another pair of vectors with Battery Problems

Former Member over 7 years ago

I bought these back in November so was looking forward to using them for the first time today as do a lot of turboing on the Neo so didn't need them till now, straight away i wasn't getting any lights on the pedals at all. That is fair enough as factory batteries might be dead.

So went and bought 4 Duracell LR44 for 8 pound (WOW) put them in with some baby oil like i have seen on instructions and calibrated fine and i think all worked fine as rode 80 miles and didn't have any problems with power. The 80 mile ride was 4 hours

I went back to them to update to 3.30 and came up with power meter low already!!!!!!! 4 hours and they are coming up with this, this could cost a lot of money in batteries. does this actually means they are running out or is this a fault with the software warning?

I had vector 1 and had massive issues with them to start i think on 3.5 software hope we are not going down the same route and the problems are going to go on for ever.

0 t_smit over 7 years ago

There are two issues with 3.30 that are impacting users:
1. V3S users are experiencing periodic power interruptions when paired with certain head units over ANT+.
2. Cycling dynamics is sometimes interrupted on one or both pedals (in dual pedal V3 systems).

Both of these issues are going to be resolved in the next firmware release.

0 storchenegger over 7 years ago

t_smit: There is no software solution to this problems. In this case software is just a cover up for a mayor hardware flaw. The battery dropouts will stay, but the software will just interpolate this dropout. this makes just a bigger error.
Solve the cause, exchange the hardware and make a product recall!!

This is the only fair solution to all good Garmin customers

there is a quick fix: Put some cork under the spring pressuring on the battery (check on youtube). It worked for me (220km no single dropout anymore), but this can't be a Garmin solution!!!!!!

0 t_smit over 7 years ago

Jonpauleames ' pedal has an internal electrical problem that is causing extremely high rate of battery depletion. We know the root cause of this problem, have addressed it in our manufacturing procedure to prevent its recurrence, and will work with customers whose systems exhibit the particular symptoms so that they can get on their way with confidence. I agree there is no software solution for this problem, but jamming the battery contact spring will also not solve it.

chunkywizard asked about known faults with the firmware that affect the user's experience. The issue with the particular software problems that I listed, is that they can cause symptoms that are similar to what happens due to intermittent battery contact. We do know what the root cause is, and are addressing it on both Vector 3 and head units to eliminate the problems as completely as possible. Given that this is a software problem, there is no hardware solution that can eliminate its effects.

The problem with intermittent battery contact and with damage to the pedal body threads is also being addressed through redesign of the relevant components of the battery door. Given that it involves implementation of machine tooling, this process (and testing the new parts) takes longer. But it is happening.

0 Former Member over 7 years ago

t_smit - Is there a way of determining whether the dynamics drop out that I'm seeing in my new Vector 3 (dual) is the result of right pedal battery contact or the software issues that you just described. A successful ride has the dynamics dropping out (and tells me I'm standing for 10 minutes at a time, etc.). An unsuccessful ride has my 520 saying right pedal lost over and over (and over...) forcing me to press the top right button to acknowledge the error. The latter situation causes incorrect fluctuations in the total power (usually halving it). Thanks in advance for your advice.

0 t_smit over 7 years ago

Right pedal missing is going to be due to the bad battery contact (on the right). Dynamics dropping out is a software related issue.

0 chunkywizard over 7 years ago

chunkywizard The problem with intermittent battery contact and with damage to the pedal body threads is also being addressed through redesign of the relevant components of the battery door. Given that it involves implementation of machine tooling, this process (and testing the new parts) takes longer. But it is happening.

t_smit - my V3's have been flawless up to now but with the problems flying around I am a bit worried. For the people without any problems, do you expect them to develop later in the products life, or do you think that some sets will not develop problems? I wouldn't want my pedals to be out of warranty when I get issues, should I get replacement battery contacts/ pedal doors now?

CW

0 Former Member over 7 years ago

I gather with my new ones in June this problem will not be rectified so are garmin going to send new battery cases to everyone?

also if I take battery casings out after rides will this stop the problem with my running out after 4 hours for now.
(I have just bought 50 batteries to tide me over )

0 fishyweb over 7 years ago

t_smit - my V3's have been flawless up to now but with the problems flying around I am a bit worried. For the people without any problems, do you expect them to develop later in the products life, or do you think that some sets will not develop problems? I wouldn't want my pedals to be out of warranty when I get issues, should I get replacement battery contacts/ pedal doors now?

I'm in this position as well, so would also like to know the answer to this question.

0 t_smit over 7 years ago

The two pedal sets I've been riding since November are early customer returns. I've accumulated about 3500 km on them so far, a lot on the trainer but also on pavement and gravel. I've had no resets that I can recall.
- I've done a test where I rode up Mt. Zwift, changing the batteries on one side (the left) every three minutes, then sprinting to catch up to the pack. Sixteen battery changes, in about 45 seconds each, no issues with that battery door or the pedal threads although obviously i've had time to become familiar with the process.
- I've purposely flattened the battery spring to try to create a worst-case contact issue. Still no disconnects.

Our team rode pre-production pedals all through late 2016 and 2017. There were never any obvious issues with the battery contact mechanism.

I don't recall Vector-Info's accumulated mileage. Well over 10,000 km, anyway, with no wear related problems.

If you are currently not having problems, you likely will not start having them unless somehow you incur mechanical damage on the parts. I would wait until the new door design is through testing and in production before trying to get a replacement.

0 t_smit over 7 years ago

also if I take battery casings out after rides will this stop the problem with my running out after 4 hours for now.

I'm sorry you have to go through that process but that would be the best way to continue to have dual pedal power measurement. It seems like only your right side is affected so you should not have to do both sides.