Reebok RB1000 Exercise Bike - Discharging batteries in days

[MatteorV8]

What is the fault
My Reebok RB1000 exercise bike seems to be consuming batteries. With a fresh set of 4 C cell batteries, the bike screen powers on and I can adjust the resistance. However if I leave the bike for a week or so, it will have depleted those batteries. There are no noises from the bike when not in use, nor is the screen on.

History of the fault. Did this happen suddenly?
Simply the battery went (after about 2 years of it being in), so I replaced the 4x C batteries where it worked perfetly but upon coming back to the bike a week later it was completely dead. So I assumed the batteries were faulty, put some new ones in and guess what....worked perfectly until a week later.

Actions unspecified in the manual
None

Other:
I have opened up the top display and the component on DZ1 has some darker lines around it, but this is the only component of it's size on the board, so maybe just normal.

Equally there is a loom that connects to the back of the display and runs down to the motors. I thought I found the fault as I could see some frayed wires, but cutting the insulation back it just seemed to be a random set of loose frayed wires that run down the inside of the insulation. This has definitely not broken off anywhere in the loop, as all the other wires are complete.

 

[kenny256]

That little green circuit board with the black dot is the likely culprit in my opinion. That dot is a computer Chip on Board (COB) which is a cheap-ast solution. Instead of a proper chip they are saving a few pennies to use some POS technology prone to failure. Without a schematic it will be difficult to troubleshoot, but if you can buy and replace that board you might fix it. Otherwise remove a cell or wire in your own switch on the wire from the cells to the board so you can be sure it has no power. The OEM switch is just sending a signal to the COB to wake up.

 

[MatteorV8]

Thanks kenny, so you think the COB under the black dot is likely the problem? I have had a quick look and even though the bike doesn't look it, it is about 15 or so years old and finding any trace of that little green circuit board is next to nil. I like the idea of adding a switch onto the wires from the cells to the board, as I will eventually replace the bike (as the flywheel does occasionally clunk) but during these covid times the prices of bikes have more than doubled due to supply/demand.

 

[Harald Kapp]

That little green circuit board with the black dot is the likely culprit in my opinion.

What makes you think so? This board seems to be connected to some indicator on the lower left of the panel (in top view), not the battery.

Without a schematic it will be difficult to trace the failure. Unlikely we'll find a schematic for a 15 year old bike. I think the idea of using a switch to disconnect the battery is the easiest low cost fix.
Or use rechargeable batteries so you don't have to buy new batteries every few weeks. But then you'll have to plan ahead to have them charged and ready when you need them.

 

[bertus]

Hello,

I see some more details on the pictures that leave questions:




bertus