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Posted

Hi fellow PowerTap Pansies. <?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

 

I just want to clear something up. My PowerTap SL, the one with the Wires has been working very nice thru out the summer, now that it's starting to get colder I'm starting to have PROBLEMS with it.

 

NO, it's not the batteries, I replaced the Hubs and CPU's last week. The problem is bizarre, the CPU Died and came on again resetting my data about 1h30 into my ride, I thought it might have been due to electrical interference but about another 1-2hours later the Hub started to lose it's signal to the Cpu recording no data, it would go off for minutes and then come on again for a few seconds recordeing data , this went on for about 20mins and then it stayed on for the reminder of the ride.

 

This all happened while it was raining on and off, some hard showers ect.

 

Now, it can't be the wires cuz they only pic up speed and cadence, the problem looks flat batteries but they are brand new, so I don't know, might it be the temperature or maybe water getting into the hub??

 

Any one else starting to experience problems?

Posted

Hi fellow PowerTap Pansies. <?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

 

I just want to clear something up. My PowerTap SL' date=' the one with the Wires has been working very nice thru out the summer, now that it's starting to get colder I'm starting to have PROBLEMS with it.

 

NO, it's not the batteries, I replaced the Hubs and CPU's last week. The problem is bizarre, the CPU Died and came on again resetting my data about 1h30 into my ride, I thought it might have been due to electrical interference but about another 1-2hours later the Hub started to lose it's signal to the Cpu recording no data, it would go off for minutes and then come on again for a few seconds recordeing data , this went on for about 20mins and then it stayed on for the reminder of the ride.

 

This all happened while it was raining on and off, some hard showers ect.

 

Now, it can't be the wires cuz they only pic up speed and cadence, the problem looks flat batteries but they are brand new, so I don't know, might it be the temperature or maybe water getting into the hub??

 

Any one else starting to experience problems?

[/quote']

 

I reckon water shorted the pins of the cpu and reset the unit.

 

I've heard of people putting vaseline on the cpu mount pins, then when the cpu is mounted the pins make contact but water is kept off the pins.  Never tried that myself though.
Posted

Thanks Bruce, I guess that is possible. But what about the CPU not picking up the Hub? That only happens went the Battries are getting flat? Might water or dumpness cuz this in the Hub too?

Willehond = pansie.
Posted

My CPU does not like the cold in winter....it takes a while for it to "warm" up....i have also experienced similar problems with my CPU not picking up signal and have just sent it back to Bicyclepower to check it out for me.

Guest Michelle
Posted

Marius: Those SL's do NOT like moisture... you may have to open the hub up & let it dry out. 

 

Basically my feeling is that powertap suck... you better hope you don't have to replace the wiring kit, they are so flimsy & ridiculously priced. Dead  Between Jason & I, we have been through 4 or 5... with only 1 left that works (until it gets damp ofcourse)

 

 

Guest Michelle
Posted

To anyone that wants to try & tell me that I'm wrong about Powertap... I don't care... my experience has not been good.

Posted

Don't worry Marius, I feel your pain, there's nothing worse than when you out on a ride, getting caught by the rain or even having a little Mossie bird pi$$ on your hub the CPU goes dead and there's no reading... It's happened to me a few times!

 

Just don't train in the rain or if you do... Use your heart rate monitor Dead

 

 

Posted

damn, and here I htought this might have been a isolated case...I'll open up the Hub tonight and let some warm air dry it. Then I guess I have to close it a bit tighter and put some grease or something on the seal to stop anything from getting in..

 

But ja, it's really crappy when you've done a really intense training session and then lose some of it.. Might have to start thinking of getting a SRM.
Guest colonel
Posted

No mine went for a ball of sh*t on Saturday aswell due to moisture.

Posted

I don't believe it!!?Stern%20Smile Sooo, now that we have establish that there is indeed a problem, were do you go from here? Last I heard was Mr Watt left the country? Were do I got for back up?

Posted

It might not even be the hub but rather the wire where the sensor is on the rear stay. It has a hole where the wire leads in to and that may be where the waters getting in. Try seal it and make sure you also seal the mount where you place the CPU. Use some glad wrap or something, seal it well and go for a ride and see what happens. Then you'll still be able to see your data.

 

Basically....

 

Seal the mount/CPU with glad wrap and try seal the hole at the sensor by the hub where the wire leads in to, dunno what you can use here. Before a ride spin your wheel and warm the hub up. Once the hubs warm place the CPU in the mount and enjoy the ride! If your CPU loses signal during your ride the hubs getting cold which means the power you pushing is up to sh*t Evil%20Smile and you should rather invest in some medicine ending with drine...

 

My 2c

 

 

 

Posted

I have also had water problems with the hub. Somehow water got inside my first generation SL hub, on the strain guage side (not the battery side) Happened about 3 times, hub was replaced under warranty. Newer SL hub has got a coating on the PC boards, or perhaps some other changes to the seals. I have not had the problem with the newer hub.

Posted

This is not a hub problem.  Water getting into the hub cannot cause the CPU to reset itself and lose data.

 

This is a wiring harness problem.  Water is causing an electrical short in the wiring.  The short causes the voltage in the cpu to drop suddenly and data to be lost.  Either water is shorting out the pins between the cpu and the mount, or the insulation has been compromised somewhere and water is causing 2 exposed wires that aren't physically touching to short electrically.

 

I have seen the problem discussed and the solution was to put a blob of vaseline on the contacts on the mount, then slide the cpu on.  The vaseline keeps the water away from the pins but does not stop the electrical connection between the cpu and the mount.

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