I got a Tech Air Race e. I was unable to communicate with the jacket using their software - I eventually tried a cable I already had and was able to connect. No errors are showing and I've updated the firmware and tested the squib (whatever that is) and all seems ok according to the software. The vest only shows a solid red light on the back, both when charging and when disconnected from power and turned on with the front velcro connected. Is it supposed to do this or should it show other colours? I do not have a suit to connect it to yet. Instructions seem to relate to the lights you get on the arm of a suitable suit but the back does have coloured lights and I thought it should show the same sort of indications that the lights on the arm, but some information online seems to say that the lights on the back of the vest don't show anything and you have to use the lights on the arm of a suitable suit. Any ideas?
Many gas actuators use a small metal piston to cut a pipe to release the gas fill. The squib is a small explosive detonator that creates the pressure to actuate the piston. I’m afraid I know sh*t about your vest though Andy
Thanks buddy but I've got the manual and I'm still none the wiser. It mentions all the status lights but apparently only arms when some sort of zip detection has been triggered(?). I sort of assumed that the lights on the back would replicate the lights you get on the sleeve of a compatible suit but they don't, so it's either an issue or it's meant to be like that. If it's meant to be like that then it's a bit daft not to use the lights on the back to at least let you know when it's charged... It's still Windows-only software and their app doesn't work with it because they didn't put bluetooth in it... Weird.
The arm lights are what count. The system must be switched on (obviously ) and fitted into your jacket, switching on once your jacket is zipped up correctly. It’s convenient once you’re used to it. I love the arm lights. I can see at a glance the airbag’s status and battery life mid-ride, which I find helpful (especially on long days in the saddle). Unlike some other systems, there’s no need to check a phone app, which would be tricky mid-ride.
The arms lights are great, I just don’t have the suit yet and (wrongly) assumed that the lights on the vest would actually tell you something as well. Like, for example, maybe you have a spare vest and you’d like to know it’s charged without having to install it in the suit… I was surprised but at least I know now. Part of the problem I had was thinking there was a problem because I couldn’t connect to the software (luckily I had an ancient Windows laptop around - no idea why they have this 20-year old idea of only using software on a Windows machine, no Mac OS and no app with Bluetooth). It turned out that the cable supplied with the suit was the problem - I plugged in an old cable I had laying around and it connected without issue. I had a Tech-Air 10 prior to this and sent it back because it wouldn’t charge and wouldn’t reliably connect to the app. Now the Tech-Air Race comes in with a cable that doesn’t work. Not impressive, but hopefully it does the job…
I wonder if the back light is red while charging, but it turns green once the system is 100% charged? But it’s not something I’ve checked.
Not sure if I can help so been holding off, I use tech air but mine is a tech air 5, mine when charging goes red, amber, green sequentially to show charge level. Flashes orange when booting up then goes to green when ready. the app is horrendous, without doubt the worst app I’ve used and takes normally at least 3-4 attempts to connect it on the occasion I do need to swap it between road and race mode
