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Fitting Garmin Cannondale Varia Rear View Radar Unit

by bikercat
Sat, Apr 29, 2023 07:29
11

I have seen a very cheap Garmin Cannondale Varia Rear View Radar Unit and wondered whether it could be fitted to a non Cannondale smart sense bike while being run off a power bank, not the official and expensive Cannondale battery. It would be used in conjunction with a Garmin 130.

appreciate any tech help with this.

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

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11 comments

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avogrin | 5 months ago
2 likes

Finished product, total cost 40€.

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OldSlowBloke replied to avogrin | 5 months ago
0 likes

Nice work.
Was halfway through doing the same, but some questions mights save some trial and error.
I take it you didn't need to do anything with the yellow and green from the micro d connector?
What cable connectors did you use? Thet look very tidy.

I presume you weren't bothered about the eRDU on sale from the same retailer? I plan to use a garmin head unit, when complete.
Thanks for the update.

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avogrin replied to OldSlowBloke | 4 months ago
0 likes

I cut the two wires in excess. Maybe there is some current in them so isolate them after cutting.

Connector: https://shop.e-bike-technologies.de/en/connectors/signal/micro/higo-micr...

I solderer the wires together, then individual heatshrink followed by an overall one.

For display I use a Magene C606, so Garmin Edge should work no problem.

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avogrin | 5 months ago
1 like

So, success.

It is working on 2023 Synapse 2 LE and paired to a Magene C606.

 

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Creakingcrank | 1 year ago
0 likes

I have done exactly what you describe, presumably with parts from the same  retailer. Mine went on my ebike. 

Short answer: Not as you hope. The Cannondale version of the radar does not have the Bluetooth/ANT radio parts in it - they are in the (expensive) battery cradle, so it would not communicate with your head unit.

You can use a wired connection to the Cannondale/garmin radar display unit (also selling for cheap on the same site). mine works perfectly as a visual indicator, but does not beep.

It requires some DIY wiring to add power (I think the unit will cope with anything from 4 to 12V - mine is wired into my ebike 12v lighting circuit) and to connect the 2 CANbus wires between the head unit and the radar.

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bikercat replied to Creakingcrank | 1 year ago
0 likes

Mnay thanks for the very full explaination, Creakingcrank, will give it a go.

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avogrin replied to Creakingcrank | 8 months ago
0 likes

Hi, could you share the pinout of the connectors or wire meanings? I will try to wire the Higo-B6-MQ connector. Thanks.

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Creakingcrank replied to avogrin | 8 months ago
0 likes

I'm not sure of the pinouts, but assuming the wiring colours on those Higo connectors are standard (it certainly seemed logical on the ones I bought), it is:

Red: voltage + (4-12v)
Black: ground
Yellow/blue: CAN high/CAN low (not sure which is which, just wire same to same)

I tested mine with a 9v battery on the display unit - connect to the correct power wires and the light on the unit comes on. The two wires you haven't used are the CANbus.

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avogrin replied to Creakingcrank | 8 months ago
0 likes

Thanks!

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manmikey replied to Creakingcrank | 1 month ago
0 likes

Would you mind confirming if the Canondale RDU works with a Garmin Varia radar?
I use a Garmin RDU which I fear will fail at some point in the future and I can't get a replacement (I don't want a cycling computer if I can help it)
I recently bought the Canondale RDU for £10 in the hope I could power it from the 12v light supply on my ebike and it would pair with my Garmin radar.

Is this use case feasible from anyone's experience.on this thread?

Thank
Mike

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Creakingcrank replied to manmikey | 1 month ago
0 likes

Hi, I don't think this will work. The Cannondale RDU connects to the Cannondale version of the radar via a wired (CANbus) connection. The Garmin RDU uses wireless (ANT+?). The standard Varia does not have CANbus capability. Newer Varia models have Bluetooth too, so you can use a phone instead of a bike computer as the head unit. In your position, I'd just stick with what you have. The Garmin RDU is a simple thing and I would expect it to last a long time. By the time it breaks there may be all sorts of new radar devices on the market.

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