I've enjoyed reading your discussions for the last several months. I have a PT SL that has worked almost flawlessly for the ~11 months that I've owned it. The one problem I experience is data dropout during rain. I know the problem is not at the hub but at the contact points between the CPU and the cradle. I can actually remove the CPU, blow the water off of it and the cradle, and restore the connection. However, if it's raining, it only takes another minute before the connection is lost again.
I called Saris and asked them about putting some sort of dielectric grease on the contacts to "waterproof" them. (I got this idea via a search of the Topica forum). Saris told me that they would not advise putting anything on the contacts. So, will I damage the contacts or my ability to download data by using this grease? Anyone have another novel solution?
It's decidedly low-tech, but a piece of plastic wrap over the computer head/mount and a rubber band around the base usually keeps out the water for me.
It's decidedly low-tech, but a piece of plastic wrap over the computer head/mount and a rubber band around the base usually keeps out the water for me.
Good idea. It doesn't rain much here, so I have the luxury of choosing not to ride in the rain. Therefore, I haven't experienced your problem. But, in addition to the plastic wrap idea, you might want to try some non-hardening modeling clay such as one of the products here buyamaco.comModelling Clays.htmlOpen ↗. I think if you can seal off the front edges between the computer and the handlebar mount, it might do the trick. Let us know what works so that if I find myself needing to ride in the rain I'll know what to do.
Good idea. It doesn't rain much here, so I have the luxury of choosing not to ride in the rain. Therefore, I haven't experienced your problem. But, in addition to the plastic wrap idea, you might want to try some non-hardening modeling clay such as one of the products here buyamaco.comModelling Clays.htmlOpen ↗. I think if you can seal off the front edges between the computer and the handlebar mount, it might do the trick. Let us know what works so that if I find myself needing to ride in the rain I'll know what to do.
Nah - I just slop a bit of petroleum jelly over the contacts and she's fine in the rain. I used to have that intermittent drop out due to the wet CPU contacts. A couple of months back I rode a numbers of days in some absolute downpours and there was no problems at all once I'd smeared some Vaseline on the contacts. It doesn't need much. Oh - and mine's an SL hub and I've never had wet weather problems with it either....
I too experienced that in a heavy rain. I too will bag the computer the next time its looking like a heavy rain ride and/or try a bit of vaseline or maybe dielectric grease??
Nah - I just slop a bit of petroleum jelly over the contacts and she's fine in the rain.
Easy on the petroleum jelly there pardn'r. Though it may do a fantastic job of waterproofing the computer, it may also cause the casing and mount to crumble when you try to remove the computer from the mounting unit. Not knowing the exact makeup of the mounting unit and the computer casing, my guess is that they are made of a petro chem plastic and the petroleum jelly can cause them to break down and eventually self-destruct in very little time. The dielectric silicone grease provides the waterproofing without the same solvent properties as the petroleum jelly. Good luck!
Easy on the petroleum jelly there pardn'r. Though it may do a fantastic job of waterproofing the computer, it may also cause the casing and mount to crumble when you try to remove the computer from the mounting unit. Not knowing the exact makeup of the mounting unit and the computer casing, my guess is that they are made of a petro chem plastic and the petroleum jelly can cause them to break down and eventually self-destruct in very little time.
Hardly. We're talking about a smear on the contacts, which have no load bearing when mounting or removing. I suppose the plastic container it comes in will self destruct as well? The CPU is at more danger from sweat.
Hardly. We're talking about a smear on the contacts, which have no load bearing when mounting or removing. I suppose the plastic container it comes in will self destruct as well? The CPU is at more danger from sweat.
But, if the silicone grease poses less risk to the plastic case (e.g., softens or deforms) and provides the same waterproofing, why not use it? I checked and it is available in small tubes for ~$10 silchem.comsilicone compounds.htmOpen ↗.
But, if the silicone grease poses less risk to the plastic case (e.g., softens or deforms) and provides the same waterproofing, why not use it? I checked and it is available in small tubes for ~$10 silchem.comsilicone compounds.htm.Open ↗
