for 8 hours, it will drain battery for 8 hours, even if you don't start an activity.

  • It is not exact how it works.
    If you don’t start activity on your watch strap will not transmit it to device, instead of it, strap will write HR data to internal memory and will send it to your mobile via BT as soon as will have connection with it.

  • If you don’t start activity on your watch strap will not transmit it to device,

    It will not transmit to the device, literally, but it will still broadcast HR data over ANT+, regardless of whether something on the other end is listening or not.

  • Why can't you put it on at work?

  • It will not.
    Default setting is to connect to external sensor during activity, outside watch uses built in HR.

  • The strap starts transmitting (and thus draining battery) as soon as it detects heart rate impulses

    Strictly speaking the strap will start transmitting almost as soon as movement is assumed and certainly when in a sink under running water being warmed before use. 

  • That’s the watch not the strap.
    The strap will transmit anytime movement is assumed or a signal is detected whether or not any device, watch or otherwise is in a state to receive the signal. 

  • Wearing the strap all day will prevent your skin to breath and it might lead to skin rash and even one that never recovers properly. So I would really think twice this.

  • I second this. Sometimes I get small rashes/ mini pimples even after very long runs (that go away after a day) from rubbing/ the skin not breathing. 
    i would - if possible - advise you to put it on at a bathroom break at work before you leave. The workplace must have some sort of restroom. 

  • I believe it will register HR and broadcast it regardless of activity.  

    2nd:  I guess if not all sweaty maybe it isn't that bad, or much worse than a womens bra all day... but still even with washing my straps often they don't smell the best after a few months of heavy use. (I have like 5 straps, so they get washed regularly)

    3rd:  HOW are you not able to put it on after work?!?!  No bathroom?  No office corner/cubicle wall?  No stockroom/backroom/hallway?  Can't just walk down sidewalk/path/road before you start running and quick put it on????  Really don't get this... ?!  can use spit to wet backside and/or a small bottle of water to wet it....  I can put it on in 5sec, even if I was a women/bra situation or modesty concerns in general... wouldn't take more than 10sec on a bad day.  so confused