Practical Endeavours
03-20-2012, 02:04 PM
Hello and thanx for including me as a member.
I just purchased an i180 last week. Tried it out briefly in the gentleman's garage, ran to the bank for the cash and then took it home and had the most fantastic couple hours of fun and excitement. It ran like a dream while I practiced basic moves and obstacles then I put it to the test with some "high speed" cruisin'.
I was told this unit has been plugged in as described in the manual immediately after each use since new. My curiosity to determine the full life of the battery and my concern of "battery memory" possibilities lead me to ride it until the “Safety Shutdown” kicked in. I was performing stationary movements when the warning went off at which time it got rather aggressive to control until I managed a manual shutdown/power off using the “Mode Button”.
After a night like at kid on Christmas Eve and now my Segway fully charged, I jumped on it ready for my second and next adventure. I maneuvered it away from the house and hit the highway. I no sooner got it up to speed and it then started shutting down. Very aggressively and at a high, reverse speed. I walked it back to the house played around with some maneuvers then thought to try another run. Almost to the exact point it warned me then proceeded to beat me in the shines until I managed to get it to a full shutdown/power off with the “Mode Button”.
Then after skimming through my “reference manual” I decided that perhaps the slight decline I road down the two previous beatings may have caused an over charge warning due to “Regenerative Braking” resulting in a “Safety Shutdown” but I am for sure certain that this is not the “shutdown” characteristics described in the manual.
Ok, then I had to go to work!
When I got back home a couple days later I was impressed to find the “Battery Charge Level Display” indicated no power loss during the days it sat unplugged from charging and I proceeded on a ride determined to drain some power before getting too adventurous. I had segments of carefree fun before each time getting into a brawl on the streets with my newfound amusement. At times with sounds of screeching rubber on asphalt, before I was able to subdue the beast. I was quick to realize the importance of maintaining level while grasping for the “Mode Button” at first attributing this to be the cause of high-speed backups into my shines. Each of many instances that have occurred since the first and only time I charged the batteries have been random circumstances of differing situations resulting in the same demise.
I was provided along with the sale a copy of a current e-mail from Segway , confirming that the software update was performed in 2006 on this unit and I was told that is this is why when at start up at the sellers house it started up in “Balance Mode” and that the “Power Assist Mode” was eliminated in the updated software. Noting that it ran perfect in this way, but now after I drained and recharged the battery only the once the “Power Assist Mode” comes on and functions as described in the “rider’s guide”.
With all that said, can anyone contribute any thoughts, ideas or information pertaining to the i180’s? Does anyone know what the update did change? Does the “Power Assist Mode” somehow being reactivated in one charge cycle cause my malfunction?
I look forward to exploring this site more in depth and appreciate any feedback.
I am bound and determined to get another afternoon of carefree cruzin’ in soon!
Jim
I just purchased an i180 last week. Tried it out briefly in the gentleman's garage, ran to the bank for the cash and then took it home and had the most fantastic couple hours of fun and excitement. It ran like a dream while I practiced basic moves and obstacles then I put it to the test with some "high speed" cruisin'.
I was told this unit has been plugged in as described in the manual immediately after each use since new. My curiosity to determine the full life of the battery and my concern of "battery memory" possibilities lead me to ride it until the “Safety Shutdown” kicked in. I was performing stationary movements when the warning went off at which time it got rather aggressive to control until I managed a manual shutdown/power off using the “Mode Button”.
After a night like at kid on Christmas Eve and now my Segway fully charged, I jumped on it ready for my second and next adventure. I maneuvered it away from the house and hit the highway. I no sooner got it up to speed and it then started shutting down. Very aggressively and at a high, reverse speed. I walked it back to the house played around with some maneuvers then thought to try another run. Almost to the exact point it warned me then proceeded to beat me in the shines until I managed to get it to a full shutdown/power off with the “Mode Button”.
Then after skimming through my “reference manual” I decided that perhaps the slight decline I road down the two previous beatings may have caused an over charge warning due to “Regenerative Braking” resulting in a “Safety Shutdown” but I am for sure certain that this is not the “shutdown” characteristics described in the manual.
Ok, then I had to go to work!
When I got back home a couple days later I was impressed to find the “Battery Charge Level Display” indicated no power loss during the days it sat unplugged from charging and I proceeded on a ride determined to drain some power before getting too adventurous. I had segments of carefree fun before each time getting into a brawl on the streets with my newfound amusement. At times with sounds of screeching rubber on asphalt, before I was able to subdue the beast. I was quick to realize the importance of maintaining level while grasping for the “Mode Button” at first attributing this to be the cause of high-speed backups into my shines. Each of many instances that have occurred since the first and only time I charged the batteries have been random circumstances of differing situations resulting in the same demise.
I was provided along with the sale a copy of a current e-mail from Segway , confirming that the software update was performed in 2006 on this unit and I was told that is this is why when at start up at the sellers house it started up in “Balance Mode” and that the “Power Assist Mode” was eliminated in the updated software. Noting that it ran perfect in this way, but now after I drained and recharged the battery only the once the “Power Assist Mode” comes on and functions as described in the “rider’s guide”.
With all that said, can anyone contribute any thoughts, ideas or information pertaining to the i180’s? Does anyone know what the update did change? Does the “Power Assist Mode” somehow being reactivated in one charge cycle cause my malfunction?
I look forward to exploring this site more in depth and appreciate any feedback.
I am bound and determined to get another afternoon of carefree cruzin’ in soon!
Jim