Stages Power Meter - battery draining?

dazz_ni45

Probably not the right place to ask this question, but rather than opening a new thread and considering the pool of warranty expertise.....

I'm thinking of purchasing stages in the full knowledge that I may well be one of the unlucky ones that has issues. None of my LBS stock them so easiest thing is an online purchase especially if I can get a bit of discount in the sales. Does Stages deal with warranty issues themselves or do you have to go through the seller? For example, if I am having problems, will I have to pay to post it back to the original online retailer for them to sort out with Stages.

Can anyone recommend any of the online retailer who has been through this process and where it has been reasonably straightforward?

Thanks

rickwiggans

Update. 2nd Ultegra unit. Flat battery after 2 hours use.

supermurph09

rickwiggans wrote:

Update. 2nd Ultegra unit. Flat battery after 2 hours use.

That's not good news!!! I've emailed Stages this morning to see the potential of them sending me a replacement while mine is looked at as the new battery doors have done nothing to cure any problems.

rickwiggans

In a reply to my original enquiry, to Stages, they said they thought they'd fixed it, and "once we get all these faulty units back from Saddleback we can take an in depth look", or words to that effect. That sort of implies they think Saddleback have a load of dodgy units. I've asked Stages today is anybody there actively trying to solve this, since the apparent fix hasn't worked. I'll report back, but I feel a refund coming on.

rothers_bikeo

Has anybody checked the voltage on one of these "flat" batteries. Rumour has it it's not a flat battery problem caused by water ingress but a firmware bug causing the stages to think wrongly it has a flat battery.

rickwiggans

Neither of my units has ever been near water, never been used outside. And I have indeed checked the battery voltage. Both units managed 3 to 4 hours before showing flat. If it is a firmware bug, which I agree seems likely, then it should be fixable. Hopefully. The problem as I see it at the moment is that Stages seem to think the latest update fixed it, which it didn't. So, the pressure needs to be kept on them to fix it.

Smirf

that would make sense. My battery died after one ride. I swapped out the battery for a new one, but ended up putting the "dead" battery in my scales as that had run out.

The "dead" battery is still going ok in the scales

Smirf

update. I used it for a ride last week with the new battery. Got home. Put the bike away - not used since then. So i thought i would go out to see what it was like and connect via the stages app on my phone. Wouldn't connect. Took the battery out. Gave it a rub in my t-shirt. Put it back in. Connected straight away via the app. Battery meter shows full.

Sounds like a firmware issue that is rebooted when you take the battery out and back in again?

rickwiggans

Smirf, it could be that the "dead" battery would power up your scales if they have a much lower power drain than the Stages. I only hope Stages are taking notice of all our differing experiences, to help them pinpoint the issue. I'll try your trick of putting the same battery back in and report back.

rickwiggans

......although thinking about it, I've measured the dead battery and it is reading 2.8 volts open circuit, which is definitely dead. (Note to electronics wizards - I know you can really only test these cells accurately under load).

Smirf

i will let them know what i found out - the guys on email have been engaged so far. I am sure more data points will help them

and i'll try again after the weekend to see if it's the same

jgsi

I chose the Vector s over the Stages.... just hoping not to encounter these sort of issues.. however
I use IpBike with its IpSensorMan on my Android phone. When connected you can get quite a detailed readout of the power meter re its firmware and more importantly its battery status.. might be of some help to diagnose.
At the moment the screen readout for my Vectors shows up
Battery State = OK
Battery Time 54 minutes
Battery State = OK
Battery Voltage = 2.9023438

IpBike is one very useful app in addition to a standard headunit

rickwiggans

Reply from Stages says they know there are geographically isolated batches of faulty products, and they have just received a batch back from the UK. These will be examined and they'll try to isolate the problem. At least they acknowledge there is still an issue.

colinsmith123

dazz_ni45 wrote:

Probably not the right place to ask this question, but rather than opening a new thread and considering the pool of warranty expertise.....

I'm thinking of purchasing stages in the full knowledge that I may well be one of the unlucky ones that has issues. None of my LBS stock them so easiest thing is an online purchase especially if I can get a bit of discount in the sales.

Thanks

My LBS gives me a good discount, so when I wanted to replace my failed Powertap (don't even ask, but I am now riding around on the most expensive training wheel in Cristendom). When I was weighing up my PM options, one of which was the Stages PM, the LBS would not even sell it to me as there was zero mark up. Well there was, 1p. Why would he bother selling an item that has no mark up taking on the responsibility of Sale of Goods Act etc. Regardless of how reliable it is, which reading the comments on this forum it is not. Stages are selling all they make, discounts may well be hard to come by.

