CPU Troubleshooting

Ergomo CPU

1. Battery Life

The original battery life on an Ergomo CPU is 40 hours of use. If you are getting less than 4 hours it's time to send in your CPU for a battery update. We use AAA 1000 mah (milliamp hours) NiMH batteries. The originals were AAA 800 mah NiMH. Because all chargers are rated for a particular load and capacity (Ergomo chargers = 800mah, 1.2 v) one won't get any more run time out of higher capacity batteries, but they will last a bit longer for a particular charge and lifetime.

  • Charge your batteries for 6 hours after your first two rides.
  • NIMH batteries are susceptible to running low on charge until they have had 3-4 charge/recharge cycles.
    We now "condition" the batteries so that you have a full charge and full capacity as soon as you get it. And batteries can be unreliable.
  • Keep using your CPU and recharging fully after each ride. Leave on the charger overnight as it does have a trickle charge that slowly "tops-off" the battery.
  • NiMH don't form a usage "memory" as much as other batteries, but it is still advisable to vary how low you run your batteries. Running them down and letting them sit discharged completely for more than a week will substantially cut battery life.

2. CPU keeps crashing or freezing when it is connected to the bike. The only way to get it working again is to reset it.

NIMH batteries are susceptible to not holding a full charge until they have had 3-4 charge/recharge cycles. We now "condition" the batteries so that you have a full charge and full capacity as soon as you get your CPU back. Batteries are unreliable in regards to how they take a charge, so if you batteries don't take a full charge at first (and last 12+ hours) keep using and fully charging after each use.

* Battery Charger Tip: Always plug into the wall before plugging into the CPU. When one plugs into the wall to charge the CPU, it takes about 1 minute for the charger to reset itself. If your CPU isn't charging, you should try unplugging the charger from the CPU and Wall, then plugging the charger back into the wall and then the CPU. Hit the rest button at the back of the CPU and the charging sequence should begin correctly.

* Battery Charger Tip 2: Until you get 12-18 hours run time, We recommend charging them after an hour or two of riding. Leave them on the charger as long as possible. You can run them down all the way also, but the key is getting them back on the charger for an extended period of time even after the charger indicator light is green.

Running the CPU and letting the CPU's go completely blank without an immediate connection to a charger will substantially reduce battery run time and battery life.

3. CPU charges, but when I take it off the charger the battery indicator drops to zero and the screen goes blank. Sometimes a reset will get it to work, other times it won't.

Your CPU actually isn't charging. The battery charge indicator is being fooled by the input from the AC charger. Your batteries are old and won't hold a charge. They occasionally might take a bit of a charge, but it's time to have the batteries replaced.

1 out of 15 times, this is a battery as well as a CPU issue. There is a charging circuit inside the CPU, and occasionally, a component in it goes at the same time your batteries go. We are working on identifying the offending components, and close to a remedy.

4. Battery Charger and New Batteries

We recommend that when you have your batteries replaced, you replace your Ergomo CPU charger as well. Chargers have a finite lifetime and number of recharge cycles. If you have the older "box-style" charger that comes with different AC adaptors, we highly recommend you replace those regardless of the condition of your batteries.

The newer slim charger is microprocessor controlled and has indicator lights that identify the charger as being ready to charge (flashing red), charging (steady red) and finished charging (green).

If you choose to upgrade your charger and are sending your Ergomo product in for repairs, please make a note on the repair request form and we'll give you a $5.00 discount (price of $63.85) on the new charger and return ship it with your repaired Ergomo CPU or Ergomo Bottom Bracket Sensor.

5. I got my CPU reconditioned and the CPU is not working.

NiMH batteries need a conditioning/usage period to become fully viable, and if you didn't use your CPU for a while when they are new, they likely need to be reconditioned or replaced. To recondition, plug it the charger, wait for the lights to stop blinking, then plug in the CPU for 12 hours , then hit the reset button, and see if you get power. If the CPU "lights" then take it off the charger for an hour, and then repeat the process. After 3-4 times, your CPU is ready to use. Keep it on the charger after use for about 2-3 weeks if you are not regularly using it. If it does not work after this process. send it back to us and we will replace the batteries. The cost for this is $38.00 + return shipping.

6. I'm getting inconsistent speed readings, and my odometer isn't recording mileage correctly or at all.

Some of the older issues of the Ergomo firmware were a bit buggy, and this is a known bug. First, check the tire circumference in your CPU and see if it is correct. Then download the latest version of the Ergomo firmware here, and flash into your CPU. Afterwards, make sure you do an offset sensor, and check your tire circumference in the CPU.

7. I'm getting really low wattage readings and the average does not seem correct.

On some occasions, for reasons which we can't divulge (we haven't a clue), it takes a few offset sensors sets to get the CPU and BB sensor to sync-up. Try 3-4 offset sensor procedures, clear the last few rides and try again.

8. I have a message on my CPU and it won't reset or work on the bike.

USERPROGRAMM DOWNLOAD VOM PC

  • Follow these steps:
    1. Charge Ergomo CPU for 5-6 hours by plugging in and hitting reset button on back.
    2. If you have not downloaded from our website the latest ergomo firmware, do that now (the latest is PN-080422). Download (zipped file) (New Ergomo Firmware Upgrade coming in mid 2010)
    3. Open the Ergoracer 3.0 software on your PC. Download (zipped file)
    4. Once fully charged, connect Ergomo CPU to computer with cable.
    5. Click on the Tools icon (bottom left menu bar) to find the "Update Ergomo" button.
    6. Click the "UPDATE ERGOMO" button. It will look for your ergomo cpu and connect with it.
    7. Click the "Start Update" button
    8. Chose the correct file (20080422.MOT) to update by double clicking on it.
    9. Wait for the update to finish 100% then wait a few more seconds before disconnecting your Ergomo.
    10. Input the correct weight, date and time on your Ergomo and it will take you to the first screen.

9. Changing your Ergomo CPU Display

  1. Connect your Ergomo CPU to your PC
  2. Go into ErgoRacer 3.0.
  3. The top right icon says "User Display"
  4. Click on this and the window will give you options for 1-8 fields to be displayed.
  5. Choose the number you want.
  6. Click on the top right Ergomo button. This toggles through the fields.
  7. When you are at the field you want to change, click on the bottom button to choose available options.
    (Don't be concerned if it shows metric vs. US)
  8. When done, Click on the Icon at the top that indicates PC->(Display)

10. Adjusting the Ergomo CPU Backlight

  1. From the main screen, hold the bottom button down to get into the settings menu
  2. Use the bottom button scroll and the top button to select
  3. Choose "SET 2" by selecting it with the top button
  4. Choose "DISPLAY"
  5. Choose "BACKLIGHT"
  6. Use the bottom button to scroll to the desired duration and the top button to select
  7. Hold the bottom button until you see "X" as an option and select it using the top button
  8. Repeat the process until you are back at the main screen

11. Heart Rate Display Issues

  1. Make sure the CPU has the latest firmware (current firmware version PN-080422)
  2. Hold the bottom button down until the settings menu is displayed
  3. Click "Sets 2"
  4. Click "Display"
  5. Click "Display Refresh"
  6. Change HR Refresh to "Low"

* Note: It is important to use a compatible Heart Rate strap. Some heart rate straps don't transmit far enough to get recognized by the Ergomo CPU. or, they use ANT+ or another mode to transmit data. We recommend the Suunto Comfort Heart Rate Belt available in our product catalog as it covers the two most widely used transmission modes, Analog (compatible with most Polar and Gym equipment) and Ant+.