Bontrager Flare RT battery bug

Hello

I made a datafield to show status of both Bontrager light. Flare RT in the back and Ion in the front.

I notticed that when I discharge the battery of rear light to the point that it turns off after charing the battery it still reports empty battery.

It reports empty battery through ANT+ and also the red led lights up. When I reset the lamp (15 s to turn off ANT+ and again 15s to turn it on) battery status is correct.

Does anyone have this light and can confirm it? Maybe my unit is faulty however it seems like a firmware bug.

You have to drain the battery and the connect it to charger. When the green light shows up, disconnect the power.

After that when turning the light on you should see blue and then red led (instead of green)

I tried to contact Bontrager/Trek but after initial response I didn't get any answer.

Top Replies

9671585 over 3 years ago +2

A bit of a workaround on this. While the lights are plugged in to power (and fully charged), power them on while your head unit is on, this seems to kick the status into shape as the lights LED status…
doucetp over 3 years ago +1

Hi,

Same issue for me. You have to reset the light to get back to the green status. Have a look to: forums.garmin.com/.../bontrager-flare-rt-battery-level-indicator
ManuS5 over 3 years ago +1

My first Flare 200 RT started to shows irregularities on the Garmin while decreasing the battery..5 led 4 led then jump to 2 led then Low or 5 4 3 the Low...so after a year I sent it back to Trek and send…

All Replies

Patryk over 2 years ago in reply to tomasz.loba

There is also a tool for android nRF Connect you can check the reported battery level and other stuff.

jetguat over 2 years ago in reply to tomasz.loba

So for a noob/dork like me. If I held it 15sec (numerous times with different lights on/off) how do I know if the BT/ANT is turned on? what is the indication that its off (or on for that matter).

I think I reset it once as I found the 830 didnt seem to know/locate the lights. Not certain though, I just ended up deleting the light sensors and adding them again.

I'm attempting to leave it set for turn lights on at power up. turning on with activity, it never seems to be working. Am i wrong. Should the 830 power-on/wakeup the lights? or with that mode I still need to hit the power buttons on the light?

Patryk over 2 years ago in reply to jetguat

While the lamp is off, only then you press for 15s (until 2nd flash).

Then when you turn the lamp on it flashes blue indicating the ANT+ is on. When ANT+ is disabled it just turns on without blue flash.

Wim Deblauwe over 2 years ago

I had the same issue. Battery was always showing as empty on my Edge. After factory reset and re-pairing, the battery status shows correctly now.

tomasz.loba over 2 years ago in reply to Wim Deblauwe

Factory reset of Edge or light?

After another re-charge of light the Edge still shows correct battery status?

jetguat over 2 years ago in reply to Wim Deblauwe

like the other comment. Factory reset of what. The Edge? or the Flare RT?
I went for ride the other day and my FlareRT was nearly dead while the front one was just fine. Maybe the RT and its red led uses battery quicker. its weird how I seem to get 50% less battery time

tomasz.loba over 2 years ago in reply to jetguat

it is weird indeed. The ION has more light power than the Flare one. Although it depends on which mode you ride with. For sure I know that one of them drains the battery quicker, but that may be 1 bar of a difference when it comes to battery level being displayed on my Garmin.

ManuS5 over 2 years ago in reply to tomasz.loba

About the battery capacity, yeah the ION lasts more with the same battery and blink.. a YouTuber showed that and suggested to paint or put a red film on the ION and so obtaining a RT with longer times!

ManuS5 over 2 years ago in reply to jetguat

The RT is well know that has this battery problem.

I even changed it under warranty twice but Bontrager didn’t admit the problem.

to solve temporary, just reset before each ride and paid it again..I’m not gonna do it and I use the light 2/3 rides then I charge it.

Patryk over 2 years ago in reply to ManuS5

You don't need to pair it again. Also there is an easier workaround someone mentioned it earlier. Just power on the light when it's fully charged and the power cable is still attached. After few seconds the green light battery indicator should be on.