My non-working Polar Power Meter

Dimboy · Feb 17, 2007

Hi all,

I have a new Polar Power Meter, I have the Speed working fine, and the red light flashes to show the chain stay sensor works, however, there is no orange light for chain speed sensor, so I assume that is what is letting me down?

I get no power readings and also get no cadence readings, despite a green light flashing?

I would be grateful on any help people can provide, oh and just to let you know, before the Powertap and SRM snobs come, I have good reason to use the Polar.

Cheers in advance,
Adam

Tom Anhalt · Feb 17, 2007

Dimboy said:
Hi all,

I have a new Polar Power Meter, I have the Speed working fine, and the red light flashes to show the chain stay sensor works, however, there is no orange light for chain speed sensor, so I assume that is what is letting me down?

I get no power readings and also get no cadence readings, despite a green light flashing?

I would be grateful on any help people can provide, oh and just to let you know, before the Powertap and SRM snobs come, I have good reason to use the Polar.

Cheers in advance,
Adam

When you turn the pedal backwards, do you see a periodic flash with another flash corresponding to when the crank sensor passes the module? If you see the intermediate flashes, then the chain speed sensor is working...if you don't, it's not.

If the module isn't getting a signal from the chain speed sensor, then there's most likely a problem with the wiring between it and the module...the same thing happened to me last week when the wire on one of my modules managed to get severed, just after I'd recieved it back from being serviced for the exact same thing....aarghh! I've really got to do a better job of "dressing" that wire.

If the wire is fine and it's brand new, return it and get one that works.

Just my 2 pesos,
Tom

Dimboy · Feb 17, 2007

Tom Anhalt said:
When you turn the pedal backwards, do you see a periodic flash with another flash corresponding to when the crank sensor passes the module? If you see the intermediate flashes, then the chain speed sensor is working...if you don't, it's not.

If the module isn't getting a signal from the chain speed sensor, then there's most likely a problem with the wiring between it and the module...the same thing happened to me last week when the wire on one of my modules managed to get severed, just after I'd recieved it back from being serviced for the exact same thing....aarghh! I've really got to do a better job of "dressing" that wire.

If the wire is fine and it's brand new, return it and get one that works.

Just my 2 pesos,
Tom

I was under the impression the chain speed sensor was an orange light? I seem to get a light when the wheel magnet passes speed sensor and cadence goes around. However, bizarrely although it picks it up with the lights I get no cadence on my S720i!

If I get speed, does that mean everything is transmitting OK? Or can speed work and the other ones be faulty?

Tom Anhalt · Feb 17, 2007

Dimboy said:
I was under the impression the chain speed sensor was an orange light? I seem to get a light when the wheel magnet passes speed sensor and cadence goes around. However, bizarrely although it picks it up with the lights I get no cadence on my S720i!

If I get speed, does that mean everything is transmitting OK? Or can speed work and the other ones be faulty?

Speed can work and the others not...and vice versa.

Basically, if either the cadence signal or the chain speed signal are missing, you won't get power or cadence.

It says "orange" for the chain speed light, but it looks more red to my eye.

Like I said, the easiest way to see if the chain speed is working is to rotate the crank backwards. That way the wheel won't be turning and it'll be easier to see what's going on. You should see a definite "pulse" as the crankarm passes the module, but there should also be other "pulses" as the you keep turning it that AREN'T corresponding to the crank passing the module, make sense?

Hope that helps,
Tom

Dimboy · Feb 17, 2007

Tom Anhalt said:
Speed can work and the others not...and vice versa.

Basically, if either the cadence signal or the chain speed signal are missing, you won't get power or cadence.

It says "orange" for the chain speed light, but it looks more red to my eye.

Like I said, the easiest way to see if the chain speed is working is to rotate the crank backwards. That way the wheel won't be turning and it'll be easier to see what's going on. You should see a definite "pulse" as the crankarm passes the module, but there should also be other "pulses" as the you keep turning it that AREN'T corresponding to the crank passing the module, make sense?

Hope that helps,
Tom

Thanks Tom, I will investigate and have a play.

Is there much to go wrong with the chain speed pickup, does it either 'work' or 'not work' - Or is there a chance to move it into better positions?

Many thanks, you've been a great help.

JTE83 · Feb 17, 2007

Did you get this used off of ebay?

Me - broke my speed sensor - $25 repair from Polar.

If you bought it new then you got a warranty.

garyj · Feb 17, 2007

Dimboy said:
Hi all,

I have a new Polar Power Meter, I have the Speed working fine, and the red light flashes to show the chain stay sensor works, however, there is no orange light for chain speed sensor, so I assume that is what is letting me down?

I get no power readings and also get no cadence readings, despite a green light flashing?

I would be grateful on any help people can provide, oh and just to let you know, before the Powertap and SRM snobs come, I have good reason to use the Polar.

Cheers in advance,
Adam

If you got it off eBay and it's in a silver colored box, it's an old unit and the battery in the speed sensor is dead. In the old unit the battery must be replaced at the factory. The new sensor battery (in the red/black box) can be replaced by the user. A friend of mine just went through this - that's how I know.

JTE83 · Feb 17, 2007

When I broke my old 2003 unit's speed sensor I saw no battery. Got a pic of how the old ones look?

garyj · Feb 17, 2007

JTE83 said:
When I broke my old 2003 unit's speed sensor I saw no battery. Got a pic of how the old ones look?

Sorry, I don't. My friend said the old unit has the battery installed in a solder in shield. The new one has a watch type battery that can be replaced. I've not looked closely at mine, but it came in the red/black box, so my friend assures me I can replace the battery myself. I'll know more when mine dies ;-)

Tom Anhalt · Feb 17, 2007

Dimboy said:
Thanks Tom, I will investigate and have a play.

Is there much to go wrong with the chain speed pickup, does it either 'work' or 'not work' - Or is there a chance to move it into better positions?

Many thanks, you've been a great help.

Nope, not much to go wrong with it...it's just an inductive coil with 2 wires going to it. If you have it mounted to the derailleur, it'll be close enough to pick up the pins passing no matter how you orient it about the pulley wheel.

Tom Anhalt · Feb 17, 2007

JTE83 said:
When I broke my old 2003 unit's speed sensor I saw no battery. Got a pic of how the old ones look?

Umm...guys, we're talking about the speed sensor that's part of the power module. There's no battery in it, just a reed switch.

I think you're referring to the wireless speed sensor.

Dimboy · Feb 18, 2007

Tom Anhalt said:
Umm...guys, we're talking about the speed sensor that's part of the power module. There's no battery in it, just a reed switch.

I think you're referring to the wireless speed sensor.

Luckily they are only 15 miles up the road, so I will ride over and get them to have a look at it. It's a new unit, sponsored by them.

jmocallaghan · Feb 18, 2007

Dimboy said:
Thanks Tom, I will investigate and have a play.

Is there much to go wrong with the chain speed pickup, does it either 'work' or 'not work' - Or is there a chance to move it into better positions?

Many thanks, you've been a great help.

If you do not get the red to green flicker indicating both speed and cadence necessary for the power portion you can... if you're ok with it... open the power sensor up. Inside the power sensor, you will find that the wires actually plug into the circuit board there. I've mistakingly pulled a cable or two free over the years due to mounting them with too much tension or catching them on something. It's worth a shot and pretty easy.

Dimboy · Feb 20, 2007

Sorted now, just a hardware problem which was promptly fixed for me while I waited.

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