Rowing in the dark

[SaBhava]

Hi,
here in Berlin, Germany, the daylight starts to dwindle noticeably again. As I start to row at around 7:30 p.m. upon finishing I have trouble to make out the digits on my PM3. Oh yeah, I like to row in the garden as long as temperature permits it.

As Concept2 has failed to provide the PMs with a light, I would be curios if some of you could recommend a good solution - reading light etc.

Cheers,
SB

[truth1ness]

Lights are generally a good solution.

[Robert Wildes]

I row in my great room in the mornings and have positioned a light that is near my left shoulder. Without that light I would have
much difficulty reading the screen.

If I rowed outside like you, I would look for a battery operated lamp/light with a sturdy stand.

I would prefer a larger screen to view, but that is probably due to my advanced age.

[Carl Watts]

This happens on long rows over here when you forget to turn on the lights before you start to row.

I have experimented with adding some LED backlighting to the LCD on the PM3 along the sides, however it does not appear to be ideally suited to being back lit and you would need a USB conenction to the monitor to supply the extra power required by the LED's anyway.

Better to set-up an external light source or an LED flexible reading light to the monitor or something like that.

[Atorrante]

I think that because the PM3 and the PM4 are self powered during workout, it is not big deal to use some of its generated power to illuminate the monitor.

[Carl Watts]

I think that because the PM3 and the PM4 are self powered during workout, it is not big deal to use some of its generated power to illuminate the monitor.

The PM4 is equiped to recharge the battery, however I don't think the generator could support the additional 50mA or so needed for the backlighting. A USB2 connection can support up to 500mA no problem so thats why I looked at the idea.

The backlighting can come directly off the back of the USB socket so as long as your plugged into USB, you have backlighting day or night it doesn't really matter.

[Citroen]

Something like a kindle reading light
http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&keyword ... ndle%20usb
would possibly be a good option (if you can get one to fit your PM3).

Else the only other option is free standing a garden floodlight/worklight
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_ ... =worklight

[SaBhava]

Lights are generally a good solution.

Oh, lights work as well? I almost started smoking a doobies before working out in the dark as THC improves night time vision

Thanks for the advice. Too bad that the self-made backlighting is not an option. I kind of hope that some of you guys has come up with a good permanent solution. I don't use USB when rowing.

I wanted to avoid carrying yet another thing out in the garden for rowing as a freestanding light + extension cord would be.

But I'll try reading lights. Hopefully C2 adds back lighting to the wish list!

Many thx,
SB

[btb1490]

If you have an iPhone or an iPad
http://www.concept2.com/service/software/ergbuddy

[truth1ness]

When I was a kid I had this little square box with the broad sides cut out making like a window and the inside edges were coated in glow in the dark paint. So you could 'charge it up' then moving it along the pages of a book to read in the dark. You could do something similar, a little raised square of glow in the dark border around the display.

[stub5]

I used one of these when my erg was in the garage (no electrics):

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004 ... 02_s00_i00

Worked ok - you clip it to the support that the PM attaches to and bend the light round to point at the PM. 3AAA cell + LED means it lasts for ages on one set of batteries...

Cheers,
S

[Rockin Roland]

Sorry everyone but I just can't resist this opportunity to highlight(sorry for the pun) the virtues of the monitor on my Rowperfect "indoor sculler" erg. The monitor comes standard with a backlight which can be dimmed, made more intense or simply turned off. I do all my erging outside (even in the rain as the monitor is waterproof) and during winter it is pitch dark. But with the backlight on I can clearly see all the digits(even without wearing my contacts). I often workout after work in total darkness and the Rowperfect erg is ideal for that.

The AAA batteries in the Rowperfect monitor last for about 6 months of regular erging with the backlight constantly on during all the workouts. A warning message comes onto the screen when first switched on when the batteries are low. Can't see why the boffins at C2 can't come up with something similar.

[SaBhava]

Well Roland, I ain't throwing away my new C2 just because it has no backlight. But even a backlight will not swing my pro-con list in favor of a RowPerfect.

Thanks for the tip with the book light, though. I will order one today. They have plenty on Amazon.

Cheers,
SB

[Bob S.]

The AAA batteries in the Rowperfect monitor last for about 6 months of regular erging with the backlight constantly on during all the workouts. A warning message comes onto the screen when first switched on when the batteries are low. Can't see why the boffins at C2 can't come up with something similar.

Roland,

You make a good point there. Backlighting ought to be at the top of any PM5 wish list.

Bob S.

[Hollywood_Kuma]

I, too, would like a backlight, but as requests for this have been with C2 for at least seven years, I wouldn't hold your breath.

I've found that the Mighty Bright light (which is $17) works really well. Here's a link to my post regarding this on another thread, which might be useful for you as a workaround:

http://www.c2forum.com/viewtopic.php?f= ... ht#p199980