Blaze battery draining fast

[Alex_the_blazeu]

Hi everybody! I don't usually uses blaze while I work. I put it on the table. After about four hours, the blaze turned to 60% batteries from 100%. Any power-down mode can I use in the blaze?

Moderator edit: Clarified subject

[marsgee]

I gave up on them. The way they handled the situation was completely
irresponsible. They knew people were having issues and ignored the fact
that it was their responsibility to fix it. I threw it away along with all
the accessories I purchased. Don't but their products if you don't want to
be disappointed.

[Kingjaymz]

I am very sorry to hear this. I really do like the Blaze, a lot. It
replaced two other fitbits, each of which lasted about a year. I think it
is a vastly superior product to the ones it replaced, (Charge HR), but I
think that a watch like this should last more than 3 years. There is a
company online that has a battery replacement service for $65. But I am
considering buying a kit and trying it myself. For about $25, I may be able
to eke out another 2-3 years.

I like the functionality of the Blaze. I do not need the added features or
expense of an Apple watch.

Thank you for responding. If I can get this to work, I will let you know.
What did you end up replacing yours with and are you happy with it?

james

Moderator edit: removed personal information

[marsgee]

What's the replacement service called? I'm curious.

[PaulaE123]

I’d like to hear if you’re able to replace your battery, let me know
Paula
Sent from Mail for Windows 10

[Adfernz]

No, I did not get it fixed. Was done wasting my time trying to get Fitbit to help me. I bought an Apple Watch instead.

Adfernz

[soldermonkey]

Yes, I was able to replace my battery, and am wearing my blaze as we speak.

The original battery is marked 167 mAh (milliAmpere hour), but the commonly available batteries of that physical size are 120's. It's my opinion that the problems with prematurely failing batteries derive from the blaze being designed to charge its battery far too quickly, which would tend to shorten battery life. Using a 120 would make this effect even more pronounced, so I don't expect the current 120 to last the 15 months the factory battery lasts; I'd be happy with 9 months. Accordingly, I bought 2 replacement batteries, not one, so I can change it again whenever that seems necessary.

I charge the new battery daily, and have gotten away with skipping a day on occasion, but would not expect even 3 days from the small battery. But it's working to my satisfaction.

Skills required for the job are not great. You will need tools (maybe $1-2 from the same fleabay sellers as offer the batteries... cheap tools made of chineseum, but adequate to this task), a decent illuminated magnifier (being able to see always helps!) and a decent soldering station. Or find an electronics hobbyist or pro willing to do the job. (Hint: most ham radio people can solder.)

I'm sad to hear of people throwing away their blaze; they could give it to me or someone else willing to do the screwdriver and soldering iron work (not much, really) to keep the device in service.

[Ajr73]

Kingjaymz (Jogger) No I didn't manage to get mine fixed. Got offered the
discount and I instantly lost and unable to find the email with the code so
struggling along with a babyg which ahs barely any funstionality but counts
steps. Hope you blaze keeps going

[soldermonkey]

If you consider their offer acceptable, I'm sure they'd be willing to re-send the code.

[marsgee]

The offer is less then adequate. They put a inferior product in the market
at top dollar. A mistake they need to fix

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi @Wendi_J and @Kingjaymz, welcome to the Community. @Rob-HPTC, @marsgee, @PaulaE123, @Adfernz, @soldermonkey and @Ajr73. I'm glad to see you around. I'm sorry for the delay in my response.

Thanks to all of you for sharing your feedback, and I do apologize for the experience that you've had with your Blaze devices. Our team constantly works on our devices and they review the Community posts to bring improvements on their performance and overall environment based on your comments. This has not gone unnoticed and you're always welcome back to the Fitbit family.

@Wendi_J, thanks letting me know about your Blaze. I see where are you coming from an I'm sorry for the issues that you've with it. I've contacted our Support Team and I was informed that you already have a case created with them. I'd recommend to keeping working with them, so you can receive more details. If you're not able to find their email, let me know so I can request a new one for you.

