Cheap heated vest

[Dr Bones]

All of Maplins heated clothing is on sale, I picked up one of these yesterday

http://www.maplin.co.uk/large-electric-heated-fleece-vest-531698

(for £7 it was worth a go)

It fits nicely under my bike jacket and with six rechargeable AA's fitted it heats quickly (2 x 4.5V heating elements)

It got me thinking about wiring it into the bike, particularly using the redundant 12v charcoal canister connector under the seat.

I found this converter on ebay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DC-DC-Con..._Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item4d065aef28

Looks like the solution.

am I going to set fire to myself?

 

[Fanum]

It fits nicely under my bike jacket and with six rechargeable AA's fitted it heats quickly (2 x 4.5V heating elements)

It got me thinking about wiring it into the bike, particularly using the redundant 12v charcoal canister connector under the seat.

I found this converter on ebay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DC-DC-Con..._Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item4d065aef28

Looks like the solution.

am I going to set fire to myself?

Nope, but you're not going to get warm either......6x1.5v=9v and you're running it on 5v?

 

[Dr Bones]

Nope, but you're not going to get warm either......6x1.5v=9v and you're running it on 5v?

It's 3 x AA per side = 4.5v (two separate heating elements and power supplies - well it was only £7)

I was thinking of wiring both sides in parallel to that 5v converter

 

[david a hall]

Nope, but you're not going to get warm either......6x1.5v=9v and you're running it on 5v?

Use two wires

 

[Dr Bones]

Use two wires

Exactly what I was going to do. I was hoping that the difference between 4.5v and 5v wouldn't turn me to a piece of toast!

 

[Fanum]

Ah in that case.....go for it

I think I'd do a quick multiplication and whack in an inline fuse though, after the converter.....the blurb says that vest will go to 45c on those 6 little batteries (hmmmm......I rather doubt that but nonetheless) so if the converter lets go and whacks 12v from the bike into your nylon jerkin, you could have end up being a broiled in a twat suit tosser quite quickly

(or at the very least, use a pull apart power coupling so you can yank the two ends apart....not a bad idea anyway, as it's easy to walk away from the bike forgetting you're wired to it DAMHIK)

 

[Dr Bones]

Ah in that case.....go for it

Good call on the inline fuse and pull apart connector. Do you think the charcoal canister connector wiring will be OK for 3A? I can't find any reference to it on any of the wiring diagrams I have?

 

[littleredrooster]

I bought one of these and rewired it so that both elements were in series. I plugged it into 12v to see what would happen and promptly burnt me left tit before I could turn it off.

Got a voltage controller on it now...

 

[Ian J Hartley]

Good call on the inline fuse and pull apart connector. Do you think the charcoal canister connector wiring will be OK for 3A? I can't find any reference to it on any of the wiring diagrams I have?

I belive it's called Timing Valve and the while the green/white wire at 0.75 mm would take the current, the earth at that point goes directly to the motronic. The green/ white wire is the same that feeds the injectors and the fuel pump. Which would mean your heated waist coat would only work when the engine was running.

Personally, I wouldn't use that connector.

 

[david a hall]

I bought two today, They are great for breast heating!! but at 7 quid good value. Being an 1150 rider the two hour battery life is sufficient.

 

[Blue Sweeper]

......... Being an 1150 rider the two hour battery life is sufficient.

Dave, mate, that's 'cos 1150 riders have got no stamina.

 

[The Other Tim]

Got one today

Bought one today... The quality is not very high - poor zip, lining of inner pocket not stitched - but it does get hot! Only rode for 40 minutes and was toasty. Probably best over more than just a shirt as it got a bit hot!

The Other Tim