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Timer / Stopwatch fast battery drain

Avino
over 2 years ago

There's been countless thread highligting this issue for Garmin Watches.

Clearly a software issue.  The timer/stopwatch isn't putting the watch into idle mode, even if the app isn't actively counting anymore.

https://forums.garmin.com/outdoor-recreation/outdoor-recreation/f/fenix-6-series/215734/timer-drains-the-battery#pifragment-1292=2

https://old.reddit.com/r/Garmin/comments/rkl1n0/f6_pro_stopwatch_battery_drain/

https://forums.garmin.com/outdoor-recreation/outdoor-recreation/f/epix-2/289629/timers-drain-battery-like-crazy

" It's the code in this countdown function.  Like what previous information stated before, it doesn't put this countdown function into idle or stall state.  Instead, it kept running this code even count down process isn't even started or doing its function.  The point here is if count down is "doing" the count down, it's normal to burn the power.  If it's not doing any countdown, this process needs to go into stall state.  The problem here is it will continuously burn the power at the same rate no matter it's counting down or not.  This is very bad behavior.  If I forgot to exit this count down mode/app, it will burn the battery crazily like I am doing endless count down.  So, this function needs to be fixed.  "

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    The description in quotes is kinda funny.  A counter timer using all this battery?  Of all of the million of things watches are doing (when not recording) ... especially with the data filled watch faces that I use.  Updating HR constantly, updating the time (counting), updating weather, maintaining bluetooth connection, blood oxygen, elevation....syncing regularly... like actual computer stuff...??!?!! 

    Not discounting the potential issue (didn't know there was a stopwatch?! not sure what use it would be), testing now, but it does seem crazy that it would be an issue?!  considering you can record a bike ride with GPS... 3-4 sensors.... with music Bluetooth to headphones for easily 6-7 hours!!! lol  what could a few minutes or hour/hours of stopwatch do?  Easily get 10hr of use on 100-150mile bike rides (with mapping/routing)?!?!  11min stopwatch test (active use), used 0% battery...not a long test, but I can't imagine that if you left it on... it would make a difference in use that would be noticeable.  But if you didn't do workouts 5 to 15hrs per week, maybe you could attribute its use a little easier?   My battery life is so hit or miss it seems like.

    But it is weird if it is staying active once you leave that App (it is different than other activites thats forsure!) also weird that it wouldn't time out or popup at some point like all of the other activities that stupidly autosave at 30min paused!  

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    No reports about that FR945 got that issue or are you reporting that now? Your post is a bit unclear. Only Fenix 6 series and Epix 2 posts.

    Well, I must test this. I've started a timer for 23:59:00 and the stopwatch. Battery is currently at 70%. Will check battery in two hours.

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    I've now ran a test for 2 hours 20 minutes with both a timer and stopwatch running. The battery is still at 70%. So, no obvious drain in that test. The linked posts talked about over 1%/hour.

    I must soon stop the test to log some training and I will try to do a longer test during night time.

    Edit (I used my Edge to log my ride so the timer and stopwatch continues to run):

    4 hours 4 minutes. Still at 70% battery.
    ...
    6 hours 40 minutes. Still at 70%
    ...

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to e7andy

    Personally, the issue happens when the timer (or?) stopwatch is finished count down and is just left at 0 and onscreen for the day. (without returning the page to the watch face)

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to Avino

    Ok. I will test that. My battery is still at 70% after 7 hours and 36 minutes with timer and stopwatch running.

    Why do you leave it on the timer page and not go to the watchface for a long time? That is a very special use case that not many users will do. The normal use case is probably: When the timer sounds the user stops it and then click back to watchface.

    The stopwatch is counting up so it will never be zero. It is either stopped or counting up.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to Avino

    It could possibly also be that you have backlight settings (in 'system') to be ON (without timeout) during an Activity?  Could be during an Activity it is using the 'high power heart rate sensor mode'.   But like Andy said... this is kind of a messed up / confusing usage...  i don't get it.    When you are done with an activity / timer you just leave it ?   Not wearing the watch ever?  

    **Just tested what I thought was the issue (leaving Time without 'exiting' fully, just hitting back once in it) and its been 45min... 0% battery loss (on watch face)

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to Avino

    Here is how you can drain the battery with the timer.

    Create a 1 minute timer or less, enable restart, turn off sounds and vibrate.

    Every time the timer reach zero it will light up for a minute and silently alarm. After 1 minute it will turn off the silent alarm but since restart is enabled the next timer will silently alarm with backlight on for 1 minute and so on.

    That was the most extreme case. If you are using restart for the timer and short timers the backlight will be on very often.

    If you also use sound and vibrate it will drain even faster but it will be very annoying to listen to it throughout the day.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to e7andy

    It's like literally how can I hack the watch to burn the battery type 'use case' - kind of makes me lol hah

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to e7andy

    The use case is simple, thru out the day you use it to set how long you want to do deep work for.  So you set it once or twice, then once it rings after count down completes, you stop the ring and leave your deep work to take a break, and leave it at the timer page for your next deep work session.

    So it can either be counting down or be stuck at timer start all day.

     No, the backlight is not set to auto turn on.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to Avino

    I understand.

    I can't turn off the backlight for the timer. 

    Are you using an FR945 and experience battery drain? How much will you lose during a day?