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Powertap Hub battery replacement

Tony StockerTony Stocker
in General Training Discussions

SO I seem to remember a recommendation last year to replace the battery in the yellow head unit at the start of the season, and I could swear there was also a recommendation for replacing the hub batteries at some kind of similar annual/biennial/quadrennial timeframe.  However I can't seem to find the reference here now.

Question 1: how often should I be replacing the hub batteries, just to ensure I don't have to worry about them dying on me at the most inappropriate time?

Question 2: is the battery replacement difficult or are there any 'gotchas' with it?  I remember sweating bullets last July when I had to do the hub updater thing to make my hub play nicely with ANT, so I'm less than enthused with cracking open the hub without knowing what to expect.

Comments

  • dan_forbesdan_forbes

     Tony, I just did mine a couple weeks ago.  If you are questioning it now, just replace them, it is pretty easy.  Use the plastic funky looking wrench that came with the hub, turn it counter clockwise, and take it off.  Pull out the little thing that looks like a big micro chip, it should have 2 watch battery size batteries that are 1.5 volt SILVER OXIDE batteries.  357/303 in Rayovac brand.  

  • Tom GlynnTom Glynn
    Question 1: I never change batteries unless my device is telling me I have a low battery. I get close to a year out of my batteries, which is much higher that the official Saris line. For piece of mind, nothing wrong with changing batteries just before a big race. Batteries are really cheap.

    Question 2: I just helped someone change hub batteries yesterday. Make sure you have the device required to turn the hub cover (it comes with the power meter). This one was a little tight and took some effort to get it off, but it wasn't that hard. Just had to push down and around at the same time to keep the device from slipping. I put the wheel in my lap to hold it in place. Once off, battery change is painless.

    tom
  • Tony StockerTony Stocker

    Thanks guys!  Really appreciate the feedback!

  • Chris GChris G

     You will know that the hub batteries are low when the transmission icon is flashing.  It will flash for a while before they die.  Like Tom I never touch the hub in any way unless I have to.  If it is working let it continue to do so.  Only bad things happen when you mess with things that are working.  The one in the head unit I have no superstitions about but IIRC it will say low batt when you need to change the battery.

  • Nemo BrauchNemo Brauch
    I usually replace it before a big race, just as a precaution. Otherwise, only when something is acting funky or the transmission icon is flashing.
  • Tony StockerTony Stocker

    Thanks again everyone!  I'll run everything through its paces this weekend and see if I see any off season cobwebs in place.  I'm usually an "if it ain't broke don't fix it" person too, so I don't really want to crack open that hub again if I don't have to!

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