Flow Smart Overheating at low RPM and High Power

I've had my Flow for a few months now and its generally been fine

However as I've start riding a few more of the hilly Zwift sections I've had on a number of occasions the unit drop all resistance and data.

Cadence is around 68-70rpm and power around 280w

Looking at the Tacx Diagnostic iOS App, its telling me its a temperature issue

Any way to resolve this?

Top Replies

7717935 over 4 years ago in reply to thetrickstergib +3 suggested

Success! I climbed up to the radio tower again today though with higher cadence and lower gear and with a fan pointed right at the trainer. I was 40 as seconds slower (did not eat my wheaties). I checked…
n_maher over 4 years ago in reply to rodrisicilia +2

I also have this issue. I've used the trainer to successfully get in pretty decent shape and recently while racing, have pulled some pretty good power up the Road to Sky course as well as Leith Hill.…
StefanoBonfanti over 4 years ago +1

Hi, the same issue here...

All Replies

0 StefanoBonfanti over 4 years ago

Hi, the same issue here...

0 7717935 over 4 years ago

I've got the same issue exactly. Flashing red light on my trainer and disconnects with Zwift. Trainer was scorching hot. I hope nothing melted. This happened on the Haute route stage 1 heading up to the radio tower. Has anyone had any success with a fan attached to or pointed at their trainer? I'm gonna try again today and see if this fixes it.

0 7717935 over 4 years ago

0 thetrickstergib over 4 years ago in reply to 7717935

I’ve seen people 3D printing PC fan attachments for the Flow so it must be common. Shame. I’ve just drop a gear and upped the cadence for now to hopefully get more air flow. Let us know how you get on with a fan

0 7717935 over 4 years ago in reply to thetrickstergib

Success! I climbed up to the radio tower again today though with higher cadence and lower gear and with a fan pointed right at the trainer. I was 40 as seconds slower (did not eat my wheaties). I checked it after the descent and it was cool as a cucumber.

0 6091390 over 4 years ago

Hey,

I also have this problem. Drops out on all the long climbs in ZWIFT and Tacx training app. On Alp du Zwift it stoped 10 times each time for approximatly 2min. I assume it is indeed overheating with the high resistance low trainer speed. Meaby by lowering the trainers difficulty it will help? Then is isn't stuck in the highest resistance for so long.

But I really ruins the entire expiriance. It is a shame.

0 Melisa1193 over 4 years ago in reply to 6091390

Hi, I currently have the same issue. Have you found what the problem is and how to solve it?

0 7717935 over 4 years ago in reply to 6091390

Did you try pointing a small fan at it as in the photo above. Also higher cadences do make it run cooler I think. The 65-70 300 watts seems to be a killer for this trainer.

0 4236270 over 4 years ago

Same issue! It bothers to not being able to enjoy a climb on Zwift

0 thetrickstergib over 4 years ago

I've now moved to the smaller gear on the front (so my cadence is higher) and so far, not had any further issues - done the radio tower yesterday and been up Alp de Zwift twice recently. Also last Friday I did 100km and again all fine.

It obviously just doesn't like low cadence. Will still obtain a fan for it, once we are allowed to the shops again