PM5 Display Won't Turn On

[LiquidPony]

I have tried several sets of fresh D batteries.

The display won't turn on with batteries or when I start rowing.

I know it's getting some kind of power, as the red LED on the back (presumably something to do with Bluetooth or other wireless connections?) will start flashing if I press the Menu button. Previously I would connect the PM5 both to my Android phone and my heartrate monitor via Bluetooth.

Is it possible to update the firmware without a working display? I've tried "resetting" the PM5 by using a pen to press the recessed button the back, still no luck.

Any other suggestions?

[Carl Watts]

Try leaving the batteries out overnight for a total reset.

Its dead you need a new monitor if that doesn't work.

[David Pomerantz]

Just ran into same problem. The PM5 can go from working well to completely dead overnight? I did have the heart rate monitor stop recording on my last row. Thanks,

Dave

[Citroen]

Is it possible to update the firmware without a working display? I've tried "resetting" the PM5 by using a pen to press the recessed button the back, still no luck.

If you connect a laptop with a USB-A to USB-B printer cable it should wake up. You can update the firmware, but if it gets disconnected while the update is running you could brick it.

If your Rower is less than two years old you have a manufacturer's warranty on your PM5.
https://www.concept2.com/files/pdf/us/i ... rranty.pdf

If it's more than two years old you'll need to find someone who can tell if it's a critical or repairable fault.

[Carl Watts]

Had one a few weeks ago, fixed it over the phone for a guy.

1. Put new batteries in it.

2. Factory default reset it by holding both the change units and change display buttons down at the same time and hit the reset switch on the back of it with a paper clip.

3. The display should come up "Resetting to factory defaults" at the top of the display.

4. Update the PM5 to the latest firmware to prevent it from happening again.

[extracampine]

I have followed the above steps, but nothing appears on the PM5 screen. It's as if there's no power, but I've put new batteries in it and also tried connecting it to my laptop via USB cable. Any further advice appreciated.

[Nomyx]

Hi,

I've got the same issue with my PM5. I try all your suggestions. Did you found a solution to turn on the PM5 ?

Thank you
Noémie

[Carl Watts]

Do you have a first generation PM5 by chance ?

You can tell by the colour of the two screws inside the battery compartment if it will not turn on to be able to check the Product ID screen. If they are black its a first generation. The screws are silver from the second Gen onwards.

I had one that the switching regulator on the board failed and was drawing a lot of current. You would have to confirm with 2 batteries external to the monitor and a multimeter. Current draw has huge, found the faulty part because it was getting hot.

Its pretty much stuffed if that's gone, after all the monitor is almost 10 years old now so time to buy a new 4th Gen PM5.

[stevegaspars]

after all the monitor is almost 10 years old now so time to buy a new 4th Gen PM5.

What are the V1 PM5's missing that makes it incompatible with bluetooth firmware updates and some apps?

[Carl Watts]

after all the monitor is almost 10 years old now so time to buy a new 4th Gen PM5.

What are the V1 PM5's missing that makes it incompatible with bluetooth firmware updates and some apps?

The actual hardware protocols must have changed because firmware updates cannot fix the problem.

Bluetooth is up to like V5.4 it has evolved over the years and older devices have been left behind.

Even ANT+ must have changed, the first gen PM4 doesn't work with my Garmin RUN but the second gen PM4 does work.

Things move on and electronics these days gets obsoleted faster than ever, you end up chucking out something that still "works like new" but no longer does everything you want it to.

[drluvguru]

Do you have a first generation PM5 by chance ?

You can tell by the colour of the two screws inside the battery compartment if it will not turn on to be able to check the Product ID screen. If they are black its a first generation. The screws are silver from the second Gen onwards.

I had one that the switching regulator on the board failed and was drawing a lot of current. You would have to confirm with 2 batteries external to the monitor and a multimeter. Current draw has huge, found the faulty part because it was getting hot.

Its pretty much stuffed if that's gone, after all the monitor is almost 10 years old now so time to buy a new 4th Gen PM5.

Ah-ha! Nice troubleshooting tip about the screw color inside the battery compartment to identify the first-gen PM5! I'm curious, did you manage to fix the faulty switching regulator on the board or was it indeed time to retire the old monitor and upgrade to a new 4th Gen PM5? Also, what kind of multimeter readings were you seeing when you detected the high current draw?

[josefzht]

pull out the cable between PM5 & RowErg machine, then reset PM5 and hold(I use battery box screw ), remove both 2 batteries.
install batteries again. release the reset button. May be PM5 will turn on again. Reset the time and date, plug in the cable.

[lynxss1]

Do you have a first generation PM5 by chance ?

You can tell by the colour of the two screws inside the battery compartment if it will not turn on to be able to check the Product ID screen. If they are black its a first generation. The screws are silver from the second Gen onwards.

I had one that the switching regulator on the board failed and was drawing a lot of current. You would have to confirm with 2 batteries external to the monitor and a multimeter. Current draw has huge, found the faulty part because it was getting hot.

Its pretty much stuffed if that's gone, after all the monitor is almost 10 years old now so time to buy a new 4th Gen PM5.

This switching regulator can be replaced and re soldered?

[Carl Watts]

This switching regulator can be replaced and re soldered?

Don't even go there it's like a 3mm x 3mm die and the pins are underneath. I managed to replace it then months later it failed again.

If its a first gen PM5 made in 2014 its pretty much reached the end of life. I would keep it for parts and the LCD Graphics display could still be good and is interchangeable. You can still get screen faults and corrosion on the cable and the LED backlighting can fail along with the someone lets go of the handle....