Heart rate spike during rest Charge 5

[SunsetRunner]

My Charge 5 occasionally give false a reading in heart rate. Several times a week I get readings of 120-140 (during rest) that mess up my active zone minutes as well as my daily readiness score. I have already swapped to a new one but the problem continues. Can I not expect better from this device? 

Moderator edit: subject updated for clarity

[DavideFitbit]

Welcome to the Fitbit Community forums, @SunsetRunner.  

Thank you for sharing this information about the inconvenience you've been experiencing with your Charge 5. 

If you haven't done so already, 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. 

In addition, I recommend that you try restarting the device 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 (end of the USB cable), pausing for 1 second between presses. Then wait 10 seconds or until the Fitbit logo appears.

If you already tried all the recommendations mentioned earlier and you're still experiencing the same inconvenience with your Charge 5, I recommend that you continue the communication with the Customer Support team for further assistance. Click here to get connected

I'll be around. 

[Obeisance]

Another question to address is the possibility that the reading isn't erroneous.

As an example, when i experience premature ventricular contractions, my homebuilt arduino-based ecg device shows a sudden spike in pulse that isn't real. I made that device with a simple sensor data processing algorithm, count a heartbeat by finding signal threshold crossing relative to a moving average baseline. Since it also records electrical signals, and because I'm aware of the PVCs, i know that the funny discontinuity in pulse is the result of arrhythmia, rather than a device flaw.

I don't know how the fitbit processes sensor data, but i wouldn't be surprised if it has similar sensitivities.

For instance, I've seen my fitbit show sudden spikes in pulse when I'm running, about the time i feel PVCs.

Of course, it could just be erroneous data or fitbit misbehavior, just the same.

[SunsetRunner]

Well, I'm pretty sure my fitbit is malfunctioning. I have been wearing my wife's charge 5 at the same time and it shows a pulse of ~70. The same as I get with a manual count. I suppose the build quality isn't better than this, unfortunately.

[DavideFitbit]

Hi, thank you for taking the time to share your input and experience with this feature, @Obeisance. I'm sure this can be helpful for other users experiencing something similar.

@SunsetRunner I'm sorry to see that you're still having this problem with the heart rate. If you still consider the information is to accurate, please make sure to continue the communication with the Customer Support team so they can provide you with the next steps.  Click here to get connected. 

Thank you for sharing all your feedback; I appreciate all the information that you've shared about the product and the team continues to work to improve the Fitbit experience. 

See you around.