Pm3 Light

[[old] Gaz]

Is there a light for the PM3 ? <br />If im rowing in a dark room, or even have the lights off I can't see what's going on unless it's connected to the PC. It's already got power from the USB so it shouldn't be hard for someone to invent a light that simply clips onto the PM3.<br /><br /><a href='http://djgaz.proboards16.com/index.cgi? ... 14&start=0' target='_blank'>More about it here</a>

[[old] gaffano]

also..in regards to seeing issues...I have noticed on my new D that the damper #s are not high-lighted in any way from the grey of the fly-wheel body. Makes it very hard to see the #s..

[[old] Big]

<!--QuoteBegin-Gaz+Mar 12 2005, 09:23 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Gaz @ Mar 12 2005, 09:23 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Is there a light for the PM3 ? <br />If im rowing in a dark room, or even have the lights off I can't see what's going on unless it's connected to the PC. </td></tr></table><br />Great machine but lousy display. I can't believe it doesn't have a backlight. Even with the room lights on the display is hard to see unless positioned just right. With ambient room lighting or with the TV on, forget it. An overlooked design detail or am I expected to use a headlamp? Do other people find this a problem or am I losing my sight?

[[old] Mark Keating]

<!--QuoteBegin-Gaz+Mar 12 2005, 09:23 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Gaz @ Mar 12 2005, 09:23 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I can't believe it doesn't have a backlight. <br /> </td></tr></table><br />That's one of my wishes too.

[[old] dneiss]

I have a slightly different reason for wanting the back light on the PM3. When I start my workout, there is enough ambient light for me to read the display. However, with going from summer sunlight hours to winter, I find that by the end of the workout, its getting too dark to see the readout, and im too lazy or dont want to interrupt the workout to get up and turn on the light.

[[old] Citroen]

<!--QuoteBegin-gaffano+Mar 12 2005, 06:03 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(gaffano @ Mar 12 2005, 06:03 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->also..in regards to seeing issues...I have noticed on my new D that the damper #s are not high-lighted in any way from the grey of the fly-wheel body. Makes it very hard to see the #s.. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />That shouldn't matter. You should use the menu option on the PM3 to get a drag factor reading (rather than relying on the damper position). Also if it's your own machine, set it once (somewhere between 105 and 120) and leave it alone. The drag factor will only change if you don't clean the dust bunnies out of the machine.<br />

[[old] michaelb]

If you have USB power from your computer near your PM3 (and hopefully you are hooked up for rowpro), a solution would be to get a USB extension cable and/or two port hub, and then use one port for the PM3 and the other port for a USB light. I think there are many options for usb lights, but here is one for example:<br /><br /><a href='http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/accessories/5a84/' target='_blank'>usb light</a>

[[old] jfisher]

<!--QuoteBegin-michaelb+Oct 14 2005, 08:40 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(michaelb @ Oct 14 2005, 08:40 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->If you have USB power from your computer near your PM3 (and hopefully you are hooked up for rowpro), a solution would be to get a USB extension cable and/or two port hub, and then use one port for the PM3 and the other port for a USB light.  I think there are many options for usb lights, but here is one for example:<br /><br /><a href='http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/accessories/5a84/' target='_blank'>usb light</a> <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Mike, that's really cool. I might just have to get one for the h*** of it. <br /><br /><br />Jeff

[[old] hennmart]

<!--QuoteBegin-jfisher+Oct 14 2005, 02:47 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(jfisher @ Oct 14 2005, 02:47 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin-michaelb+Oct 14 2005, 08:40 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(michaelb @ Oct 14 2005, 08:40 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->If you have USB power from your computer near your PM3 (and hopefully you are hooked up for rowpro), a solution would be to get a USB extension cable and/or two port hub, and then use one port for the PM3 and the other port for a USB light.  I think there are many options for usb lights, but here is one for example:<br /><br /><a href='http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/accessories/5a84/' target='_blank'>usb light</a> <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Mike, that's really cool. I might just have to get one for the h*** of it. <br /><br /><br />Jeff <br /> </td></tr></table><br />Hi Jeff,<br /><br />Maybe, you can hang a little lamp from the ceiling, or put in beside your erg (I did), which lights your monitor so you can read it (don't forget to plug in the powercord) <br /><br />Or you can put a mining lamp on your head <br /><br />Hennie

[[old] jfisher]

I've got a camping head lamp, that will work. <br /><br />Jeff

[[old] Big]

<!--QuoteBegin-michaelb+Oct 14 2005, 05:40 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(michaelb @ Oct 14 2005, 05:40 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->If you have USB power from your computer near your PM3 (and hopefully you are hooked up for rowpro), a solution would be to get a USB extension cable and/or two port hub, and then use one port for the PM3 and the other port for a USB light.  I think there are many options for usb lights... </td></tr></table><br />Unfortunately I can't get the PM3 to communicate with my Mac (see other topic) as I already have a USB light. <br /><br />The solution I was thinking of is a small generator hooked to the flywheel that would power a lamp, kind of like the old bicycle lights. With today's LED technology that would require a tiny amount of power. Anybody figure out how to convert the flywheel rotation to electricity?

[[old] brianric]

<!--QuoteBegin-Citroen+Oct 14 2005, 06:54 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Citroen @ Oct 14 2005, 06:54 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->That shouldn't matter. You should use the menu option on the PM3 to get a drag factor reading (rather than relying on the damper position). Also if it's your own machine, set it once (somewhere between 105 and 120) and leave it alone. The drag factor will only change if you don't clean the dust bunnies out of the machine. <br /> </td></tr></table><br />I disagree. I thought it was poor implementation on C2's part when going from Model C to D.

[[old] ebolton]

On the original topic, I have no troubles seeing my PM3. The area is lit from above with flourescent lights. When I used rowers with PM2s in a gym, I sometimes had troubles seeing the monitor because of shadows from the plastic frame. The lighting was incandescent from above (very high ceiling).<br /><br />Just adding a backlight sounds easy, but the LCD displays come as modules from a small number of big manufacturers, and they are often difficult to come by in small quantities (like you need when you are trying to design/develop a product). It takes a completely different type of LCD for lighting by reflected light, by a backlight, or by both. The LCD they would probably pick would almost certainly be different mechanically and electricly than the one they have, so it would be a complete hardware redesign (and probably big software ramifications, too).<br /><br />On the drag factor, I've got into the habit of recording the drag factor on my C (with PM3 retrofit) on each session. Lately, I usually row with the damper on 2, and have been finding the drag factor varies between 101 and 104, with hot humid days on the low end usually and nice cooler days on the high end. I don't think I can really tell the difference between 101 and 104 myself.<br /><br />Ed