Rash from a Polar Chestbelt Heart Rate Monitor

[ceckerson]

I get a rash where I wear the chestbelt from my Polar heart rate monitor. It seems to be isolated to the area near the electrode contacts. I am not sure what is causing this. I have tried to keep it as clean as possible.

I'd appreciate hearing any thoughts anyone might have about what is causing the rash or how to prevent it.

I'd even be open to ideas about how to keep it nice and clean. (I am just rubbing the belt soap and water.)

Thanks!

Chuck

[parishd]

<...snip>(I am just rubbing the belt soap and water.)

Are you sure you're rinsing it off thoroughly enough? I've gotten rashes from soap residues in the past.

I clean mine after each use by rinsing thoroughly with water only and use soap on it only once every 3-4 months, after which I rinse it very thoroughly.

Daniel

[Snail Space]

I clean mine after each use by rinsing thoroughly with water only and use soap on it only once every 3-4 months, after which I rinse it very thoroughly.

Do you immerse the whole belt, or do you keep the contacts dry?
I have had two belts that have developed poor electrical contact in under a year. I wonder if it's because every few weeks I put the belts through a cycle in the washing machine.

I haven't any thoughts on the rash other than the soap residue theory.

Cheers
Dave

[annabassand]

I also have a problem with the electronic contact on my Polar belt. It's about 1,5-2 years old but I have had the problem for a long time - and I never used the washing machine. I think sweat may cause the corrosion?

/Anna

[Citroen]

Clean it with surgical spirit.

Before use lick the contacts. Saliva is mildly antiseptic and antibacterial.

[BobD]

Or as we say down home you don't need no gels, just spit! You have to wash the transmitter and the elastic after exercise otherwise the elastic gets "overripe " and the contacts tend to corrode or have deposits build up.

[parishd]

I clean mine after each use by rinsing thoroughly with water only and use soap on it only once every 3-4 months, after which I rinse it very thoroughly.

Do you immerse the whole belt, or do you keep the contacts dry?
I have had two belts that have developed poor electrical contact in under a year. I wonder if it's because every few weeks I put the belts through a cycle in the washing machine.

I run water over the belt, so it's probably immersed, but definitely not submerged. I did this with my first belt and it lasted ~7 years, until the battery died. My current belt is still going after about 8 years. I wouldn't think the agitation of a washing machine would be good for the transmitter itself, although I do wash the elastic band this way.

Also, if you are using the polar receiver on the C2 as a judge of whether you're getting good contacts, I wouldn't. Reception by my C2/receiver combination has always been problematic and whenever I thought I had poor electrical contact with the belt, they always turned out to be the actual source of the problem, as verified by the original polar HRM.

Daniel

[annabassand]

Thanks for the tips. I may try saliva I've already done everything else and always handwash the device/rim.

Anna

[Snail Space]

Before use lick the contacts.

Yep; beats contact gel.

[johnlvs2run]

Are metal contacts showing on the transmitter belt? If so, copper is quite toxic - kills tree roots.

I've been using a $49 Nashbar monitor for 15 years, have replaced the batteries occasionally and it's still working great. I don't use any gel or liquid on the contact area. Usually I wear the transmitter around my tummy for a few minutes to warm up before using the monitor for exercise. The wrist receiver is attached to the middle of the handle.

I've maybe washed the transmitter once, but always wipe it off with a towel after exercise. I hang the (twice replaced) elastic band over an arm of the truck mirror that reflects light to the pm3 monitor.