Guide
Troubleshooting SmartBrake
If SmartBrake does not behave as expected, you should always troubleshoot in the same order.
Always start with these three questions:
- Is the SmartBrake brake unit switched on?
- Is the controller awake?
- Are the wheels locked or free?
This quickly tells you what type of problem you are facing.
1. Always start by checking that the SmartBrake unit is active
Before troubleshooting anything else, check that the SmartBrake brake unit is actually switched on.
If the unit is not active:
- the controller cannot be woken up
- SmartBrake will not be operational
- further troubleshooting will be misleading
Therefore, always switch on the SmartBrake unit first and check the light signals.
Switch on SmartBrake by pressing the activation button once
Switch off SmartBrake by holding down the activation button until the brake light flashes twice. You will often hear the motor retract.
2. Wake up the controller
Once the SmartBrake unit is active, the controller must be woken up.
A controller that has not been woken up can cause SmartBrake to indicate a lost connection, even if the controller is correctly paired.
To wake up the controller:
- switch on the SmartBrake unit
- activate the controller once
- check whether the connection is established
Important: The controller can only be woken up when the brake unit is active.
3. Are the wheels locked or free?
This is the next important distinction.
If the wheels are free
Then fail-safe is not active.
If the wheels are locked
Then fail-safe is active.
This determines how you should interpret the remaining signals.
4. If the wheels are free
When the wheels are free, fail-safe is not active. Interpret the problem as follows:
If the light flashes but the wheels are free
This normally indicates a low battery, rather than fail-safe.
Low battery — unit
This means the system is still operational, but it should be charged or have its battery replaced as soon as possible.
If the controller does not brake but the wheels are free
The problem is normally not fail-safe, but a missing connection between the controller and SmartBrake.
Then check:
- that the SmartBrake unit is switched on
- that the controller is awake
- that the controller is within range
- that the controller battery is not empty
- that the controller is correctly paired
In brief:
Free wheels + flashing signal = often a low battery
Free wheels + no braking = the controller is not connected
5. If the wheels are locked
If the wheels are locked, fail-safe is active.
You should always check the light signals on the SmartBrake unit first.
This is important because fail-safe can have different causes:
- a low or empty battery in the brake unit
- no connection with the controller
- a controller with an empty battery
- a controller outside the operating range
- a system that has not been woken up correctly after startup
6. If fail-safe is active: check the unit’s light first
When the wheels are locked, check the SmartBrake unit first.
Flashing red light on the unit
This normally means the battery in the brake unit is low or empty.
If the battery is empty, fail-safe may have been activated because the unit no longer has enough power.
Fail-safe due to an empty unit battery
What you should do:
Charge the SmartBrake unit as soon as possible.
7. If fail-safe is active and the unit battery is not the cause
If the wheels are locked and the problem does not appear to be a low unit battery, check the controller connection.
Check:
- is the controller awake?
- is the controller within range?
- does the controller have battery power?
- does the controller show a flashing green light, a red light or no light?
- is the administrator controller active?
SmartBrake must be connected to an awake administrator controller to be operational.
If the administrator controller is not awake, is outside the operating range or has no battery power, the system may remain in fail-safe even if another controller is present.
8. If the controller indicates signal loss
If the controller indicates a lost connection (see section 2), first establish whether the controller simply needs to be woken up or is actually not connected.
After startup or pairing
If SmartBrake has just been switched on or paired, a flashing green light may mean that the controller has not been woken up yet, rather than necessarily being incorrectly paired.
If signal loss continues after waking up
Then check:
- whether the administrator controller is awake
- whether the administrator controller is within range
- whether the controller you are using is an administrator or an assistant
- whether the controller battery is low or empty
- whether the controller needs to be paired again
Hand Controller without a connection to the brake unit
TB / BLS without a connection to the brake unit
TB / BLS normal light signal when connected to the brake unit
If fail-safe cannot be resolved on site, stop using the system and contact SmartGroup or a qualified professional. Follow the instructions for use for your setup.
If fail-safe cannot be resolved, stop using the equipment and contact SmartGroup or a qualified professional. Follow the user manual for your configuration.
10. If SmartBrake switches off automatically
If SmartBrake is switched on for more than 1 hour without the brake being activated, the system switches off automatically to save power. The parking brake is activated at the same time.
If this happens:
- switch SmartBrake on again
- wake up the administrator controller
- check that the wheels are released
11. Brief summary
Use this simple sequence:
SmartBrake is not working as expected
- Check that the brake unit is switched on
- Wake up the controller
- Check whether the wheels are locked or free
- If the wheels are free: consider the battery or a missing connection
- If the wheels are locked: check the unit’s light signals first
- Then check the controller, range, battery and administrator role
12. Contact support if the problem continues
If you still cannot get the system to work, contact support and include, if possible:
- SmartBrake serial number
- bicycle make and model
- a brief description of the problem
- a short video showing light signals, controller and wheels
The most useful support video shows:
- the SmartBrake unit being switched on
- which lights appear
- whether the wheels are locked or free
- what happens when you activate the controller