PowerPod showing extremely high wattage numbers midway through rides.

[BBQcyclist]

Dear John,

I have 3 Powerpods.
One of them is showing extremely high wattage numbers midway through rides. As high as 2-3000 or more watts!
Have tried resetting back to factory condition and re-calibrating it several times with the out and back rides.
No, the handlebar, or the PP mount is not moving during rides.
Yes, sometimes it shows what seem to be valid wattages, then for no apparent reason, wattage goes up astronomically high, for 5-10-15 minutes at a time.
No, this does not happen only during the first 8 minutes of a ride, it happens even an hour or 2 or 3 into my rides.

As you can understand, this is frustrating. I'm attaching 2 ride files, clearly showing the issue.

Please help,

Kind regards

[Velocomp]

Your accelerometer is misbehaving.

I would do a hard reset of the unit, then a new cal ride.

If that doesn't straighten things out then you can send it in for service, but I'm not confident we will be able to fix it.

[BBQcyclist]

Hello,

"Your accelerometer is misbehaving.

I would do a hard reset of the unit, then a new cal ride.

If that doesn't straighten things out then you can send it in for service, but I'm not confident we will be able to fix it."


As explained in my message - I've already tried hard resetting several times, followed by the obligatory out-and-back calibration ride. The files sent were the latest ones - after doing all that.

So, what are my options, if I send my unit in and the accelerometer isn't fixable?

Regards

[Velocomp]

Please email technicalsupport@velocomp.com for next steps

[BBQcyclist]

Dear John,

I sent an email to the mail to: technicalsupport@velocomp.com address 1 week ago, but still no reply.

Plesse advise,
Thank you

[BBQcyclist]

Hello,

So, after contacting technical support and exchanging a few trouble-shooting emails back-forth, we have unfortunately ascertained that the Powerpod unit's accelerometer I was referring to in these posts, is broken and unfix-able because no more parts nor replacement units are available - or have been available for a while now. Too bad / so sad for me.

Today, I went for a quick ride outside (as it was unseasonably warm for Nov 16 here) - including about 450 meters of climbing/descending, using another bike - equipped with another Powerpod (version V5), which was calibrated twice (August and October). While riding, I noticed several times that the unit was showing very generous power numbers throughout the ride - by at least 1-200 watts or more. Even once while descending and I'd stopped pedaling, near the bottom of the descent, I turned the pedals only a few revolutions and the unit showed 300-400 watts!

I am now concerned that a similar defect is afflicting this newer unit - which was purchased directly from Velocomp in Florida, 15.5 months ago and has been barely used since, as I was using the other 2 Powerpod-equipped bikes I own.

I have attached today's ride file for your perusal and hopefully to help find out why the overly generous wattage numbers.

Regards

[Velocomp]

Things are OK. There is no problem with your accelerometer.

On downhills everything has to be in perfect balance in order to obtain around zero watts when soft pedaling.

In your case the wind calibration seems low (there is a near constant tail wind). This means that downhill gravity acceleration is not correctly offset by downhill wind forces. The result is high phantom watts.

You should do another cal ride when circumstances permit. Hopefully that will help things some. But the ultimate way to avoid phantom watts on downhills is to not pedal...

[BBQcyclist]

Thanks for the swift reply.

Therefore:
1) No more pedalling ever on downhills (even slightly) if reliable and valid power numbers are expected.

2) Will try a 3rd calibration ride if weather permits - otherwise will leave it for next season.

3) Any good tips or hacks to help assures a *good* calibration ride? I ask, bc there are somewhat varying instructions out there - including your online versions vs a YouTube version you also have online.

Regards,

[Velocomp]

If you're pedaling on a downhill because you are working hard to go even faster, then by all means pedal. Just be aware that, unless your unit is precisely calibrated, you may have inaccurate power readings. My experience, however, is that it is extremely difficult to pedal hard/fast enough to add much to downhill speed. Coasting is what most people do and in that event watts (0) will be accurate.

Your ride file shows a consistent tail wind; a sure indicator of a miscalibrated unit.

You can do a new cal ride and post the results here. Note that if your cal ride is good you should see average windspeed nearly the same as average bike speed.

[BBQcyclist]

"Your ride file shows a consistent tail wind; a sure indicator of a miscalibrated unit.

You can do a new cal ride and post the results here. Note that if your cal ride is good you should see average windspeed nearly the same as average bike speed."

Ok, thanks.

Any certain obvious tips on how to avoid such a "miscalibration" happening - when performing an out and back Powerpod calibration ride, please?

Regards,

[Velocomp]

"Your ride file shows a consistent tail wind; a sure indicator of a miscalibrated unit.

You can do a new cal ride and post the results here. Note that if your cal ride is good you should see average windspeed nearly the same as average bike speed."

Ok, thanks.

Any certain obvious tips on how to avoid such a "miscalibration" happening - when performing an out and back Powerpod calibration ride, please?

Regards,

1) Ride solo; no drafting
2) Ride on a quiet road where you don't have lots of cars wizzing by
3) Try to find a route where you don't have to stop (except to turn around)
4) Avoid doing a cal ride on days when wind is high, or gusty

If you follow these tips you should get a good result.

[BBQcyclist]

Thank you. Will re-calib it in the spring.
Happy New Year

[BBQcyclist]

Here we go again: It has started again (HIGH POWER READINGS MID-RIDE)



I had an older PP 2nd generation, which siht the bed late last fall - (Showing erratic, unreliable power data) and Velocomp ascertained that too bad, so sad, no can do any repairs on the unit, and also no buyer exchange/upgrade program available because all PPs and parts had been back-ordered for many months already - with no end in sight.

So - as a loyal customer who had bought 2 new extra PPs previously; I set up a new PP (version 5) from another bike onto my good bike - late last fall. This new PP V5 was UNFORTUNATELY also showing crazy high wattage numbers mid-ride! After posting my ride file here again, Velocomp suggested I do another out and back re-calibration ride, but by then it was too cold outside.
Velocomp had replied:
"Things are OK. There is no problem with your accelerometer.
On downhills everything has to be in perfect balance in order to obtain around zero watts when soft pedaling.
In your case the wind calibration seems low (there is a near constant tail wind). This means that downhill gravity acceleration is not correctly offset by downhill wind forces. The result is high phantom watts.
You should do another cal ride when circumstances permit. Hopefully that will help things some. But the ultimate way to avoid phantom watts on downhills is to not pedal..".

Therefore - Fast-forward to this spring. I finally re-performed the re-calib ride - as per your instructions - TO THE LETTER recently.

Things worked fine for a few rides, then yesterday, out of the blue, about 30 minutes or so into the ride, the PP V5 started showing CRAZY HIGH WATTS AGAIN.
Note: No bump, no crash, no turning of the handlebars within the stem, only 5-10 kph variable, light winds. Power remained artificially high during the whole ride. After the ride Garmin and Training Peaks congratulated me for an amazingly new, increased FTP and Threshold power LoL.

Wth?? Why, why, why? Needless to say - this device can get one on their nerves and, be pretty frustrating to use - without constant babysitting and time invested with tech support.

I have attached yesterday's (June 2nd) file, with the crazy, constantly high watt values, for your perusal.
I have also attached several earlier ride files (after the re-calib ride this spring) - when things seemed relatively fine (May 20 and 21).

Q/ Why, why why and What is happening?