Can anyone recommend any of the online retailer who has been through this process and where it has been reasonably straightforward?

Merlin were offering a few bob off and suppliers in Europe were selling at the same rate in Euros when I was looking in the summer. But, why would you want buy something that you are expecting to fail. If you use your PM and the data and feedback it gives in improving fitness, you will sorely miss it, if it fails and you have to send it back.

Speak with your LBS, you might be able to land the SRAM Riken cranks for a similar price to the Stages Ultegra or less. Battery life bang on 125 hours almost to the minute. Or go down the P2M route. Or wait until the new PMs come to market next year.

pan280

After about 6 months of good service it seems mine has started having the same issues too. i've send an email to stages and they seem to think it has something to do with the battery door now... but not sure.

@dazz_ni45: compared to the years of faultless service i had from my powertap stages doesn't seem as robust, lets see but if i knew what i know now i would buy a power2max or go back to powertap (unfortunately i sold mine)

dazz_ni45

Thanks chaps. The main reason Stages appeals is that I now have all my bikes running HT2 bottom brackets (after problems with BB30) and shimano cranks. One bike is a 50/34, one 52/36 and the other 53/39 and I like the variety so this is why Stages appealed to me over the likes of P2M which would mean changing chain rings everytime I changed between bikes, which in winter would be quite frequently. What is everyone's views on the garmin vector as it might be worth biting the bullet and changing all the pedals/cleats instead.

rickwiggans

Vector pods cracking seems to be a live issue. I too have considered this, but I don't really want to be restricted to pedal type.

jgsi

rickwiggans wrote:

Vector pods cracking seems to be a live issue. I too have considered this, but I don't really want to be restricted to pedal type.

Yes, but only if you dont read the manual and tighten up to the, imo over torque of 25ft/lb, without the supplied washers in between.

rickwiggans

Nope. I know meticulous mechanics who've torqued up correctly and have them go.

supermurph09

Update on my situation. First of congratulations to Stages for their continued replies from the case I created with them. Asked me to send photos over at the weekend so hoping to see what they can see from that. If not, or if they spot something things should start moving along. From all the communications they have sent you do get an impression that they actual care.

rickwiggans

Agree

jgsi

rickwiggans wrote:

Nope. I know meticulous mechanics who've torqued up correctly and have them go.

It's not the torque factor .high as it is because low torque will spew out erroneous and low power data.. Garmin don't stress enough and they stress indeed, not using the washers between the pod and spindle will crack the pod.
Hopefully Garmin being Garmin, will rma without too much trouble for those who have pods gone west.
I have pictures already saved showing correct install if occasion arises.

rickwiggans

Yes, washers installed correctly, but I quite agree with you, Garmin are pretty good at replacements.

jgsi

As another side note... this new 4iii.when it arrives.. where you superbond a sensor to your own crank.. that'll be fun if the sensor goes and kanckers up a good crank.

rickwiggans

I was telling somebody about the 4iii unit. I described it as a sensor you stick on yourself. I, of course meant, it is applied by the user to the crank. The people I was telling were imagining "sticking on yourself" meant sticking on your own leg or something. Choice of words eh! It does sound interesting though.

dazz_ni45

Any news on a UK distributor or release date for the 4iii?

rickwiggans

Last I saw was Q4 2014 - so unlikely!

pan280

I've decided to return mine, according to stages it lets water in. A low calibration number is what they used to diagnose this. They offered to send me another door and o-ring but i'd rather get a refund. It is still under warranty and i got this around April from Merlin. So i'll let you know if this process is painless or not... has anyone returned their unit to stages? any experience? sorry i haven't read all 8 pages :-)

supermurph09

Mine is going back, stages have now said after viewing my pictures etc that it's a warranty issue.

silane

I'm having the same problem with an Ultegra model I bought in July. First battery lasted months. Replacements seem to be failing in shorter and shorter timeframe. It's been used outside in the elements, but I cant find any evidence of water getting into the unit. The door and the seal seem fine.
I bought mine from a website in Germany, so the explanation that it's a batch that only got sent to the UK doesn't seem to stand up. I've logged a ticket on their website so I'll see what happens. Tempted to ask for a refund though as this seems to be an ongoing problem and they don't seem to have identified the issue.