Author Topic: Heated Clothing (Read 20343 times)

Tuco · « **on:** January 17, 2014, 10:17:30 PM »

Anyone using one of these new battery powered jackets from Bosch,Milwaukie,Makita etc?. I was thinking that they would be good to use as an under layer.

WayneDW · « **Reply #1 on:** January 17, 2014, 10:48:28 PM »

I was looking at them to use for both biking, hunting and work but decided to get a "Mobile Warm" vest instead. I like the vest which puts the heat on the torso and doesn't bulk up the arms.
Has a small lithium battery and gets real warm, real fast. Costs less than the tool brands also.

noppo · « **Reply #2 on:** January 18, 2014, 07:34:20 AM »

Back when i got my Powerlet heated liner and gloves, lithium wasn't around as an option (at least i don't think it was). Had it been, i'd have likely bought that. i think it really depends on what you're looking for. Either approach - the bike plug-in vs the lithium battery - has it's pros and cons.

Bike plug-in offers incessant power, no charging, the liner is warm throughout, almost everywhere, but not quite; but i have wires, and the liner is a tad bit heavy because of the wires and the controller.

The lithium battery approach certainly appears to be long lasting on a medium to low settings. Betcha if you're in the saddle for less than several hours at a time, the lithium is the better bet. The jacket is probably lighter as well.

Heated liners and the like are a great addition to any winter biker's apparel. After having one to rely on, i would not take a winter ride (in the city or otherwise) longer than 1 hour without one. i just plug into the BMW socket and off i go. With the lithium battery, as long as you're charged up, you wouldn't even have to plug in.

Maybe years down the road i'll get the lithium jacket.
HTH

orforester · « **Reply #3 on:** January 18, 2014, 09:19:34 PM »

Al, the battery stuff would be great, Harley is making some, especially if you are off the bike a lot. But it is pricey. Premier Motorworks in Albany has really great prices on heated gear along with cycle gear in Eugene. Where u live you need heated gear.

Tuco · « **Reply #4 on:** January 18, 2014, 10:15:11 PM »

Hey thanks for the tip. I'm chomping at the bit to ride the thing.
Al

Tuco · « **Reply #5 on:** January 21, 2014, 02:39:12 PM »

Woohoo! Picked up a "Mobile Warming" vest at Cycle Sports in Salem! $119.99 out the door, included batt and charger. Gotta love those unadvertised specials.

noppo · « **Reply #6 on:** January 21, 2014, 05:28:10 PM »

Please do share your thoughts on how warm the liner gets with the lithium battery based setup. Thanks.

WayneDW · « **Reply #7 on:** January 21, 2014, 07:43:23 PM »

nice find, Al. Best I could do was $135 on Amazon. I also bought a spare battery for those all day sits on deer stand when I'm sure the first battery will run out: $37.

orforester · « **Reply #8 on:** January 21, 2014, 08:09:26 PM »

Good deal, you should really like them for these cool days!

Tuco · « **Reply #9 on:** January 21, 2014, 10:14:15 PM »

I stopped at Cycle Sports on a whim, did not expect to find anything there. Was real surprised to find the brand I wanted at the price I did. Thought I was going to have to go all the way to Lanphere's in Tigard. They had a few more at that price and they had MW gloves on sale too. Gave 'em a quick glance and they all looked to be just under $300. Too rich for me right now, we'll see what I say in a few weeks!
Al

Tuco · « **Reply #10 on:** January 21, 2014, 10:21:40 PM »

Wayne, about how long does it take for the battery to charge?
quote author=WayneDW link=topic=5357.msg33295#msg33295 date=1390016908]
I was looking at them to use for both biking, hunting and work but decided to get a "Mobile Warm" vest instead. I like the vest which puts the heat on the torso and doesn't bulk up the arms.
Has a small lithium battery and gets real warm, real fast. Costs less than the tool brands also.
[/quote]

WayneDW · « **Reply #11 on:** January 22, 2014, 08:41:47 AM »

RE: charge time.
I'm not sure, I haven't had a chance to run one all the way down yet and both came out of the box at half charge.

Tuco · « **Reply #12 on:** January 22, 2014, 11:46:04 PM »

Quote from: WayneDW on January 17, 2014, 10:48:28 PM

I was looking at them to use for both biking, hunting and work but decided to get a "Mobile Warm" vest instead. I like the vest which puts the heat on the torso and doesn't bulk up the arms.
Has a small lithium battery and gets real warm, real fast. Costs less than the tool brands also.

