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Solar question

Yoder
over 2 years ago

What does solar charging do exactly? 

I've had my 955 for almost two weeks now. When I'm getting direct sun for 1-3 hours I'm still losing a little battery over the course of that time, or it's staying the same. I haven't seen the battery percentage increase at all while in the sun for a few hours.

Is the solar charging supposed to actually charge the battery or is it just to maintain it at the current level?

If it never charges it, unless you're doing an extremely long endurance activity then how do you know it's doing anything? 

Last Saturday I was at a local amusement park for several hours in the sun and still lost two percent over the day without doing much on the watch.

Unimpressed so far with the solar aspect, but I love the rest of the watch.

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    You're expecting too much...

    Solar is meant to help with batteylife, not actually charge the battery. According to garmin specs you can expect an inrease of 10-30% depending on usage (30% in smartwatch mode, 10% with multiband) when you have it on the entire day and have 3hrs of sun 50000 lux.

    So at most, when out in the sun the entire day and not doing anything with your watch it might keep it's battery level or perhaps charge a bit.

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    the solar is a way to augment your battery endurance, not fully charge it. it's my experience that if you can orient it so that it's facing the sun in the heart of the day (at least in California), it will charge more than is being consumed during that that time span. i have actually seen the percentage go up but i'm sure that was just a momentary condition when my wrist was positioned just right to get optimal solar insolation while driving.

    i do think its possible to save a couple percent a day from normal smart phone consumption (5% vs 7%) if you are out and about in the sun a fair bit.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to FlipStone

    Thanks! I wasn't sure what to expect. I appreciate your help:)

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to derek87

    Thanks very much!