Training and Fitness Articles

 

LOOKING AFTER YOUR HEART RATE MONITOR

Important information regarding the care and maintenance of your Polar product

THE WRIST UNIT

The following suggestions help in maintaining the water resistance:
Keep your unit clean.
Wipe off any moisture before putting the unit away. You may also wash it with mild soap and water solution under running water.
Do not store the unit in non-breathable material.
Do not operate the buttons whilst under water or when wet.
Keep your unit out of extreme cold i.e. (< –10 °C/14 °F) and heat (> 50 °C/120 °F).

IF THE BATTERY RUNS OUT
The first sign that the battery may be running down is when the display fades.
Some monitors have user changeable batteries. For others we recommend that you send your unit to the Polar Service. The rubber seal that ensures water resistance should be checked and the unit should be tested for water resistance every time it is opened.
Warranty does not cover damage or consequential damage caused by service not authorized by Polar.

THE TRANSMITTER
Proper care of the transmitter after use ensures a longer life.
Wash the transmitter regularly after use. Please click here to see a video demonstration
WearLink® transmitter strap and connector should be rinsed with water. Never store the transmitter when it is wet, and store the strap and connector separately. Sweat and moisture can keep the electrodes wet and the transmitter activated, which shortens the battery life.
Store your Polar product in a cool and dry place. Make sure that the electrodes do not contact anything damp. Do not store a wet transmitter in any kind of non-breathing material, such as a plastic bag or a sports bag.
Only dry the transmitter with a towel. Hard-handed handling may damage the electrodes.
Keep your Polar product out of extreme cold and heat. The operating temperature is -10 °C to 50 °C/ 14 °F to 122 °F.

ABNORMAL HEART RATE READINGS DURING EXERCISE
There can be several reasons for abnormal or irregular readings during exercise. Due to the same reasons, heart rate may stay at the same value for a long time or the heart rate stays at zero (0).

1. Poor contact between the skin and the electrodes of the transmitter
The contact between skin and the electrodes should be as good as possible. Polar transmitters measure the ECG signal from the chest, where it is the strongest.
1.1. Moisten the electrode areas on the back of the transmitter. At the start of the exercise session your skin may be dry and the moisture will help ensure better contact. When you start to sweat the contact will improve because the salt in the sweat conducts the electrical signals very well.
1.2. Tighten the elastic strap of the transmitter. If the transmitter is loose, the movement of the electrodes disturbs the detection of the ECG signal.
1.3. The type of the ECG signal slightly varies from person to person, (dependent on; form of the chest, the anatomical location and position of the heart, position of the electrodes and the amount of body fat). If the ECG signal is weak, disturbances can more easily spoil the signal. Find the best contact by turning the transmitter left or right, or place it lower or higher.

2. Electromagnetic disturbances
Transmitters using 5 kHz transmission frequency
(T31, T31C, T61,  WearLink31)
Electromagnetic disturbances may occur near high voltage power lines, traffic lights, mp3 players, overhead lines of electric railways, electric bus lines or tram lines, televisions, car motors, bike computers, some motor driven exercise equipment, cellular phones or when you walk through electric security gates. Check your surroundings and move away from the source of interference, or remove the source of the disturbance.

3. The distance between the transmitter and the unit is too great
The maximum transmission range between the transmitter and the unit is 1 metre. If the distance is greater, the unit may not get all the signals sent from the transmitter.

4. Battery of the transmitter is getting empty
The estimated average battery life of the Polar WearLink31 transmitter is 2 years and other transmitters 2500 hours of use. If the battery of the transmitter is running low, the transmission range decreases and may cause errors similar to the ones listed above in this document.

POLAR CUSTOMER SUPPORT
Polar Customer Support is located at Polar’s Warwick office and are able to help you with technical or servicing queries. They can assist you with wide-ranging questions relating to; software, product set-up, data download, emailing data or battery changes. They can be contacted by email at supportuk@polar.fi or by telephone on 01926 310330. Full details of servicing costs and battery changes can also be found on the Polar UK website: www.polarelectro.co.uk under UK Polar Customer Support.

We treat all PGMOL monitors as a priority and endeavour to return them to you with three days, unless there are unusual circumstances.

Please send all monitors for servicing for the attention of:

Safi Setchell
Polar Electro (UK) Ltd, Polar House, Heathcote Way,
Heathcote Industrial Estate, Warwick, CV34 6TE
Email: safi.setchell@polar.fi

© RefWorld. All rights reserved.