Battery pack for Keis heated vest

[Arsey]

I recently bought a new Keis B601 heated vest.
I’ve installed the power supply to my Wing .
But I’d like to get the battery pack as well to use on local rides on my other bikes to save installing a power supply on each.

The Keis one is only 5000mAh and is £90



Also, Sportsbikeshop won’t send to Guernsey as it’s a battery so can’t get VAT off.

Am I right in thinking that any battery pack with a 12v outlet will work, as a quick search on Amazon revealed this which is over three times the capacity and half the price ?
Cant see any reason why it wouldn’t work , although I see that someone asked the same question on SBS website and they said no

 

[Guru Gora]

I used a ‘normal’ portable pack with my keis and the small jack. 3.5 I think

No problems at all.

I guess that if you have any dramas it’s still a good bit of kit.

 

[wessie]

any 12V supply will work as long as it can deliver enough current

a couple of other things to consider:

1. Keis gear does not use much current. I ran a heated jacket and insoles from a single lead plugged into the BMW accessory socket, so under 5A drawn. If the other bikes have accessory sockets you could use these with the correct cable.

2. if you have battery charger leads connected to the fleet, you can get adapters to connect from these to the round co-axial plug used by the Keis jacket

 

[squid]

You would find the heat limited by the lower voltage output. Reading the script it suggests the max voltage is 7.4v

You can buy a 5v to 12v mini step up dongle to use a standard phone power pack but those are 0.8Amp which again would give a lower heat.

I made up a pack for about £25 that usees 8 x AA rechargeable batteries.

It works and lasts for about 5 hours but still doesn't heat quite as well as via the bike battery.

AA rechargeable batteries are more like 1 4v. So that is 11.2v. Where as a bike battery with the engine running is getting roughly 14v. Using ohms law that makes a difference.

 

[squid]

Remember,
Most usb power packs are say 2.4 amp at 5v.

At 12v you get less than 1amp.

For full heat I'd estimate you need around 1.5 amps
Volts x amps = watts

It's the watts that count

 

[Arsey]

any 12V supply will work as long as it can deliver enough current

a couple of other things to consider:

1. Keis gear does not use much current. I ran a heated jacket and insoles from a single lead plugged into the BMW accessory socket, so under 5A drawn. If the other bikes have accessory sockets you could use these with the correct cable.

2. if you have battery charger leads connected to the fleet, you can get adapters to connect from these to the round co-axial plug used by the Keis jacket

Thanks for the replies .
I do have Optimate charge leads on my bikes but it’s under the seat on my XADV and by the head stock on X Diavel so not the best locations to run a lead off .
Might get the battery I linked to and see if it works

 

[squid]

Thanks for the replies .
I do have Optimate charge leads on my bikes but it’s under the seat on my XADV and by the head stock on X Diavel so not the best locations to run a lead off .
Might get the battery I linked to and see if it works

You can always return it as not fit for purpose if doesn't do the trick but I reckon it will get it warm rather than hot

 

[wessie]

Thanks for the replies .
I do have Optimate charge leads on my bikes but it’s under the seat on my XADV and by the head stock on X Diavel so not the best locations to run a lead off .
Might get the battery I linked to and see if it works

the 12V socket on an R1200RS is on the side of the bike. I ran the lead under the seat and had it poking out at the front of the seat. It worked well as it lined up well for me to plug in the Y piece for the two items.

 

[Arsey]

You can always return it as not fit for purpose if doesn't do the trick but I reckon it will get it warm rather than hot

So why will the Keis battery get it hotter ?
I’m being a bit fick

 

[SBD]

The jacket is designed to operate on “12 volts”, and it will draw whatever current at that voltage. Ohms law and all that.

The Keis website FAQs says that a 5Ah 12V battery will last about an hour, so it’s taking about 5A so about 60 W

It’ll draw a lower current on a lower voltage, but it is not proportional, as the resistance of the heating elements depends on temperature - a sort of self regulation - so at 7.4V it’ll be lots less power, maybe two-thirds.

Watts is what makes you hot, watt hours is how much energy the battery can hold.

Any battery (or power supply) that can deliver the current at 12 volts will do. I imagine it would be possible to use your Noco backup battery.

 

[squid]

So why will the Keis battery get it hotter ?
I’m being a bit fick

If the actual Keis one is just ok or good I don't know. It should be 12v and enough amps if designed right. I doubt it would last very long though due to the capacity.

If you read the details on the one you linked it says suitable for most up to 7.4 volts so doesn't give much hope it will put out 12v at over 1 amp. It may, but may not

A lot depends on how snug fitting your vest is. Pressed firm with a thin shirt underneath they transfer the heat better. Mine is ok on my back but a bit slack on the chest so that side doesn't work as well.

At 13.8v on the bike it gets hot enough to eventually turn it down.

Via my battery pack it only gets to about mid heat.

I made up the pack as like you decided the proper one wasn't worth the money and couldn't find a good alternative.

If you return that one as not fit for purpose they pay the postage. If you just return it you pay for the postage.

No loss in trying in which case

 

[squid]

The one I made with a pair of glasses for scale. It's 19600ah capacity and lasts about 5hrs before heat drops off. So the £90 one I can't see lasting very long. Ok for a short walk but not much use for a bike ride I would say

Cables to the bike are a faff but the best results really.

 

[squid]

If i did it again I buy a 12 x AA box rather than the 8. That would be ok I reckon

 

[squid]

I have my charger point fitted here so it's a handy place also for the heated vest. I just tuck it in when not in use

 

[Arsey]

View attachment 472652
I have my charger point fitted here so it's a handy place also for the heated vest. I just tuck it in when not in use

Ta for all that .
The Keis battery lasts 2 hours . Not long but my local rides here on the island never last longer than that .
I’ll probably get the Amazon one and try it

 

[Wapping]

Thanks for the replies .
I do have Optimate charge leads on my bikes but it’s under the seat on my XADV and by the head stock on X Diavel so not the best locations to run a lead off .
Might get the battery I linked to and see if it works

Buy an extension lead for the awkwardly positioned Optimate socket. Male SAE to female SAE, assuming you wish to still terminate with a female Optimate. Too long? Shorten, neatly.

 

[wessie]

So why will the Keis battery get it hotter ?

if you look at the pictures, the amazon device is only going to give you 1.5A at 12V (18W) so not enough current for the Keis jacket. As stated above, on the max setting, the Keis jacket needs 5A. Assuming the same 2 settings as my older waistcoat, the lower settings will be 2A and 3A. I never went over level 2 of 3 and that was rare.

 

[squid]

if you look at the pictures, the amazon device is only going to give you 1.5A at 12V (18W) so not enough current for the Keis jacket. As stated above, on the max setting, the Keis jacket needs 5A. Assuming the same 2 settings as my older waistcoat, the lower settings will be 2A and 3A. I never went over level 2 of 3 and that was rare.

The text and pictures contradict each other but it is Chinese.

You only need 1.5 amps for full heat on the vest, will be a bit more on the full jacket.

If that pack can give out what it shows in the photos it would be enough. That is IF

Worth a go as just return it if it doesn't.

 

[squid]

Oops, just googled the spec on the latest Keis waist coat and it does say 65w which seems very high.

Mine is the previous version and does only draw 1.4 Amps on full heat. That is a significant difference.

 

[Arsey]

Buy an extension lead for the awkwardly positioned Optimate socket. Male SAE to female SAE, assuming you wish to still terminate with a female Optimate. Too long? Shorten, neatly.

But the lead would need to run over the tank