Garmin Battery Life

So I re-calibrated my 405 and confirmed that it can only last 3 hours 10 minutes now(it sure was longer when it was young).

How about your Garmin?


Here is the recalibration instruction I copied from another site. Thanks Kevin L for the link in another thread.

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From Garmin Support
The battery of the Forerunner 405 is monitored by the software. If the software miscalculates the battery life, it can appear the Forerunner 405 battery is going bad. Providing a few instructions often recalibrates the Forerunner 405 to provide an accurate reading on your battery, and thereby resolve your issues.



To recalibrate the Forerunner 405 software:
1) Charge your Forerunner 405 to 100%
2) Remove the Forerunner 405 from the charger
3) Start the timer on your Forerunner 405
4) Allow the Forerunner 405 to completely drain
5) Charge the Forerunner 405 back to 100%
6) Wait one additional hour
7) Remove Forerunner 405 from the charger

You now have no choice but to run sub-3 marathons.

Kevin L wrote:You now have no choice but to run sub-3 marathons.

I expect nothing but sub 3:00s from Jerry

Wait another year til the battery drops to the 2-hour range...

Kevin L wrote:Wait another year til the battery drops to the 2-hour range...

Then it becomes a half marathon special.

Good info Jerry. I wonder if this recalibration would help any Garmin. I have a 310XT and my original one was having battery issues before I dropped it, smashed the face of it, and had to return it to Garmin for a refurbished one. I too would like to keep this battery as fresh as possible.

So this recalibration process lets you have accurate info on the state/health of the battery.... any ideas on what we can do to help our batteries last as long as possible?

Stephanie O wrote:
any ideas on what we can do to help our batteries last as long as possible?

Don't wear it often?

Stephanie O wrote:

I wonder if this recalibration would help any Garmin.

Don't know for sure, but I would think Garmin uses the same program. Doesn't hurt to try.

Should the GPS be turned off for this test? Does the GPS being on use any additional battery?

Natalie wrote:Should the GPS be turned off for this test? Does the GPS being on use any additional battery?

I had the GPS on, but left the watch on my study room desk. For a real test, I may have to take it outside for a run. Last December though, the 405 did quit on me around 2:30 in Dallas Marathon.

Is this on "record every second" setting? Or "smart recording"? My 305 (on smart recording) lasts at least 6 hours and only drains about half the battery. GPS on.

I turned the GPS off. Still ticking...

I've still got a 205. I'm pretty sure its that big because it takes D cells.

Good news is that they last a long time because they're so big! It keeps going and going...

I was nearly at 10:00 and the battery was still at 80%. I went ahead and put it back on the charger so it would be ready for me tomorrow. Maybe I'll try again with the GPS turned on. I think it makes a difference.

Natalie wrote:I was nearly at 10:00 and the battery was still at 80%. I went ahead and put it back on the charger so it would be ready for me tomorrow. Maybe I'll try again with the GPS turned on. I think it makes a difference.

GPS makes a difference. However I don't think you need to worry about recalibration just yet...

Mike MacLellan wrote:Is this on "record every second" setting? Or "smart recording"? My 305 (on smart recording) lasts at least 6 hours and only drains about half the battery. GPS on.

That is correct. I can only get a little over 3 hours with my 305 set to "record every second". I keep it set on smart recording.



Do you know how much the accuracy changes from one setting to the other? Or does it really not make a difference?

Jerry wrote:

Don't wear it often?

I actually rarely wear it on the treadmill in order to save some battery life. I figure it needless wear and tear when I can just wear a normal running watch.

Natalie wrote:I turned the GPS off. Still ticking...

Yup, definitely have the GPS turned on for this process... that's what all the Garmin write-ups said... plus, that's how & why we use the unit.

Stephanie O wrote:

Natalie wrote:I turned the GPS off. Still ticking...

Yup, definitely have the GPS turned on for this process... that's what all the Garmin write-ups said... plus, that's how & why we use the unit.

I'll have to try it again sometime.

My 405 claims it will run 2 weeks with no GPS and 8 hours with the GPS on. I think the 310XT is the only that lasts longer than 8 hours, 20, of the Garmin models.

Jim Lentz wrote:My 405 claims it will run 2 weeks with no GPS and 8 hours with the GPS on. I think the 310XT is the only that lasts longer than 8 hours, 20, of the Garmin models.

Ya Garmin advertises the 310XT will last 20 hours (under specific conditions of course but they don't tell you what those conditions are) but I have never seen that. It may do 20 hours of continual use though. I just got a new one a couple of weeks ago, so I'm going to go through this calibration process and see if I come anywhere near close to 20 hours. Before my last charge I got 8 hours of intermittent use out of it and the battery was at 20% and I had used it for a ton of intervals so that probably drains the battery extra. Pretty impressive even if it isn't what they advertise.

Jim Lentz wrote:My 405 claims it will run 2 weeks with no GPS and 8 hours with the GPS on. I think the 310XT is the only that lasts longer than 8 hours, 20, of the Garmin models.

8 hours? I don't think mine lasted that long brand new. 5 hours, maybe.

Jerry wrote:

Jim Lentz wrote:My 405 claims it will run 2 weeks with no GPS and 8 hours with the GPS on. I think the 310XT is the only that lasts longer than 8 hours, 20, of the Garmin models.

8 hours? I don't think mine lasted that long brand new. 5 hours, maybe.

Shortly after I purchased mine I used it for a 50 mile race and it lasted close to 8 hours continuous GPS use.

Jim Lentz wrote:

Jerry wrote:

Jim Lentz wrote:My 405 claims it will run 2 weeks with no GPS and 8 hours with the GPS on. I think the 310XT is the only that lasts longer than 8 hours, 20, of the Garmin models.

8 hours? I don't think mine lasted that long brand new. 5 hours, maybe.

Shortly after I purchased mine I used it for a 50 mile race and it lasted close to 8 hours continuous GPS use.

Was that last year?

Jim Lentz wrote:

Jerry wrote:

Jim Lentz wrote:My 405 claims it will run 2 weeks with no GPS and 8 hours with the GPS on. I think the 310XT is the only that lasts longer than 8 hours, 20, of the Garmin models.

8 hours? I don't think mine lasted that long brand new. 5 hours, maybe.

Shortly after I purchased mine I used it for a 50 mile race and it lasted close to 8 hours continuous GPS use.

Maybe yours has a faulty battery...