Charge 5 heart rate issue

[RandyL1]

Started noticing rather odd behavior from my charge 5.  When I monitor my heart rate on the main screen the heart rate is very accurate. I can manually take my heart rate at my wrist and it is very close to what the fitbit says.  However, when I run the Walking exercise the fitbit  reports my heart rate as being a little bit higher than it is ( manually taking pulse at wrist).  When I run the Weighlifting or Spinning exercises, the fitbit is wildly inaccurate, reporting my heart rate at 150 when it is only 85.  I have consistently noticed these results for the past month.  Anyone else noticing this or have any idea what going on?

[ManuFitbit]

Welcome to the forums @RandyL1.

Thanks for the details regarding the inconvenience with heart rate.

I'd suggest you try restarting the device again using the three pulse restart method mentioned here below, instead of the restart option found on the Charge 5 itself: 

1. Connect your device to the charging cable. For instructions, see How do I charge my Fitbit device?
2. Press the button located on the flat end of the charger 3 times, pausing for 1 second between presses. Then wait 10 seconds or until the Fitbit logo appears.

In addition, please follow the instructions in this article to improve the accuracy of heart rate information and check the information mentioned here about other factors that could affect your heart rate reading, this has been useful to other users who have experienced something similar. 

[RandyL1]

ManuFitBit,

Just finished restarting my charge 5 using the 3-pulse method, as you suggested.  Also, I just finished reviewing the articles referenced in your feedback.  I'll be back in touch after a couple of days of testing.  Thanks!

Randy

[RandyL1]

Have had the chance to test the charge 5 since rebooting.  It doesn't appear that rebooting made any difference.    On the stationary bike the fitbit said that my average heart rate was 94 and the max rate was 128.  i purposely kept my heart rate below 78 while working out and my average heart rate was 72.  Quite a difference from fitbit's calculation.  On todays test I was weightlifting.  My heart rate rarely got above 90 during my most strenuous lifting and I'd estimate my average at about 85 bpm.  Fitbit reported my average heart rate at 115 bpm and a max of 140.  Again, grossly inaccurate.

While I am overall very satisfied with the Charge 5, i am disappointed that the heart rate calculation is so inaccurate during exercising.

Any other suggestions would be appreciated.