@soldermonkey, thanks for sharing detailed information about what you've done to get your Blaze working again. I appreciate your efforts and just take in mind that any modification one on the tracker could void the warranty.

@Ajr73, thanks for letting me know that you receive a discount offer. If you're not able to find the email, let me know so I can forward your information to our team to see if anything can be done.

I'll be around if you need anything else.

[LRaun]

I’d be curious if they would revisit my case as well. Like many others I’ve been loyal to Fitbit for going about 7 years with the Fitbit flex (original one that only counted steps) my fiancée got me a Blaze a few Christmas ago. I got her charge hr she got her son a charge. My Fitbit became mostly inoperable after 15 months and was told I was out of warranty. ... by 3 months! Offered a discount but c’mon the blaze is a pricey model. Buttons stopped working I can’t swipe. But I kept using because alarm , heart rate, and Step counter still worked. As of 3 days ago. Fitbit doesn’t within 3 hours. Thought very highly if Fitbit but after this experience will certainly switch to another’s fitness tracker and advise others to do the same. 

[Kingjaymz]

It can be done, but Fitbit does not sanction it and will not allow the information to be printed, here. You will need to try to locate it on your own. It is not hard to do. Just google it. I checked and it is about $60 to have it done, plus shipping costs.

[Kingjaymz]

The very sad fact of the matter is that I truly LOVE this watch. It does everything I need it to do and I like the way it looks. It has been very durable and has made me forget the disappointment of my two Charge HRs, each of which lasted barely a year. The Blaze is a VERY nice replacement and a great alternative to an Apple Watch. But when you need to buy a new one every 2-3 years, that is not good enough. These are too expensive to be disposable. There SHOULD be a battery replacement alternative. I cannot imagine it would be that hard to do. I think that they WANT people to be replacing them every couple years, though. That is not a good business plan, in my opinion. If I could get it to last for 4-5 years, then I think that would be reasonable. So allow the battery to be replaceable. I would do that once and then by the time it goes bad again, I would probably want the latest and greatest, anyway.

Just my 2¢.

[Kingjaymz]

There is a service online that will replace the battery for about $60, plus shipping. FB will not allow that information to be posted, here, but you can find it if you search for it. 

[soldermonkey]

Or you can do it yourself for under $10 if you already have soldering capability. Search my posts for details. But be warned: replacing the battery on your out-of-warranty Blaze may void the warranty! 🙂

[LRaun]

I see what you did there

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@soldermonkey wrote:

Or you can do it yourself for under $10 if you already have soldering capability. Search my posts for details. But be warned: replacing the battery on your out-of-warranty Blaze may void the warranty! 🙂

---

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi @LRaun, welcome to the Community. @Kingjaymz and @soldermonkey, it's nice to see you around.

I appreciate you for taking the time to share your feedback about your Blaze. I'm sorry that you've had this experience and thanks for your efforts in getting your devices working again. Please know that we provide feedback to our team based on Community posts and we are always working on improving our devices and their performance based on what you share here.

If you need anything else, let me know.

[MichelleA1981]

My battery is lasting 6 hours. I have done everything listed in preserving battery life. Please help.

[soldermonkey]

This has been discussed at length in this thread and perhaps others. Fitbit will make you an offer that I and many others here consider inadequate. You might think otherwise.

Your options are to 1) accept their offer and buy another fitbit product, regardless their response to this problem, 2) fix or have fixed your blaze, or 3) buy a different brand replacement. Or I suppose you could 4) quit owning a watch.

I chose option 2, replaced my own battery. If you search for my posts, you will find more information than you or your electronics buddy will need. (Any electronics hobbyist or tv repairman can help you out. Is there a hackerspace in your area? Get a blaze repair kit off ebay, take that and maybe a case of decent beer to your hackerspace, I bet they'd be happy to help you out.)

The only option you don't have is for fitbit to fix it for an acceptable price; they've been consistent in their refusal to do that.

Your choice.

[ShelB26]

Exactly!