PM5 completely non-responsive

[JaaDash]

I have a PM5 (Manufacture date 2015/08) on a model d that has seen low use and I'm the only owner. The erg has lived in my bedroom with stable temperatures and no physical damage. Tried to use it yesterday (after several months of inactivity; it worked fine last time) and the PM5 is completely unresponsive. No display, does not show as connected to either computer (mac/pc) when I tried the utility software, no light.

I took it apart and can't see anything that looks damaged or suspect in any way. Everything looks pristine. I used circuit board cleaner just in case of something small I might have missed, and let that dry overnight. Brand new out of package batteries (that test good with the multimeter), and ... still nothing.

This is just odd and I'm not sure what to try next. I did turn on bluetooth the last time I used the erg to see how it did with data transfer, but that shouldn't have killed the board. Nor should inactivity.

I'd be grateful for any suggestions for next steps. Thanks

[Citroen]

First step a new pair of D-cells.

[JaaDash]

Yep, tried that. Two different sets of brand new D cells. No joy.

[Citroen]

Connect it to your laptop with a USB-B printer cable.
Does that wake it up?

[JaaDash]

Unfortunately, the laptop didn't wake it up either. I tried my laptop (Mac- both USB ports) and my PC, and 3 different USB-B cables to try to cover all the bases. Hooked it up with the D cells installed and without in all instances. No response on the monitor and the computers didn't recognize anything as being connected.

[Jamesy]

Hi Paddler, I have exactly the same problem with my PM5. I tried new batteries which worked for a short while, but now the unit is completely blank. Took the unit off and took apart to find nothing obvious, everything is clean and pristine. Connection is good to rower. I will try connecting to computer to see if that works. I see a new unit is £155 on the concept 2 website, but don't want to go that route just yet. I'll also try giving the help desk a ring on Monday to see if they can help. My unit is dated 2015 /05. I've checked the batteries and they are fine.

[Citroen]

If you've bought the PM5 (in Europe) within the last two years you have a two year product warranty. (That may change for UK buyers since 1st Jan 2021.)

If it was manufactured in 2015 then https://www.concept2.com/service/monito ... uct-notice applies.

[Jamesy]

Hopefully Solved my problem. I took the unit off again and put it and the batteries on the radiator. After about 4 hrs tried it again and the unit is working fine. My problem is the rower is in the garage and at this time of year it probably doesn't get above 5deg c. So I'll have to keep the unit in the house and attache when I want to do a workout. My other option is to put the rower in the house during the winter months.

[Tsnor]

Hopefully Solved my problem. I took the unit off again and put it and the batteries on the radiator. After about 4 hrs tried it again and the unit is working fine. My problem is the rower is in the garage and at this time of year it probably doesn't get above 5deg c. So I'll have to keep the unit in the house and attache when I want to do a workout. My other option is to put the rower in the house during the winter months.

I'd hesitate to take PM5 on and off 100s of times. Connectors are rated for number of insertions, pretty sure that the expected use case for the monitor pickup wire and port was NOT plugging it in every time you used it. Someone who knows the Concept 2, PM5 spec would know, I don't. But I would not do this to my PM5.

If the problem is the battery is at low voltage from the very cold temp (and fresh batteries does not help) then you can leave everything as is, plug a USB cable into the back of the PM5 and use an external power source like a cell phone charger or a portable USB battery pack to run the PM5. Devices like trail cameras that need to work well at very low temps in winter specify non-rechargeable lithium ion batteries like these (google AA ultimate Lithium Battery Energizer "These batteries can perform in extreme temperatures (from -40F to 140° F) ") but I don't think they make D size. Hopefully your PM5 came back to life because you warmed the batteries.

If the problem is the PM5 failing at low temp (which can happen to electronics) than not sure what you can do. (examples of low temp fails: https://www.edn.com/low-voltage-tests-u ... -problems/). Pretty sure most PM5 work fine at very low temp. Many C2 rowers are kept year round in unheated boat houses and used for winter training.

p.s My C2 is kept in an unheated attached garage and works reliably when cold. (I do need to heat myself up on an indoor bike before rowing.) So far 37F (2C) is the lowest temp I've seen. Drag factor is a few points higher when its 37F vs 45F. I'm not expecting electronic problems if it gets colder. I haven't seen any hint of flywheel clutch issues, but those seem more likely if anything does go wrong than the PM5 failing.

[Ombrax]

Devices like trail cameras that need to work well at very low temps in winter specify non-rechargeable lithium ion batteries like these (google AA ultimate Lithium Battery Energizer "These batteries can perform in extreme temperatures (from -40F to 140° F) ") but I don't think they make D size.

Some companies (e.g. Panasonic for their "Eneloop" batteries) sell "conversion shells" that allow you to put a AA battery in a receptacle designed for a D battery (they also sell C shells - ha! - too). Of course a AA battery subjected to D demands won't have the same life, but it that's your only option it's better than nothing.

[I use rechargeable Eneloop AA batteries in a D application (flashlight) and they work fine. Not super-long, but since they're rechargeable it's super easy to take some from the drawer and pop them into the converters and put the drained ones in the charger.]

[dsamant]

Concept2 also stocks a 14 feet long cable (#1496) for the PM3/PM4/PM5 monitors. Another option is an AC Adapter (#2486) that can be used in lieu of battery power.

[Jamesy]

Thanks for all the advice. I'll try the lithium battery option and see how that goes. It's probably the cheap supermarket one's that's causing the issues.

[extracampine]

I'm having the exact same problem. I checked the batteries - a multimeter showed the 1.5V batteries outputting 1.4V. So I tried some new ones which read at 1.6V - but the PM5 remains off. I tried connecting it via USB cable to my Mac, but same problem. It was working fine last time I used it - a number of weeks earlier. It's in a garage but the fresh batteries were brought in from the house do I doubt it's that?

[Carl Watts]

Temperature really shouldn't make a difference, I had a PM2 that failed to start in the cold, essentially it was a faulty component.

I put the PM2 in the freezer for it to fault, once repaired it still worked at sub zero temperatures straight out of the freezer.

Imagine if your car wouldn't start when it got cold because of the electronics, then again if you buy a Tesla that's your problem.