Computer acting up

[tmp1214]

I have a question for anyone who is into cycling computers. I’ve been cycling seriously for 42 years now and have used a number of computers. My current one is a simple Cateye Padrone. Whenever I take my bike to my shop for maintenance, etc, the computer magically turns on and begins to record mileage. Even if it displays no speed, etc. It NEVER does this otherwise. I can take it to the house or anywhere else - no problem. I’m thinking there’s some kind of interference going on but am clueless. Got any ideas? Aliens under the shop?

 

[ColinJ]

I found a post online where someone said that turning their bike light on caused their Cateye computer to turn off, so it sounds like electromagnetic interference can be an issue!

 

[Ming the Merciless]

The wireless bit is analog and close to frequency LED lights emit. Does the shop have a few LED strips?

 

[the_mikey]

That particular computer uses an analogue wireless sensor for measuring speed and distance, it's very basic and is open to responding to any electromagnetic input that it receives, the world we live in is full of sources of electromagnetism, so it's entirely possible it's something electrical nearby that's triggering the computer.

 

[tmp1214]

The wireless bit is analog and close to frequency LED lights emit. Does the shop have a few LED strips?

Ming - thanks much (others also). Yes, I converted most of the fluorescent lights to LED a while ago. Never considered that as a possibility.

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

I used to have an analog wireless basic computer. Going shopping in supermarket I'd take the computer with me (so it didn't get stolen off the bike). Well out of range of the sensor on the bike yet wandering round the supermarket by the checkout it would have recorded maybe ½ mile.

On kitchen table at home off bike and bike out of sight in hall watching the computer speed and 0 ... 0 ... 3 ... 0 ... 4 ... 0 ... 0 ... 2 etc. (all mph). Happened all the time. No LEDs but plenty of Bluetooth and 2.4 WiFi.

So I went back to wired sensor.

 

[Dogtrousers]

So I went back to wired sensor.

So you swapped a weird sensor for a wired sensor

 

[presta]

So I went back to wired sensor.

...is the correct answer.