Broken Powertap SL+, after some help / advice
Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2012 12:12 pm
Hi all, I was looking for a bit of technical help with a broken powertap.
It's an SL+ built into a Sub9 disc.
It had been working fine, and was on the second set of batteries. All of a sudden it stopped transmitting power data during a ride. There was no accident / bump / rain that I'm aware of.
I have changed the batteries with type 357 (the recommended silver oxide ones), and also tried EPX 76 (the recommended alternative), and the unit still doesn't work.
I live in Hong Kong and have sent it back to the local distributor but they say they cannot service it and sending it back to the US will cost me US$1500.. if they can do it al all. They haven't been too interested. But they have changed the batteries again and confirmed this is not the problem.
The inside of the unit appears clean and dry and the battery connection appears to be good.
When I power the unit up my Garmin Edge 500 can see the powertap. It will pair with the unit and there is a powertap ID.
When I select the Calibrate menu it does give a torque reading (generally around 0.15-0.3 when I vigorously hand pedal with the bike in a workstand). And it does respond to changes in force with different torque settings.
However the power reading on the main display is 0w (including if I take the bike out for a ride).
If I select Calibrate Unit on the Calibrate menu it says Calibrating... and then just stays there. However it has always done this.
I've also tried a second Garmin edge 500 and a Garmin 310xt and it's the same on all units.
I know it is difficult to diagnose the unit remotely but I essentially have no way of getting it back to the US and the local distributor has no technical ability to service the unit. It seems like the strain gauges are working as it can measure torque, and it is transmitting that data to the Garmin head unit, but it doesn't send a power reading. I'd really appreciate any help.
Thanks again,
Dave.
It's an SL+ built into a Sub9 disc.
It had been working fine, and was on the second set of batteries. All of a sudden it stopped transmitting power data during a ride. There was no accident / bump / rain that I'm aware of.
I have changed the batteries with type 357 (the recommended silver oxide ones), and also tried EPX 76 (the recommended alternative), and the unit still doesn't work.
I live in Hong Kong and have sent it back to the local distributor but they say they cannot service it and sending it back to the US will cost me US$1500.. if they can do it al all. They haven't been too interested. But they have changed the batteries again and confirmed this is not the problem.
The inside of the unit appears clean and dry and the battery connection appears to be good.
When I power the unit up my Garmin Edge 500 can see the powertap. It will pair with the unit and there is a powertap ID.
When I select the Calibrate menu it does give a torque reading (generally around 0.15-0.3 when I vigorously hand pedal with the bike in a workstand). And it does respond to changes in force with different torque settings.
However the power reading on the main display is 0w (including if I take the bike out for a ride).
If I select Calibrate Unit on the Calibrate menu it says Calibrating... and then just stays there. However it has always done this.
I've also tried a second Garmin edge 500 and a Garmin 310xt and it's the same on all units.
I know it is difficult to diagnose the unit remotely but I essentially have no way of getting it back to the US and the local distributor has no technical ability to service the unit. It seems like the strain gauges are working as it can measure torque, and it is transmitting that data to the Garmin head unit, but it doesn't send a power reading. I'd really appreciate any help.
Thanks again,
Dave.