PM4 eating through batteries...

[Neil P]

I'm lucky to get 4 weeks out of a fresh set of batteries in my PM4, something is obviously wrong. Does anyone know what the problem could be? Also, is there anywhere in the UK that I can send it to for repair?

[Carl Watts]

A guy on E-Bay UK repairs them by the name of Simon.

If its a Gen 1 PM4, I would bin it and buy a new PM5 now. Check the firmware version in the Product ID screen.

That can be a hard problem to fix or else its full of corrosion, in which case its toast.

[gvcormac]

Does the display turn off? There is a secret setting to set it so that it doesn't shut off. Also, if you leave it connected to ErgData (and maybe some other apps) it may not shut off.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pF_J-Sp-XC8

[Dangerscouse]

I'm lucky to get 4 weeks out of a fresh set of batteries in my PM4, something is obviously wrong. Does anyone know what the problem could be? Also, is there anywhere in the UK that I can send it to for repair?

Is there a card or USB stick installed, and are they cheap batteries?

I've got a PM5, but I last changed my duracell batteries, I think, about two years ago, and I usually row six days a week. It might not be applicable as you've got a PM4, so it could well be an issue that needs to be repaired or replaced

[Carl Watts]

I've got a PM5, but I last changed my duracell batteries, I think, about two years ago, and I usually row six days a week. It might not be applicable as you've got a PM4, so it could well be an issue that needs to be repaired or replaced

The second Gen PM4 uses less power and it shuts down to a much lower current draw than the first Gen PM4. Basically decent batteries should last 18 months.

They would have to be pretty bad batteries to only last a month, power supplied while you row is enough to run the monitor.

Very hard to fix, had it happen in several monitors over the years. Sometimes its the micro and the Gen 1 Motorola one is long obsolete, the reason C2 had to make a Gen 2 PM3 and PM4 is because the micro for it was no longer available, we are talking 2007 now.

Put some decent Alkaline batteries in it and if it only lasts a month, bin it.

[MPx]

It does sound like you PM may be toast....but there's some good advice from @gvcormac to check through first.
Is the monitor definitely shutting down (either 4 presses of Menu or hold the menu button in)?
Are you leaving any USB stick in the monitor (the log card is fine)?
Any other known connections to the PM that you could get rid of?