Why are Gerbing heat controllers so expensive?
- Thread starter Timolgra
- Start date
araspitfire
Registered user
There is not too much to a PWM controller (Google is your friend).
I should think that an appropriately sized motor controler may work.. but for sure the likes of Velleman PWM controlers... If it's just the jacket, then measure the resistance at the connector and go spec. one.
It's just when you want to make it small, supply jacket, trous, and gloves.. and be water resistant that suddenly the cost of the real deal seems not so bad...
Al...
I should think that an appropriately sized motor controler may work.. but for sure the likes of Velleman PWM controlers... If it's just the jacket, then measure the resistance at the connector and go spec. one.
It's just when you want to make it small, supply jacket, trous, and gloves.. and be water resistant that suddenly the cost of the real deal seems not so bad...
Al...
Is there a simple way to make one up, the prices seem outrageous to me
Because Gerbing know that only softy softy bikers with too much money wear heated clothing ............... It's probably all aimed at Harley riders
Because Gerbing know that only softy softy bikers with too much money wear heated clothing ............... It's probably all aimed at Harley riders
Hmmm, just noticed your avatar
STUBBS
undead
do you have a local maplins
you can rig up your own
you can rig up your own
do you have a local maplins
you can rig up your own
Right, so I need to make a PWM
that's waterproof with the correct fitting then?Something like a modified one of these?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-15A-D...ial_Automation_Control_ET&hash=item45f7bfbba3
rce
Registered user
Heated grip controls should be able to handle the jacket, controller on handlebar and wiring next to seat to plug yourself in.
Just throw the grips away.
Just throw the grips away.
Is there a simple way to make one up, the prices seem outrageous to me
Tim, I have a Tempvar controller, off a Klan jacket, which may suit your requirements. At least 10 years old but seen little use.
If any use, £15 posted
WindyChuffer
Registered user
They are pricey as its a whole lot more than just a resistor that you control. The power to the heated clothing is pulsed on and off electronically. For hot clothing the power is switched on & off very quickly, and for lower clothing temperatures the power is more off than on.
Some microelectronics does all the magic - a timer chip, an op-amp that takes the time signals and drives an electronic relay (a MOSFET).
In bulk these would be cheap as chips, but for low volumes like Gerbing they are probably priced about right.
Have a look at this for all you need to make one yourself.
http://www.husaberg.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=7697
http://home.mebtel.net/~rbutterfield/Heat.html
The IR540 MOSFET used in above example is good to switch around 20A-30A I think. Gerbing Jacket takes 6.4A, trousers 3.6A and insoles 1.2A. Total 11.2A.
I guess the real question is, how much is your time worth....?
[Oh fek - I wish I was a kid again and had the time to make a couple of these just how I'd want it... ]
Edit - Complete assembled kit available here: http://store.qkits.com/moreinfo.cfm/MX033
A bargin at USD20 but a lot bulkier than the Gerbing product which is tiny in comparison.
Some microelectronics does all the magic - a timer chip, an op-amp that takes the time signals and drives an electronic relay (a MOSFET).
In bulk these would be cheap as chips, but for low volumes like Gerbing they are probably priced about right.
Have a look at this for all you need to make one yourself.
http://www.husaberg.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=7697
http://home.mebtel.net/~rbutterfield/Heat.html
The IR540 MOSFET used in above example is good to switch around 20A-30A I think. Gerbing Jacket takes 6.4A, trousers 3.6A and insoles 1.2A. Total 11.2A.
I guess the real question is, how much is your time worth....?
[Oh fek - I wish I was a kid again and had the time to make a couple of these just how I'd want it... ]
Edit - Complete assembled kit available here: http://store.qkits.com/moreinfo.cfm/MX033
A bargin at USD20 but a lot bulkier than the Gerbing product which is tiny in comparison.
Just for info, I have a wireless remote dual controller for my Powerlet heated jacket liner and gloves. I think these have the same connections as the Gerbing products. This means I only need one cable between the bike and me instead of the normal three. It also means I can locate the controller wherever it's convenient - on my GSA it's on the clutch fluid reservoir and on my K1100RS its on the L/H sidepanel. Even more expensive but so much easier to live with. If the battery goes flat in the remote, it will still default to one thirds of the full power setting so you still get some heat.
WindyChuffer
Registered user
Go the whole hog and buy some wire that can be used as heating element and stitch it into your clothing.