I'm not sure if this thing is working. I really don't feel it get warm. I put it on 100%, rode to Corvallis (60 miles), rode to Salem(45 miles and then rode home. About 5 hrs total and the battery still says 75%. Doesn't quite add up when their website (mobile warming) says the battery lasts 2.5 hrs @ 100% power. :dunno

noppo · « **Reply #13 on:** January 23, 2014, 05:14:04 AM »

Tuco,
Even with wires, i felt mine take time to get warm on a medium setting. The axiom i follow now is having only one thin layer (t-shirt thickness or the like) between my skin and the liner, and between the liner and the coat exposed to the elements as many layers as you want. Now, it's toasty in 1 minute, and i can feel it kick in 5 seconds. It could be that the layers between your skin and the liner were eating up the warmth. Perhaps it's worth a try to bring it closer to your skin. Just a thought.

WayneDW · « **Reply #14 on:** January 23, 2014, 11:45:18 AM »

Hmm, I can reach into mine and feel the warmth with my hand almost immediately. Each side at the chest, and at the back. You might have a problem.

johnny · « **Reply #15 on:** January 23, 2014, 12:36:14 PM »

heated insoles heated jacket heated grips heater gloves heated visor carbide snow studds... letts roll...

j o

Tuco · « **Reply #16 on:** January 23, 2014, 04:44:57 PM »

Well the dang thing wasn't working! I dropped by Cycle Sports and was told they were going to send the vest back to Mobile Warming and see what is wrong with it. Meanwhile I'm still without a heated vest. I'll let everyone what MW does.

wmax351 · « **Reply #17 on:** February 01, 2014, 02:13:41 AM »

Battery is going to be limited by energy density. A gerbings, witter, etc vest is going to be 60-70 watts or so. Moto specific heated vests are designed with the loss of heat from the wind in mind. It's much easier to seal the wind out at walking pace than at freeway pace.

I ended up just making my own heated vest. Ran about 30-35 feet of 30 AWG stranded wire through a goodwill vest. It cooks nicely, runs at about 70 watts peak, but with a PWM controller to lower the temperature as needed.

Tuco · « **Reply #18 on:** February 01, 2014, 11:07:02 AM »

I understand the 30 gauge wire portion but I'm not sure what you mean on the PWM. Is that a Pulse Width Modulator per chance? How would a person make one of those?

wmax351 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 01, 2014, 04:08:43 PM »

Quote from: Tuco on February 01, 2014, 11:07:02 AM

I understand the 30 gauge wire portion but I'm not sure what you mean on the PWM. Is that a Pulse Width Modulator per chance? How would a person make one of those?

Yeah, it's a pulse width modulation controller. They sell them on ebay for about 5 bucks. They are easy enough to make with some basic electronics skills, but the pre-made ones are cheaper.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/12V-36V-Pulse-Width-PWM-DC-Motor-Speed-Regulator-Controller-Switch-12V-24V-3A-/141108260524?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20dab52eac

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brightness-PWM-Switch-Controller-Dimmer-for-LED-Strip-Light-12-V-to-24V-8A-/331063709871?pt=US_Lighting_Parts_and_Accessories&hash=item4d14ef50af

I have the second one.

Tuco · « **Reply #20 on:** February 05, 2014, 04:52:26 PM »

Update: Mobile Warming warrantied my original vest. Tried on the new one BEFORE I left the shop, felt heat in about a minute. I'm in a pickup truck today so I can't tell anyone anything more. I'll try to get a ride in this Sunday and give an unbiased product review. (Any excuse to go riding :clap:).
Al

noppo · « **Reply #21 on:** February 05, 2014, 05:53:30 PM »

Nice! Glad to hear MW came through for you. i was wondering if they were going to do you right. Bet you'll be happy with that one on the road.

wmax351 · « **Reply #22 on:** February 09, 2014, 12:41:08 AM »

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-carbon-tape-heated-vest-modular-system/

Now this would be an interesting project. Uses carbon fiber tape as a conductor.

Tuco · « **Reply #23 on:** February 13, 2014, 02:02:19 AM »

Quote from: wmax351 on February 09, 2014, 12:41:08 AM

I would like to do something like this with a car hart vest

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-carbon-tape-heated-vest-modular-system/

Now this would be an interesting project. Uses carbon fiber tape as a conductor.

Tuco · « **Reply #24 on:** February 13, 2014, 02:05:32 AM »

Very happy with the vest so far. Something I keep forgetting to tell everyone is if you order an item from MW, be sure to order 1 size up from your normal size. They currently have some specials online.

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Author Topic: Heated Clothing (Read 20343 times)