Wireless TCD Feedback

[Pete 6016]

I just bought my Turbo Vado 4 SL about a week ago. As it didn’t come with a TCD I ordered one online and installed it yesterday. Being wireless I discovered that it will only display information with the power on. So when I would ride with the power off, which would be often considering it’s a 33 lb bike, I’d have no information on speed, cadence, power, etc. My buddy rides on OFF a fair amount of the time and it really helps reduce battery usage and extend the range you can ride. I should mention that we mostly ride paved trails. And for that you really don’t need 3 power modes. So I changed Eco to 0/10 power assist. It wouldn’t go to 0/0. I wanted to see if that would become, in essence, an off mode while still being ON and enabling the TCD. So this morning I went for a 10 mile test run under my new eco setting. The battery was at 75% when I left. Ten miles later it dropped to 72%. Of course the headlight was also on which would account for some of the 3% usage. On the SL the lights are always on when the power is on. There’s no on/off switch. So all in all I think it worked pretty good. I’m sure there’s riders who have the power on for their entire ride and aren’t concerned about battery usage. But with the SL having a smaller battery to start with I thought I’d share this anyway.

 

[David C]

Yesterday my lbs said the wireless TCD was sold out maybe for the year and Specialized was not even taking back orders. You said you ordered it online, through Specialized? My former Como 4.0 had the wired TCD and I thought you could have the power on and cycle down from Turbo, Sport, Eco to no power mode selected?

 

[Pete 6016]

Yesterday my lbs said the wireless TCD was sold out maybe for the year and Specialized was not even taking back orders. You said you ordered it online, through Specialized? My former Como 4.0 had the wired TCD and I thought you could have the power on and cycle down from Turbo, Sport, Eco to no power mode selected?

 

[Pete 6016]

The Specialized dealership here told me it would be November before they’d have any in. So I did an online search and found one in California. Took about a week to get. I know that my buddy’s Vado came with the TCD wired. So I believe his display will work when the power Is off. But if you have to go wireless like my SL you need the power on. I suspect most people have wired ones.

 

[David C]

Thanks, I’ll order one, what was the name of store.

 

[David C]

Just located it, they have 3 left, thanks again.

 

[StmbtDave]

I know that my buddy’s Vado came with the TCD wired. So I believe his display will work when the power Is off. But if you have to go wireless like my SL you need the power on. I suspect most people have wired ones.

You don't have to turn off the bike's power to turn off the assist. If your Vado has the assist remote, pushing the down arrow when in Eco you will turn off the assist. The bar graph on the right side of the TCD will show no assist. You can also turn off the assist by holding down the assist control button on the top tube for about 3 seconds. Both those methods will turn off the assist without powering down the bike. Your display will continue to operate properly when in zero assist.

 

[Pete 6016]

You don't have to turn off the bike's power to turn off the assist. If your Vado has the assist remote, pushing the down arrow when in Eco you will turn off the assist. The bar graph on the right side of the TCD will show no assist. You can also turn off the assist by holding down the assist control button on the top tube for about 3 seconds. Both those methods will turn off the assist without powering down the bike. Your display will continue to operate properly when in zero assist.

 

[Pete 6016]

This is why these forums are so great. Thanks so much for the helpful information. I do have the remote and will start to use it more fully.