woodcraft

My years-old Garmin 500 didn't go the distance which it had before,

so (because long run-time is key) looking into battery replacement.

Apparently original battery is 700mah, but replacement batteries are 600mah accept for sketchy-looking offerings on ebay.


Any input?

skycomag

have your check your opinions with Garmin?
https://www.google.com/search?q=garm...iw=911&bih=441

HillRider

Garmin is obviously your best source for that information. Also, there is an "Electronics, Gadgets and Lighting" forum here that may be a better place to ask the question. Finally, there may be external batteries available that supplement the internal one like those sold for smart phones.

Iride01 

It's not a user replaceable item. Garmin is not going to help you with any information toward that. You can send it in for their Out of Warranty repair rate, which for the Edge 500 comes in at 85 dollars. There are some guides on the internet about replacing the batteries. I've never seen anyone post that they were completely successfull and happy when they tried, and I've seen many that said they botched it. So unless you have some experience with working on tiny cramped circuit boards and their fragile ribbon components, I recommend only doing it as a last ditch thing after considering other options.

I've had my edge 500 since I got it for a b'day in 2010 (I think). Still has the same battery life as far as I can tell. Though I seldom go more than five hours, the battery meter.... which I don't rtrust....still shows plenty. Maybe you are leaving the background lighting on or using background lighting too often. I don't use it. I get enough visibility adjusting the contrast and angle on the bars.

davidad

TrojanHorse

I replaced the battery in my garmin 800 using a spare using a kit I bought from amazon. Worked great, cost me... $15? Would do it again.

woodcraft

Thanks- that's good except the battery spec is less than the original, & I'm trying to determine what that would mean for run time.

The rated 18 hrs has kept me using the #500 since I do some long events.

I did search in the electronics... sub forum, & it appears that an external battery requires cobbling a special cable- unlike newer models.

AnkleWork

I'd recommend strongly against the method in that video. If you can't desolder/resolder the connections at the pizo, find someone who can. Ask around, check with a local makerspace, etc. You can probably get it done for a six-pack.

Also, worry less about the mA-h spec and more about the quality and freshness of the battery.

gsa103

^^^ Everything in this post ^^^^
Twisting the wires together and leaving bare wires exposed is asking to have it short and explode.

The major difference in Li-Ion typically isn't capacity, it's self-discharge rate.
I bought some off-brand Canon camera batteries. Fresh off the charger, they're similar capacity. Leave them sitting in a drawer for a month, the Canon ones are still fully charged, the off-brand ones are completely dead.

woodcraft

Good points. I would clip the wires as shown, solder, & seal w/ liquid electrical tape.

woodcraft

Ordered a Wahoo Element Bolt.

Appears that it's time to enter the world of navigational assistance.