Garmin devices, like all electronic devices, unfortunately do not enjoy eternal life. However, by using them with some care, we can ensure that they accompany us for many activities!
Charging the battery
An element that sometimes shortens the life of our Garmin can be the battery, if not maintained and charged properly. To make it last a long time, the advice is never to let it run down completely, until the watch shuts down. It is much better to charge the battery when it is between 10% and 20% charged and let it charge to 100% every time. We also recommend not charging the device when wet. After an activity rinse the device from sweat and/or sea/pool water and make sure it is completely dry before charging the battery. Any moisture may impair the proper functioning of the battery and the charger itself.
Updates
Like all electronic devices with software, our Garmins also need to be updated. The models currently in the range are also equipped with wi-fi, which can help us update our device automatically. In spite of this, we recommend that you check frequently via a PC connection for any updates available on Garmin Express.
Cleaning
All Garmin devices are sweat and partially water-resistant. Our advice is to keep the watch clean. Immediately after an activity rinse it off from sweat and water (sea or pool water), dry it with a dry cloth. We do not recommend using contact caps where they are not provided directly by the manufacturer. In some cases they tend to cause exactly the problem we wanted to avoid. They are not airtight, they let in water and sweat, they do not make them ascuigate and they keep the area moist, facilitating oxidation of the contacts.
Contact with water and shocks
As mentioned in the previous point, most devices do not suffer from contact with sweat and water. Without going into specifics model by model, we suggest reading our device’s manual carefully to understand what kind of water resistance it provides and act accordingly. If a model is not equipped with a swimming profile (Forerunner 45) it is probably not recommended for use in the sea or in a swimming pool. For all instruments, however, the advice is to rinse with fresh water immediately after use, whether in the sea or in the pool.
Avoiding shocks may seem trivial, but it is still advice that should always be followed. Avoiding bumps and falls is the best directive we can give. In addition to obvious external damage or scratches, shocks and drops can compromise some of the device’s internal components, impairing its proper functioning in the short or medium term.
Installing dials and apps
Garmin Connect IQ is a very useful tool for customising and extending the functionality of our device. However, our advice is to use it with caution and not to abuse it. Firstly, if some functions are not present in our device, it is because Garmin itself recognised that the device did not have the features to support them. Secondly, as with all devices, having the memory full of external functions could lead to our device being less responsive and crashing. We therefore try to download only apps that we consider strictly necessary and reliable.
Conclusions
These are five modus operandi that we believe will extend the life of your device to the maximum. It goes without saying that there are certain components that could lead to early malfunctions over which we have no control. Clearly one of these is the stress of use given to the device. And how is your device coping? How long has it been accompanying you in your activities?
