I just got my 235 and it has been charging for a while now but it still will not power on. There is indication that it is on. All i see is a blank screen. I've tried a soft reset and nothing changes. I've used my computer and a wall charger to attempt to charge it. Anyone experience similar issues or will i have to reach out to support?
As it seems you've seen only a blank screen on your watch, Could it be that the battery was drained when you got it, and the charging cable isn't attached correctly to the watch so it can't charge?
As it seems you've seen only a blank screen on your watch, Could it be that the battery was drained when you got it, and the charging cable isn't attached correctly to the watch so it can't charge?
I plugged the charging cable into a usb port on my computer I knew worked since it was last used to charge my phone. Its been properly connected (4 pins on cable to 4 dots on back of watch, attached snugly) to the charging cable for the last 6 hours but still nothing
I'd try a reset to factory settings to see if that cures it
I tried the soft reset of holding the power button down for 15 seconds then trying to turn it back on but that also produced no result. Is there a hard reset like a button on the back or something not listed in the manual included?
Finally got the Garmin logo to appear. The battery was completely dead. The problem now is that I have to apply pressure to the charging clip in order for it actually charge. I can't just leave the watch to charge alone. I'm guessing this is a problem with the clip not the watch.
I would be skeptical to a new product with a discharged lithium battery.
Lithium batteries stored in an empty state degrade and lose capacity.
As we know, these watches discharge very quickly when switched off. Even if left on they would be discharged after a few weeks.
So unfortunatly not much we can do about it. Hopefully the watch auto turns off while there is still physical power in the battery, despite the guage showing zero.
I would be skeptical to a new product with a discharged lithium battery. Lithium batteries stored in an empty state degrade and lose capacity.
Ignoring no-questions-asked and/or goodwill return periods offered by suppliers for a moment, having a discharged lithium battery upon unboxing is not sufficient cause or evidence to claim (as opposed to suspect) the product or component is not fit for purpose. Yes, that's irrespective of how much confidence, or peace of mind, or on the flip side skepticism it instils in the customer. (For the avoidance of doubt, I'm not saying you suggested returning it or claiming that it isn't fit for purpose; I'm saying there is nothing for the customer to do but to choose to stop worrying, unless a no-questions-asked return policy is applicable.)
The question is not whether the battery is less than it could be in perfect condition, or the best that your money should/could have bought, or even as good as some other customers have received, but whether it still delivers the ‘battery life’ promised in the product specifications and/or marketing collateral, so that ought to be the objective test criterion. There's also a warranty period on the battery (which may be shorter than for the product on the whole; I haven't checked in the case of Garmin), so if it begins to fail to hold an adequate charge within that period, there is recourse. On the other hand, if others end up getting 3+ years' useful life out of the original batteries in their FR235 watches while you only got 20 months, that's just tough.
