Changing the battery on a Polar HRM?

[pyrat]

The battery on my Polar S625X is on its way out.

Can anyone recommend the quickest and cheapest way to get the battery changed? Do regular watch shops do the battery changes or do you have to send it away to Polar to get fixed?

Thanks in advance.

[Wattok]

You have to send it back to Polar. They do have a base in the UK now (Warwick i think) so it doesn't quite so long as before. Details of how to do it can be found on their website (there is a form to download and fill in). I think it's about £18-£20 to get it changed which is ridiculous but va good money spinner as they keep all their maintanance in-house.

You might be able to convince a jewellers to change the battery but it breaks the waterproof seal and voids any warranty with polar.

[jac]

You have to send it back to Polar. They do have a base in the UK now (Warwick i think) so it doesn't quite so long as before. Details of how to do it can be found on their website (there is a form to download and fill in). I think it's about £18-£20 to get it changed which is ridiculous but va good money spinner as they keep all their maintanance in-house.

You might be able to convince a jewellers to change the battery but it breaks the waterproof seal and voids any warranty with polar.

You might not want to be without your HRM for the time needed to send it back to Polar. I do the battery replacement myself.

You can open and close the watch yourself but you need to be careful when reassembling - don't pinch the little waterproof gasket. I've done this several times now with no bad effects. Use a proper screwdriver of the right size- you can damage the screws by using the wrong tools.

Some Polar HRMs use batteries that are hard to find - so it may be easier to ask Polar to do it. Specialist battery suppliers will do mail order - Google for the battery model.

[Adventure Racer]

I change mine myself, but then it's well, well out of warranty (and given the attitude I've got on repairs when it's only just out of warranty, they can't possibly have any worse attitude if you do change the battery yourself). As jac says, it is straightforward - I'm not sure why jewelers object to doing it, which is something I've also experienced - but it's certainly not difficult to do yourself. About the only merit to getting Polar to do it is that they do a pressure test to check the waterproofing is OK, but given mine died after it leaked through a button when I'd only had it serviced by them, I'm not even that convinced by that, and it's not difficult to reseal it properly yourself (is only the same seal technology as used in all other watches which jewelers will service).

[Gross]

If you happen to be passing through Helsinki - there's a place that'll do it on the spot & approved by Polar

[pyrat]

Aye i'll be in Helsinki next weekend actually. Cheers Gross!

[Kitch]

I do it myself
bought a set of "watchmaker's" screwdrivers way back for the purpose.
a google shows you can get a set for 4 or 5 quid
have changed many batteries since, much time and money too I guess.
I get batteries from a camera shop.

[SYO Member]

Most pound shops have the screwdriver sets, and while you're there you can get the battery as well, along with 35 spares! They sell a card of 36 watch-type batteries of varying sizes for £1. There's always one that fits whatever it is you're replacing the battery of.

[Adventure Racer]

I very much doubt pound shops sell the right battery for a Polar HRM - it's not a very common size (I actually doubt you'd get 36 of the more common lithium coin cells for £1 - almost certainly only the cheaper zinc-air ones - though I will check next time I'm in town just in case, as I usually pay £3 for 2).

[DM]

I very much doubt pound shops sell the right battery for a Polar HRM - it's not a very common size (I actually doubt you'd get 36 of the more common lithium coin cells for £1 - almost certainly only the cheaper zinc-air ones - though I will check next time I'm in town just in case, as I usually pay £3 for 2).

Agree 100%. Different Polar models use different batteries and some can be hard to find. Perhaps the smaller models with fewer functions can take the common batteries.

One point about the service centre, I had a problem and called them, saying i was passing Warwick in the next few days. They did an on the spot service in about 20 mins. I think they appreciate that users don't want to be parted from their monitors too long and, from memory try to get it back to you within 3 days of sending it which is not bad considering the post service now.

[pyrat]

Changed the battery myself today. Cost of the fancy battery: £8.85

Dont think i'll be taking it deep sea diving anymore but it seems to be working fine after the change.

[SYO Member]

And did you get the screwdriver set OK?

AR's right, the 36 batteries for £1 aren't lithium coin cells. And so is DM because after googling 'Polar HRM', some of the models take CR2032 coin cells which are used in most PC's and were £1.50 last time I bought one from Maplins.

[pyrat]

I used a screwdriver from an old singer sewing machine. The battery mine took was a CR2354.