See http://www.hastie.org.uk/heatedjacket.html, which uses
Hook Up wire from RS Components part number 177-0621 as per link below:
http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/produ...2267573743D3137372D303632312677633D4E4F4E4526
See http://www.hastie.org.uk/heatedjacket.html, which uses
Hook Up wire from RS Components part number 177-0621 as per link below:
http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/produ...2267573743D3137372D303632312677633D4E4F4E4526
Great reply
The above looks interesting as a replacement for the Oxford grip controller.
The new type has a on/off and temp controller plus 'magic black box'. These appear to be very unreliable in my experience having had two fail.
The recent failure seems to be draining a battery whilst the grips are switched off as well
Our Exo jackets have a simple on/off switch. It has to be very cold before I need mine on all the time, so a heat control would be useful, but the expense seemed a little OTT. Would just switching it on and off be such a problem?
Mark
Mark
WindyChuffer
Registered user
@earthmover:
Having had my (expensive) Gerbing dual controller fail, I got a box, switch & connectors from Maplin, mounted it to the bike and made do with that for last season.
I found that my legs got way too hot - burning hot - probably because I was wearing them next to the skin, and the jacket was generally fine. Both were too hot at times. So on my 40 min commute I had to continually cycle the power. To be honest I got a bit fekked off with it.
So on impulse at the NEC show last month I bought 2 x single controllers from Gerbing so I have a bit of redundancy should one fail. Whilst they are arguably pricey they are small and compact and I don't have the time to fek about with a soldering iron (wish I did though).
(BTW - the Gerbing heated insoles are the dogs bollox)
M.
Having had my (expensive) Gerbing dual controller fail, I got a box, switch & connectors from Maplin, mounted it to the bike and made do with that for last season.
I found that my legs got way too hot - burning hot - probably because I was wearing them next to the skin, and the jacket was generally fine. Both were too hot at times. So on my 40 min commute I had to continually cycle the power. To be honest I got a bit fekked off with it.
So on impulse at the NEC show last month I bought 2 x single controllers from Gerbing so I have a bit of redundancy should one fail. Whilst they are arguably pricey they are small and compact and I don't have the time to fek about with a soldering iron (wish I did though).
(BTW - the Gerbing heated insoles are the dogs bollox)
M.
WindyChuffer
Registered user
@earthmover - can you post a link to the "exo jackets" you mentioned in your recent post? Ta.
excuse the hijack
Anyone know of heated body warmer/ waistcoat for the ample sized tosser
Anyone know of heated body warmer/ waistcoat for the ample sized tosser
WindyChuffer
Registered user
Anyone know of heated body warmer/ waistcoat for the ample sized tosser
Yes. Try Gerbing. After all, it's an American brand.
You could try one of these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-15A-D...Control_ET&hash=item2c5d608a7a#ht_2096wt_1141
Should do the trick. There's plenty of similar units on ebay, though most need you to find you're own case for it, just google pwm controller.
or try this search from ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_f..._nkw=pwm+controller&_sacat=See-All-Categories
I was going to use one of the above with my home made heated liner but ended up buying a warm'n'safe jacket and remote controller, which is streets ahead of home made kit, but then it should be at the price.
EDIT: £8 shipped, ready boxed, wire it in and zip tie to the bars. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12-24V-PW...ltDomain_0&hash=item3cbf15b67d#ht_2322wt_1141
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-15A-D...Control_ET&hash=item2c5d608a7a#ht_2096wt_1141
Should do the trick. There's plenty of similar units on ebay, though most need you to find you're own case for it, just google pwm controller.
or try this search from ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_f..._nkw=pwm+controller&_sacat=See-All-Categories
I was going to use one of the above with my home made heated liner but ended up buying a warm'n'safe jacket and remote controller, which is streets ahead of home made kit, but then it should be at the price.
EDIT: £8 shipped, ready boxed, wire it in and zip tie to the bars. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12-24V-PW...ltDomain_0&hash=item3cbf15b67d#ht_2322wt_1141
mark2jag
Registered user
Ah now see there you go. The prices are a bit high you say, ok, but they cant be THAT high because people keep buying them. If people suddenly stopped buying them completely then maybe they would get the message that their product is clearly too expensive.....Is there a simple way to make one up, the prices seem outrageous to me
Is this likely to happen? EEEERRRRR Noo.
Or you could send them a politely worded letter explaining their prices are too high or extortionate.
They might:
(1) Thank you kindly for your letter, and in view of your apparent dissatisfaction with regards to thier pricing structure they might offer you a discount or maybe even a freebie.
(2) Tell you to fuck off and if you dont like thier prices tough shit cos no one else has ever complained, and tell you to go somewhere else..
Which of these do you think is the most likely scenario?
HTH
Mark
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