Light modes on Varia vs light modes in Edge (lights network)

mtb.matysek
9 months ago

Hi, 

new Varia RTL515 user here. Trying to figure out how what is the relationship between light modes on Varia and in the Edge and how they work. 

In the manual, there are 5 light modes mentioned - Normal, Peloton, Night, Day, Standby - and really, when I press the upper button the light modes change accordingly. 

What is confusing is that when I connect the light to my Edge, the light modes change to Auto/, High Visibility, Trail and Individual and they do not correspond to the light modes under the button press. Also when connected to Edge the "button modes" seem to be not working. 

Another confusion of mine (sorry, I read the manual twice as well as fiddled with the light/Edge a bit) are the other light modes found under the Edge widget - Solid, Flash, Peloton, Off. What are these and how do they work? And what is the Override button found under them? 

Really trying to find the logic behind this but am lost. Maybe I'm too old for this or just too much used to the good old dumb red flashing lights with only one button and 2 flashing modes Slight smile 

Could someone explain me the different modes etc.??

  • 0 8 months ago

    Not much logic in the naming of profiles and inconsitencies there. To answer one of your questions: Override function gives you access to the modes using the button on the Varia.

  • 0 7 months ago

    I searched here because I got my 515 today and I just can't understand the light modes :D The manual doesn't make anything clearer for me.

    Using a 1040, in the Radar/light widged, at the top I have lightmodes. I set that to auto, but somehow it sometimes changes to trial or individual.

    I also don't understand the relation between the settings using the button on the 515 and the settings on the 1040.

    What does 'override lightmode' mean? In the sensors/light settings there also is an 'lightbundle actived, start timer' settings - what does that do?

    What I would like is to have the light off by default but only flashing when a car gets close, is that possible? Would that happen when I set the light to off using the button on the 515? Since I can't see the light while riding it's a bit hard to test this out myself :)

  • 0 2 months ago in reply to Warrie

    The start time setting only puts the light on when you are recording a ride (i.e. you've pressed start or enabled auto-start).  I find this mode the most useful as I almost always record rides

    There's no off except when car approaching mode for safety reasons - it's possible a car may approach but not trigger the radar. Anyway, the day flash mode lasts for me about 14 hours (more than claimed by Garmin) so that should be sufficient for most rides. 

  • 0 2 months ago

    You can set a „standard“ light mode in light network settings (Auto, High Visibility, Trail and Indiviual (wich should offer some more)).
    If you pull down the widget wile in an activity, you can override that standard set in settings. This override is disabled with the button beneath them. If you select something in the widget, it will change its state and you can press it.

    start timer setting: Normally the light lights up as soon as it is connected to an Edge (in standby mode). If you enable start timer, it only lights up when you start an activity. Radar warnings are not affected from this setting, only the rear light function.