+sling sand! Posted February 27, 2003 Share Posted February 27, 2003 I recently purchased the handlebar mount for my e-trex and installed it on my quad. Every time I try to use it the gps shuts off after riding 30 or 40 feet. It seems to be the vibration. But the package claims it is for atvs. Has anyone had this problem????????????? I returned the gps and got a new one, But this one is the same way. Quote Link to comment
+BigNick Posted February 28, 2003 Share Posted February 28, 2003 This is usually a problem with the batteries not making contact correctly. Try stretching the springs to hold the batteries tighter or you can also wrap the batteries in electrical tape (around them to make them fatter) which will hopefully hold them in place. This problem has been discussed in the past, you can try doing a search to see other answers. Cheers Nick. Quote Link to comment
+SpongeRob Posted February 28, 2003 Share Posted February 28, 2003 If you do find that to be the case an alternative might be to purchase the cigarette adapter and then wire the adapter to the ATV battery. It should be 12 volt. You could do this anyhow as it would save battery life. -- SpongeRob rwmech@keenpeople.com www.keenpeople.com WPWU826 Cache'n Retrievers Quote Link to comment
+Fuzidave Posted February 28, 2003 Share Posted February 28, 2003 when i got my Legend in the summer and biked around the a lake (95 degrees), over every rough bridge it seemed to shut off. and i got responses like 'it's the batteries' and such. but later in the year (50s to 80s), have done the same route w/o any problems. so i'm thinking heat (or temperature in general) may factor in too. Quote Link to comment
+sling sand! Posted March 2, 2003 Author Share Posted March 2, 2003 thanks for the info, that will give me a few things to try before my next trip Quote Link to comment
+Prime Suspect Posted March 2, 2003 Share Posted March 2, 2003 quote:Originally posted by sling sand!:I recently purchased the handlebar mount for my e-trex and installed it on my quad. Every time I try to use it the gps shuts off after riding 30 or 40 feet. It seems to be the vibration. But the package claims it is for atvs. Has anyone had this problem????????????? I returned the gps and got a new one, But this one is the same way. Do you have it mounted flat, or upright? I've used my eTrex on both my mountain and road bike (mounted flat), and have never had that problem. Quote Link to comment
+freecoder Posted March 3, 2003 Share Posted March 3, 2003 I also had the same problem. I believe it is due to the fact that the replacement cover that is used for the handlebar mount produces a slightly larger clearance inside the battery compartment. The problem was much worse with Maxell NiMH batteries than the other two brands that I have (NoMem and Panasonic). I solved the problem on my unit by doing two things. First, I measured the different NiMH batteries that I had and I always use the largest of the three. There was a surprising amount of difference in the length and circumference of the batteries. Second, I placed a piece of tape on the inside of the handlebar mount's cover. I didn't put tape in the unit or on the batteries because that made the stock cover too difficult to get on. That's the long of it. Freecoder Quote Link to comment
+sling sand! Posted March 4, 2003 Author Share Posted March 4, 2003 freecoder, I have the unit mounted flat. Quote Link to comment
psychedelicdawg Posted March 5, 2003 Share Posted March 5, 2003 I was having the same problem with my Etrex Legend. Although I never mounted it on my handlebars, the vibration or shock would make it shut off. Even if I had it around my neck and jumped a creek or something. I upgraded the firmware to version 3.1 and havent had a problem since. Quote Link to comment
+SpongeRob Posted March 5, 2003 Share Posted March 5, 2003 Ok,I just gotta ask this. If vibration is the issue, how could a software upgrade in the firmware fix it? bTurnOffWhenVibrated=False ??? -- SpongeRob rwmech@keenpeople.com www.keenpeople.com WPWU826 Cache'n Retrievers Quote Link to comment
+freecoder Posted March 5, 2003 Share Posted March 5, 2003 sling sand!, Having the unit mounted flat with the display up makes the problem as bad as it can be. I think the worst shocks would come at the bottom of a fall such as hitting a rock or a limb with an ATV. If the cover is in the direction of the fall, the batteries would tend to be forced in that direction which can jar them loose just a bit (enough to turn the unit off). Try two pieces of electrical tape, one on each half of the cover. Make them just large enough so that cover is very snug. Freecoder Quote Link to comment
+sling sand! Posted March 5, 2003 Author Share Posted March 5, 2003 I will try the tape and maby get a power cord so I don't have to bother with the batteries. I won't be able to try it for a couple of weeks(next desert trip). Quote Link to comment
psychedelicdawg Posted March 5, 2003 Share Posted March 5, 2003 see this post. http://opentopic.Groundspeak.com/0/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=1750973553&f=5740990093&m=4200980635&r=8360937635#8360937635 Quote Link to comment
+sling sand! Posted March 5, 2003 Author Share Posted March 5, 2003 thanks dawg. wish I could try it this weekend but I will have to wait a couple of weeks Quote Link to comment
GeoTripper Posted June 8, 2003 Share Posted June 8, 2003 I've been trying to make a map of a great mountain bike park. I got the handlebar mount and put the eTrex Summit on it. 3 days ago I did a 25 mile ride, and there was some rough stuff. It NEVER shut off. Yesterday I did about 12 miles and had some problems. It shut off several times, and appeared to be when I hit bumps. Over the course of the day it got worse and worse. In fact by the last trail it was shutting off every 30 feet or so (this wasn't the most bumpy trail, but it wasn't paved). Temperature was about the same both days. I replaced the batteries with fresh ones with no noticeable change. I checked to see if they might be bouncing around but it's very tight in there. I also met another biker on the trail with an eTrex Venture who said that he had the same problem and he didn't think it was a contact issue either. His hunch was that the unit was shutting itself down due to the vibration. I'll try the tape thing, but I'm wondering... PS What's the post with the link 2 above? Doesn't work anymore and I'm sure that it references something that will cure all my ills. Quote Link to comment
GeoTripper Posted June 8, 2003 Share Posted June 8, 2003 Just took my Summit, banged the heck out of it against my padded chair. This should have been much more jarring than my bike ride. It never turned off. Could it be something besides the battery contacts? Everytime I checked it yesterday and then again today it seems that the contacts are quite secure. Quote Link to comment
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