Related

New Vector 3

ianjstuart
over 6 years ago
After advising anyone who asks to get a Power2max (as they just work) I ignored my own advice and picked up a set of Vector 3 on Friday. I was an early Vector 1 owner and after remembering the joys of getting those to work, I ran my vector 3 in parallel with the p2m to two head units. Then compared the files afterwards using the dc rainmaker analyser tool.

The Vector 3’s are going back to the shop tomorrow. First ride they tracked broadly ok, other than some power spikes. Second ride I switched the head unit back to the p2m after 50 minutes. Multiple drop outs, multiple spikes, just unusable. Genuinely surprised at the multiple issues, even my unreliable vector 1 was more stable than this and I thought that was flaky.

So, on the plus side I’ve been right all this while, just buy a power2max. On the down side, today’s ride tells me I’ve missed my vocation as a pro sprinter as the vectors clocked over 4000 Watts today.....
  • 0 over 6 years ago
    It sounds like you picked a set up that have the old doors. Contact Garmin support and they will get you a set of the new doors that fix these issues. You can see the sticky posting at the top of this forum that shows the difference between the old and new doors.
  • 0 over 6 years ago
    Yep, thanks. I opened the battery compartment to check and it’s the old design. I’ve asked garmin if they can get doors to me within the week so I can retest, otherwise i’ll just refund to be honest. I’m not into a lengthy resolution process.

    Its interesting how the QA or manufacturing process works. This is a set of pedals where I’ve not touched the battery compartments, all I’ve done is fit and upgrade firmware. They showed issues within the first hour out the box, so is this a manufacturing tolerance problem on the battery circuit somewhere? I can’t believe a fundamental design issue would have made it through any kind of QA.
  • 0 over 6 years ago
    We've all been doing Garmin's prototype and beta testing for the past nine months. Right about now Garmin might want to start selling the Vector 3 pedals to paying customers. It hasn't been fun on this end.

    I have no clue how Garmin's product management decided nearly a year ago that all was good to go. They might have been under some external constraints involving suppliers/manufacturing partners for the earlier Vector pedals. Regardless, reliability, accuracy, integration with GCM and headunits, bluetooth support, documentation ... none of those things were even in the ballpark on Day 1 of shipping.

    Most issues seem to have been addressed with sw 3.50 and the new battery doors. The documentation is still woefully incomplete. Many important details can only be found in Garmin's answers here on the forum.
  • 0 over 6 years ago
    On one hand, I didn't mins the prototype and beta testing phase. It gave me another reason to go for a ride. On another hand, I didn't like the entry cost of $1000.
    Mine seem to be working great now with the new doors and updated software.
  • 0 over 6 years ago
    But you still have to change batteries and I think thats where the real test will be.
  • 0 over 6 years ago
    I can see no reason why battery changes should be a problem with the new doors. What caused the grief with the old ones were contact points, placement of the positive pole conducting metal strips, the small pieces of tape, threads, battery tolerances. All of those items have been addressed with the new doors.