Garmin 520 replacement battery

davidof
davidof Posts: 3,124

has anyone tried replacing their garmin battery? Mine original battery doesn't hold much of a charge. It seems the original battery is 520 maH but I see some advertise by Chinese vendors claiming 2300 mAh - I know battery technology has improved but this seems a bit wishful.

BASI Nordic Ski Instructor
Instagramme

Comments

  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,382

    I changed the battery in my 705 a long time ago. It worked, but only for a year or so.

    This is probably completely irrelevant.

    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • gethinceri
    gethinceri Posts: 1,667

    Not difficult with the right tools. re-sealing against water ingress has been my worry with the 2 I’ve done. On the 2nd I never used it if I knew it was going to rain because I knew I’d done a shit job.

  • I contacted Garmin themselves about exactly this with my old 520 battery. I mentioned sustainability in my email and how I had also been a long-standing Garmin customer. They weren’t able to replace the battery, but did give me a something towards the purchase of a new unit. I got the 530 which has a fantastic battery life compared to the 520 and has proved to be ultra reliable and has maintained this battery life very well. My wife has been running my old 520 for a couple of years and it will need replacement soon as doesn’t last long at all now.

  • davidof
    davidof Posts: 3,124

    What capacity replacement batteries did you fit?

    BASI Nordic Ski Instructor
    Instagramme
  • gethinceri
    gethinceri Posts: 1,667

    I don’t recall, but I suspect like for like.

  • davidof
    davidof Posts: 3,124

    Ok I've ordered the 2800 mAh battery, as it is Aliexpress it won't arrive for ages and it will probably catch fire when I charge it. Watch this space.

    BASI Nordic Ski Instructor
    Instagramme
  • daniel_b
    daniel_b Posts: 12,003

    It's just been despatched........



    Felt F70 05 (Turbo)
    Marin Palisades Trail 91 and 06
    Scott CR1 SL 12
    Cannondale Synapse Adventure 15 & 16 Di2
    Scott Foil 18
  • dabber
    dabber Posts: 1,982

    I think I'm at the point where I'll end up replacing my 520. Apart from the battery getting a bit shorter lived I've got a bit of tape over the on/off button as the plastic is broken away and there's a bit of a hole appearing in the opposite side of the case. Can't complain as that was mainly caused when I embedded it (and myself) in an earthy, gravelly mound when mtbing a couple of years ago. It's limped on pretty well since then although I did need to get one of those stick on replacement twist mounting bits.

    I'm debating getting a Garmin Edge Explore 2 as I don't need any of the more fancy metrics.

    “You may think that; I couldn’t possibly comment!”

    Wilier Cento Uno SR/Wilier Mortirolo/Specialized Roubaix Comp/Kona Hei Hei/Calibre Bossnut
  • Good time to buy an Explore 2.

    I've just pulled the trigger at GBP208 so am expecting the price to plummet now.

    ================================
    Cake is just weakness entering the body
  • dabber
    dabber Posts: 1,982

    Thanks... yes, I saw Amazon have them on at around that price which seems pretty good. From what I've read it seems a pretty decent device and the battery life if supposed to be better than the original Explore (1).

    “You may think that; I couldn’t possibly comment!”

    Wilier Cento Uno SR/Wilier Mortirolo/Specialized Roubaix Comp/Kona Hei Hei/Calibre Bossnut
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,382

    Garmin 530 is currently £189 if that's of any interest.

    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • I think the battery life has doubled from 1 to 2.

    One thing to note is that if you don't buy into the integrated under mount extender battery option at the start, there's no upgrade path. It's not an issue for me as I don't do audaxes or bikepacking races (and wouldn't mind running a cable from a bar bag to hook up a generic power bank if I did).

    ================================
    Cake is just weakness entering the body
  • dabber
    dabber Posts: 1,982

    Thanks.... Yes, I was aware of the lack of an upgrade path but, like you, I don't do mega rides.

    “You may think that; I couldn’t possibly comment!”

    Wilier Cento Uno SR/Wilier Mortirolo/Specialized Roubaix Comp/Kona Hei Hei/Calibre Bossnut