Something really cool about the new control shafts

[Wilmer]

I recently had to replace my control shaft due to a fault, and I've noticed one interesting difference. Rather than a muted orange like my old display, the power assist mode display is now a bright yellowish-orange, with a bit of green and orange around the edge of the display. The balance mode display is also brighter. This low-vision rider thanks Segway for this unexpected bonus.

By the way, Segway's customer service is top-notch. I got on the phone with a CSR, and 15 minutes later, I had a new control shaft headed my way, free of charge, no questions asked. Now I have yet another reason to recommend Segway to friends. :D

Oh yeah, the one thing I don't like about my new control shaft is the ugly sky blue mode button. Do you think Segway would care if I popped the red mode button off my old control shaft before sending it back to them?

[Sal]

Although I still have the red mode button, I like the sky blue one more. Don't know why. I'd like the newer control shafts for the connectors... well, I'd have to get a new base too... Seems like a whole new Seg is in order! LOL

-Sal

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[Zorba9]

Sal-I'm with you! I own both red & blue "mode" buttons on different machines, I like the blue 100% more. Blue makes the Segway much "sleeker" looking.

My Seg Tour "1" is almost over (Birmingham Al. today)and I have many stories and pics to post next week about SC members I've met and the interesting things they are doing. (Now I can tell you all about how Mr.Leisure got lost in the Mojave Desert for 24hrs- he was very lucky- I heard that a camera crew got some video of a guy on a Segway in the desert while we were all out looking for him)-:)

KOG

Zorba9.....

[SegwayUtah]

Wilmer,

Did the new control shaft work with the old connectors in your control shaft (powre) base?

Chris

[Sal]

From what I can see from the pics, I don't think the newer shafts will work with older power bases, unless the wiring plugs have been upgraded to the newer plugs.

The older ones were cylindrical plastic knobbs, with holes for the respective separate connectore. The newer ones have individual plastic housings for the separate connectors.

Nope, gonna have to get a new base! LOL

-Sal

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[kagudesu]

I think the blue button is cooler, too. No more, "OMG! PUSH THE RED PANIC BUTTON!!!!"

Cheers,

Andrew Crow

You own a Segway, now buy a Macintosh.

[dhugger]

I think the button should be dark blue. I think that would make it look more sleek.

As for the 'new' yellow color on the display, it really isn't new like you'd think. I asked one of Segway's engineers about the different shades of yellow/orange (I had noticed a random difference on a few machines). It turns out, as one might expect, the color depends on the intensity of the LEDs in the display. It's basically 'luck' of the draw. If the green LEDs are a bit stronger, the display will look more yellow. If the reds are stronger, it'll look more orange. (My display is more yellow than orange.)

http://segwaychat.com/photos/dhugger/dhugger2.gif

[Brooster]

In power assist mode, mine always looks a lot more more green than orange.

Brooster

[Wilmer]

quote:Originally posted by SegwayUtah

Wilmer,

Did the new control shaft work with the old connectors in your control shaft (powre) base?

Chris


Sure did. It fixed the problem I was having, and now it works like new. I think they upgraded the connectors before they changed the mode button's color. The connectors on both my old and new controls shafts have version 2.0 connectors.

[Sal]

It seems as though the battery level indicators have a mind of their own, and each one is slightly different as far as displaying battery available power.

I'm going to start another thread asking a question along the same lines... (battery level and SW version)

-Sal


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[ElectraGlide]

quote:Originally posted by X-man

and I had to juice up for a half hour before meeting them for dinner.


BOB, You really need to do something about this drinking problem of yours !!

Steve

[dhugger]

I don't think it's the battery indicators, I think it's the batteries. Batteries don't work like gasoline. Their depletion is not linear, and as they batteries age, from what I've experienced, the depletion gets less and less linear. When my batteries are at "100%" they are there for a while, then the first bar flahes. It stays for a while, but goes away faster than the first. I'd say that the 2nd flashing bar goes the quickest on my machine. I'm only at "70%" power for a short while. From what I understand, all this is normal.

http://segwaychat.com/photos/dhugger/dhugger2.gif

[SegwayUtah]

Just my 2 cents . . .

I don't think that the battery age or condition has anything to do with the accuracy of the gauge. I find that the gauge is most accurate when the HT has been sitting for days (like during shipping). That's my very unscientific first thought.

a) My new i-series (2 months old) seemed to be very, very accurate about the battery gauage when new
b) It now spends a lot of time on the top bar before going down any bars at all -- I probably get 30-40% of my power in that top bar.

It's interesting that riding gently seems to make the top power bar go away even more slowly. And of course warmer weather does make the batteries last long.

Another interesting thing is that the battery gauge seems to get more innacurate after a conditioning process. I may be wrong on this, but that's just the gut feeling.

I rode a 7-mile commute recently twice in one week. The first time it was just a bit below freezing, and I was down to the last bar when I arrived (or red flashing). Then on the next trip, it was a few degrees warmer (just above freezing) and I got there with three bars remaining. I probably had 20% or so of my power left, with 3 bars remaining.

I think it's just something we need to learn to live with until the day when there's a reliable way to measure the "fuel supply" remaining :) Plus, there's the issue that the Segway could need some insane amount of power at any moment's notice, and it always wants to be conservative so it has that power.

Chris

[SegwayUtah]

You know, it would probably be helpful to Segway LLC if a few of us did a "trip log" for a typical trip, complete with mile markers. For instance (an example, not real data, but probably typical for a 200 lb person at 32 F weather with some up and down hills):

Segway HT i167
Battery age: 90 full cycles
Temperature: 32 F
Riding style:
* consistent style throughout trip
* 12.5 mph speed on open sidewalks
* gently starts and stops

Trip log:
Bar 5: 2.25 miles (30%)
Bar 4: 2 miles (27%) = 70%
Bar 3: 1.5 miles (20%) = 43%
Bar 2: 1 mile (13%) = 23%
Bar 1: .75 mile (10%) = 10%
Bar 0: 0 miles (0%) = 0%

Chris