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Stages Power Meter. Low Battery Warning

v1sionmaster
over 2 years ago

I have a Stages V3 Power meter but have never seen a low battery warning on my Edge 1030+ when the battery has died in the power meter during a ride.

I've just called Garmin UK and they have no idea if the warning should appear or not. All that they could offer was that the Di2 battery level is shown!

I've reached out to Stages and so far all that they have offered is the 'Stages Cycling' App ( as opposed to the 'Stages Power app) which displays battery %.

I'd love to hear from anyone who has any experience of this  :-)

Thanks!

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    I have a 1030 (not the plus) and Stages power meter. The low battery warning has come up on it. The Stages battery lasts a really long time but I do check it through sensor details every week or so.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to cheracogoff

    Same here! Get warning when Stages battery goes low. (Plus device, 2 different Stages Left only)

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    I have stages (V3) for a long time. When I receive the low battery warning actually is very very low on battery so that day probably battery will not last for the training.

    Also if temp outside is very low sometimes stop working without a warning, but this is due the temperature and that voltage is reduced from the battery so even no warning here and stop working.

    I like also to be warned with enough time to be able to replace the battery.

    Another issue es that with two power meters (right and left) does not show battery for both, but I think this could be an issue with the ANT+ protocol or Stages way of reporting battery.

    Manuel.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to MGMATE

    Stages have suggested using the 'Stages Cycling' app which can show an approximate battery percentage value. On the few times, I have checked the battery level in the alternative Stages Power app (the StagesCycling app is better) and found the low-value warning being displayed, the warning has not been shown on the Garmin Edge. :-(   I seem to remember the cut off voltage for low battery warning being at 2.4 volts.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to MGMATE

    +1.  I have a custom screen that shows my PM battery level for my Stages but I've found that the indicator doesn't work as well as it should due to the nature of coin cell batteries.  They stay in the 'good' zone for a long time and then go too low suddenly without adequate warning.  Now I just test the battery with a voltmeter and replace it when it falls below 2.80V.  The battery doesn't stay at 2.80V for very long and I don't want to run out of battery mid-ride.  One time my battery went completely dead on a cold ride.  I took the battery out and put it inside my mouth for one minute to warm it up.  Then I put it back and it lasted until the end of the ride.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to Pdlpsher

    Hi - where do you get the custom screen from? :-) Did your tongue tingle when you put it in your mouth? LOL :-)

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to v1sionmaster

    Here's the link.  And no, no tingle from only 2.6v ;-)  forums.garmin.com/.../hms-diy-1-6

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to Pdlpsher

    Thanks for the link to that! What an amazing tool! A steep learning curve, but I created a battery status for my Stages, Viviactive Radar and also a temperature correction field. Now I need to go create some more fields! When will I have time to ride now! ;-)

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to Pdlpsher

    I agree the Stages App is not very helpful. In my experience, it never warns about a low battery in time to do any good. I just replaced the battery in my v.3 Stages left crank PM today, after getting some kind of Battery Low Power Saver warnings on my Edge 830 on last 2 rides. My old eyes didn't see whether there was any icon at the top of the screen to tell what was low on battery, and I assumed it was warning about the Edge itself. (But it was not.) I read some other forum threads that discussed Shimano DI warnings, and one mentioned power meter batteries. Used the Stages app to check the level, and TODAY it showed the battery almost empty and colored RED. Only a week ago, it showed it FULL and GREEN! So I removed the battery and tested it, only 2.5volts. The new battery going in tested 3.39volts. 

    I have seen this same FULL GREEN battery in Stages app before, only to have the battery fail within a couple more rides. I wish GARMIN would KEEP THE ALERT on screen longer for me to know what it is, because it usually goes away before I have a chance to read it accurately. I can't wear reading glasses while riding! And STAGES should definitely have a more sensitive and accurate display of the actual condition of the battery. They do NOT.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to DouthatBiker

    The issue you experienced isn't really the fault of Stages or Garmin.  It has to do with the discharge curve of lithium coin cell batteries.  Take a look at the curve here:  https://data.energizer.com/pdfs/cr2032.pdf  Without a load a new battery will measure at around 3.3v.  As soon you put a small load on it it drops to 2.9v.  Then it stays between 2.8v to 2.9v for a long time before it drops off significantly near the end of its life.  During the usable range (2.7v-2.9v) the voltage can fluctuate due to environmental factors such as temperature.  As an example I have the battery status on my Edge's screen and on my ride today it fluctuated between 'good' and 'new'.  I measured the voltage after the ride and it measured 2.84v.  After a couple hours without a load it measured 2.88v.  To avoid a dead battery just change the battery as soon as the Edge warns you about a low battery.  Unless you have battery OCD like me you don't necessary have to have a battery status on your screen.  Your PM still works fine even when the low battery warning is given, but probably not for very long.  I hope this helps.