fitting PM3 to model C on original PM2 bracket

[stephengrenfell]

Hi All.

I have a Model C, which I use occassionaly, however the PM2+ has now finally given up.

I have an option of a cheap (compared to a new PM5 upgrade kit cost) PM3 but without any arm / bracket just the monitor.

So my question is can I easily fit the PM3 as is in the place of the PM2+ to the Model C ?. Or do it really need a new arm/ bracket too ?.

I don’t need any of the extra features the PM5 offers. Indeed the PM2 was fine for my basic use.

Thanks

[Carl Watts]

The first gen PM3 is pretty much toast now, the second gen PM3 is a good monitor, you can tell from the firmware version which is which.

Some people jam the PM3 on the PM2 arm but it needs a tiny bit taken off it really, I used a drop saw with a fine blade. About 1.6mm needs to come off from memory.

Shame about the PM2+, great monitor, if its never had a battery leak I would be able to repair it and it would go another 10 years.

[gvcormac]

What's wrong with OG PM3? I had one on my 2003 Model D until last summer, when I replaced it so it would work and play with my other ergs so I could do Ergathlons. It worked fine. I have another on a 2013 Model D that works fine. Not sure what rev. it is.

Main complaints are: no bluetooth; no ANT (but outboard gymlink receiver); a bit slow to boot up.

And I love the fact that its memory/logcard supports multiple users. I wish the PM5 did that. In the end PM5 forces you to use an app or a USB drive to keep things straight, which is not an improvement.

[Carl Watts]

First gen PM3 had a different micro, its just old now and it was not as reliable as the second gen. A memory backup cap leaked in it causing tach problems and in general it had issues. Remembering that most came out in like 2003-2006 its now old for a bit of consumer electronics.

The second gen PM3 onwards is a much better monitor all round. Just run top quality Alkaline only batteries in it and it will go and go. I have only seen a handful that have failed over the years.

You do not really want to buy a first gen PM3 now, its had its day. I'm still fully refurbishing corrosion free ones and clear coating the whole board, but more and more of them are getting scrapped now. Just had two turn up on the courier today, both are stuffed.