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Varia Radar RTL-510 Automatic light mode

changrenyong
over 6 years ago
According to the Garmin manual, when the Light mode is set to Auto: "Automatically adjusts the light intensity and light mode based on the ambient light and time of day."

Has anyone actually tested how this Auto light mode feature works? Does it actually adjust the light intensity based on ambient light? I am assuming the detection of ambient light relies on a Garmin bike computer that actually has an ambient light sensor.

Does the RTL-510 switch from day flash mode to night flash mode automatically? Is this switch based on the time of day?
  • 0 over 6 years ago
    I tested last night with the Light Mode set to Auto in my Edge 820. The RTL-510 remained in day flash mode. So both the ambient light (dark) and time of day (evening) did not seem to have any effect on the light mode of the RTL-510.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 6 years ago
    According to the Garmin manual, when the Light mode is set to Auto: "Automatically adjusts the light intensity and light mode based on the ambient light and time of day."


    To my knowledge, that setting is for the Varia headlights only (same with the "trail" setting).
    I'm using the taillight app to manually switch off the light (but not the radar) during the day.

    Regards, Dirk

  • 0 over 6 years ago
    To my knowledge, that setting is for the Varia headlights only (same with the "trail" setting).
    I'm using the taillight app to manually switch off the light (but not the radar) during the day.

    Regards, Dirk



    The quote came from the Garmin manual for RTL-510, not the Varia headlight.
  • 0 over 6 years ago
    This is correct, it is in the manual but under the light network settings for the 1030. If a smart headlight. such as the UT800, were connected, then this automatic mode would apply to this device only. So if your only device is the RTL-510 connected to your light network, you will see this automatic light mode option whether you have a headlight or not. But it will not control the RTL-510 in automatic mode.

    It's the same with trail mode. I don't see a practical use for this mode with the RTL-500/510.

    I have the RTL-500 and UT800. The automatic light mode only controls the UT800. And yes, I have taken it off my seat post mount and strapped it to my handle bar for a few test rides.