Garmin Edge Explore 2 - battery

[Amac]

Hi everyone,
I have just replaced my old Garmin Edge Touring, with a Edge Explore 2.

I used it the other week for 2 hr ride, just to get used to the differences and get it set up.
I started with it fully charged, but after 2 hrs it was down to 30%.
It was very cold last weekend, so I know that would have affected the battery.

But I did not expect it to be that low after 2 hrs, so I was wondering if the battery might be faulty.
I just wondered what other peoples experience might be, as long as I can get 6 hrs or so put of it, I will be happy.

Thanks for any help or advice.
Alex

 

[ianrauk]

I can do over 10 hours of riding with my Edge Explore 2 and it only looses about 25% in the cold.
I would say you have a faulty unit.

 

[Amac]

I can do over 10 hours of riding with my Edge Explore 2 and it only looses about 25% in the cold.
I would say you have a faulty unit.

Ok, thanks for getting back to me, thats what I thought, as all the info say 16hrs.
Thanks again

 

[chriswoody]

Are you sure the battery is actually at 30% though? The Explore 2 did have a problem with the battery software that was erroneously reading the battery level.

There have been some firmware updates that should have fixed the problem, so check you do have the latest firmware on the unit. You can also try to calibrate the battery software and see how that works. Here's a post from a Garmin Forum explaining calibration:

"In short: let the battery drain itself completely until the unit shuts down (ignore battery save mode). The unit will stay on for several hours while the battery indicator shows 0%. Connect the unit to a wall charger and immediately perform a full reset to factory defaults using the buttons on the device, charge the unit - still on the wall charger - to 100% and keep on charging while still on 100% for several hours. Then shut down the unit & restart. Now the unit has learned new 0% and 100% level indications which correspond to real battery charge levels."

The other week I was out in sub zero temperatures for nearly 5 hours and I used about 15 - 20% of the battery, that was on navigation mode, but without sensors attached, with my Explore 2. Normally I can get about 12 - 16 hours of use out of one charge, I do find the battery really good.

Another tip is to make sure that you keep the unit completely switched off between uses, not just put to sleep, because in sleep mode the battery will still slowly drain.

 

[cyberknight]

also turn down screen brightness and make sure its not connected or seeking connection with your phone as i find these drain the battery a bit quicker .
Last weekend with my explore 1 i was out for 5 and a half hours and didnt put the device into sleep mode at the cake stop and with the temp at a max of -1 it did use a more battery than usual ,I think it was about 35% when i got home .

 

[Amac]

Hi, thanks for getting back to me.
No I didn't know about the battery indicator.

I was in navigation mode for just about all of the ride, but I have not even connected to my phone as I thought the blue tooth might drain the
battery more.
I don't really need the phone connection, as I do all my route planning on my pc and upload using Garmin express.
And the last thing I want to see when I am out cycling, are my phone messages
Yes I always shut the unit right down.

Perhaps I should try letting it drain right down and doing the procedure you suggested.

I just want to be confident in the summer it will last 8hrs if we are out all day.
also if there are any problems with it, I get them reported early so I don't hassle getting it replaced.
Thank you for your help,
Alex

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Check backlight settings. I have mine set to 10% and 30s. I get about 20 hours in navigation mode.

 

[Amac]

Oh thanks for the settings advice, I will set mind to those, and try again, if it ever stops raining
Thanks for letting me know.

 

[Amac]

hi just checked had it set to always on and 100%
I think I would need it at 505 to see it and read it, but will try that at 30ses, thanks

Check backlight settings. I have mine set to 10% and 30s. I get about 20 hours in navigation mode.

 

[cyberknight]

hi just checked had it set to always on and 100%
I think I would need it at 505 to see it and read it, but will try that at 30ses, thanks

i have mine set to minimum whilst riding and it seems ok then turn it up to full when settings up a route / transferring files etc .