I don't believe the PM has to search/find a head unit, it's really the other way around. A PM just broadcasts the data, any head unit within range can pick up the power readings.

I agree, but I wonder if it's in pairing mode at first? And maybe that uses a lot more battery? Just trying to figure out what is going on. I saw that Lionel Sanders' power meter was dead at the race start as well. What kind did he have?

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Zen and the Art of Triathlon. Strava Workout Log
Interviews with Chris McCormack, Helle Frederikson, Angela Naeth, and many more.
http://www.zentriathlon.com

It's interesting that transporting the wheel, when not on the bike, also drains the battery.

The Powertap uses an internal magnetic switch (reed switch) to turn itself on as a function of the wheel rotating. It may be that you (unluckily) positioned the wheel such that it's continuously activating that switch. Other than that there is not much that can cause the thing to malfunction in the way you're suggesting. As noted by rijndael, the powertap does the transmitting and the head unit does the searching. No "pairing" or anything like that at the start.

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Less is more.

I was having a lot of issues a year or so ago and wheelbuilder told me there was some article indicating that transporting the wheel somehow "toggled" it on, draining the battery. Didn't turn out to be my issue though.

I bet you are on to something. Way too many folks find their PT/PM dead on race day. A lot of folks replace the batteries on arrival at the venue. It's a pain, but so was the training to get there and then to not have watts?

Yep. That's going to be my new s.o.p. Get there, new battery.

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Zen and the Art of Triathlon. Strava Workout Log
Interviews with Chris McCormack, Helle Frederikson, Angela Naeth, and many more.
http://www.zentriathlon.com

Or just pull it out before transport and reinstall at your event.

I am curious which PT hub that you have?

When I first got my G3 the battery was draining fast. I was shocked to find out before starting to train inside I first turned on the Garmin Edge and it noticed the PT G3 hub before I even woke up the wheel. I experienced this happening one time out of many uses, but for those first months I was changing batteries every few weeks and had the PM die on a couple of training rides. So it must have been having trouble going to sleep.

After a firmware update I have not experienced that again. I get about 6 months out the battery now.

I never had that sort of problem with the older SL type hubs.

My new G3 hub died at a race last year. That was before the latest firmware update (my fault for not doing the update!). Since the update so far so good.

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24 Hour World TT Champs-American record holder
Fat Bike Worlds - Race Director
Insta: chris.s.apex

How do you do a firmware update? How can I tell what version it is?

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Zen and the Art of Triathlon. Strava Workout Log
Interviews with Chris McCormack, Helle Frederikson, Angela Naeth, and many more.
http://www.zentriathlon.com

I believe you'll have to go into poweragent and see what version your hub has by plugging the powercap to your computer.

You can find the latest version of firmware on the Powertap site.

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24 Hour World TT Champs-American record holder
Fat Bike Worlds - Race Director
Insta: chris.s.apex

That's it

PowerAgent and then follow the directions. I believe I had to go to the store to get a new connection cord. I forget if is a micro or what. Tex, you may want to do a quick web search just to see if you have one or not.

The screen shots in the PA application will look something like

Goddamn... I love slowtwitch.

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----------------------------------------------------------
Zen and the Art of Triathlon. Strava Workout Log
Interviews with Chris McCormack, Helle Frederikson, Angela Naeth, and many more.
http://www.zentriathlon.com