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TECHNICAL MOTOBRICK WRENCHING In Remembrance of Inge K. => The Motobrick Workshop => Topic started by: frankenduck on October 27, 2011, 12:49:10 PM

Title: Variable heated grips - Version 2.0
Post by: frankenduck on October 27, 2011, 12:49:10 PM
After installing variable heated grips on my K1100LT (http://www.motobrick.com/index.php?topic=429.0) and being quite pleased with the results, I decided my K1100RS needed them too.

I paid a whopping $3.97 shipped on Fleabay for this 8 Amp PWM (pulse width modulator) "LED Dimmer."   The box for it was a little too big for where I wanted to mount the control knob so I removed the control potentiometer from the box, soldered three longer wires onto it and hid the box part with the printed circuit board in my fairing. It probably wasn't necessary but I also covered the control knob terminals with marine epoxy to waterproof them.

(http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk91/electro_handyman/Bike%20Tech/vhg2a.jpg)

I also installed a 3mm 12V LED wired to the output right above the control knob for three reasons:

1) Visual confirmation that the heated grips are getting power

2) To make it easier to find the control knob at night in the dark

3) You can never have too many LEDs, right?

(http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk91/electro_handyman/Bike%20Tech/vhg2c.jpg)

I spent yesterday riding in temps varying from 40-80 degrees and it works great.
Title: Re: Variable heated grips - Version 2.0
Post by: johnny on October 27, 2011, 01:51:38 PM
having ridden with variable heat grips on the bug... i can say being able to dial them in is yeeeehaaaaa... so im gonna make this mod to the burd and the unnamed motobricks straightaway...

thanks for sharing...

j o
Title: Re: Variable heated grips - Version 2.0
Post by: wmax351 on October 27, 2011, 05:49:32 PM
Looks good. Glad the dimmer I found is getting some use/innovation.

Its getting cold enough to start to want my heated vest. Will have to see how the dimmer handles 70-80 watts peak.
Title: Re: Variable heated grips - Version 2.0
Post by: frankenduck on October 27, 2011, 06:03:43 PM
Quote from: wmax351 on October 27, 2011, 05:49:32 PM
Looks good. Glad the dimmer I found is getting some use/innovation.

Its getting cold enough to start to want my heated vest. Will have to see how the dimmer handles 70-80 watts peak.

Should be fine: 8A * 12V = 96W
Title: Re: Variable heated grips - Version 2.0
Post by: wmax351 on October 27, 2011, 07:34:48 PM
Quote from: frankenduck on October 27, 2011, 06:03:43 PM
Quote from: wmax351 on October 27, 2011, 05:49:32 PM
Looks good. Glad the dimmer I found is getting some use/innovation.

Its getting cold enough to start to want my heated vest. Will have to see how the dimmer handles 70-80 watts peak.

Should be fine: 8A * 12V = 96W

That's what I figured. But gotta be somewhat less than optimistic about the cheap Chinese components. At the same time: If it burns, I can replace it.
Title: Re: Variable heated grips - Version 2.0
Post by: frankenduck on October 27, 2011, 07:45:30 PM
Personally, I'm not too concerned about the quality.  When you open it up it seems to be well made when you look at the circuit board.  Also, all things considered, it's a pretty simple circuit.  Finally, things that are rated at X amps are usually capable of handling a little more than that.

And then there's the fact that it only costs $4.  At that price you'd need to go through quite a few of them before you get close to what a Heat_Troller would cost.
Title: Re: Variable heated grips - Version 2.0
Post by: pallum on October 28, 2011, 12:55:08 AM
Very clean install, I approve  8)
Title: Re: Variable heated grips - Version 2.0
Post by: frodef on March 31, 2021, 01:56:09 PM
So I finally got around to installing this, the handtoasters, progrips and the exact PWM-module and all, having had the pieces lying around for a decade or so. Works a treat! Thanks Frankenduck, whereever you are.

(https://www.dropbox.com/s/q7sqtp76mms6u6u/IMG_20210331_192502.jpg)