Anyone else get this problem with a Powertap ?

quiglet13

Powertap SL+. Low mileage....

Suddenly stopped reading power. Using it with a Garmin edge 500 (as part of my troubleshooting I upgraded that to the most recent 330 firmware - no difference). Garmin picks up the Powertap "Powermeter detected"... allows me to calibrate.... calibration works but gives an offset of about 330 (instead of the recommended 512).

Mostly the powertap just reads Ow when riding, but when I start out on a ride it reads very low power for the first minute or two (e.g. 60w when I am pushing what feels around 300w). Replaced the batteries just in case. No difference. Tried with a different Garmin headunit, no difference.

It seems to me like a blown torque tube, which I understand is not an economically viable repair, especially when not living in the UK (I'm in Ireland)

napoleond

Best off contacting Cycleops and see what they say... Sounds like the torque tube.

amaferanga

Which batteries are you using?

If the batteries are good then you'll probably have to send it to Paligap who'll happily replace the torque tube for the extortionate fee of over £400, though if it's less than 12 months old they'll do it for free and if its less than 2 years old they might do it for free.

quiglet13

Thanks folks. I might try contact Cycleops and try a different set of batteries. I have been using cheap and nasties from 7dayshop, so not a lot of faith in them, but have used them without trouble before in this powertap and a previous one, so I am not hopeful.

For 400 I will be going Power2max I think. Had a lot of good miles on an old Powertap Pro that I stupidly "upgraded" to an SL+ which has been nothing but trouble. I am not the original owner of the SL+.. its about 2.5 years old, only about 500k before I got it and about 3500k now.

napoleond

I had an SL+, it went back 3 times. The last time I sold it and got the latest pro, which I then sold as power data was sucking the life out of me.

I've been looking again and if I was going to retake the plunge for the 3rd time it'd be P2M

Jaguar.

I had an SL+ it was absolute rubbish. Used to go back every 2 months or so, postman would have a good laugh with the Mrs about this huge wheel-size box that he would deliver as regularly as clockwork.

Batteries do go and the battery is the first thing to check but if the powertap is being detected, I doubt that is the case. If you take it out on a mildly moist day it will die but again, it usually dies completely so the most likely candidate is the torque tube, no idea what that really is but it does indeed cost an eye watering £400.

If you moan, you might be able to get it done under warranty, Paligap are actually very good when you get to know them. The high cost of postage for sending it to them though begins to get a bit much.

When my rim wore out, it was a part used rim when I got the powertap, I took the whole thing down to the local recycling centre and popped it in the metal bin.