With the warm weather lately I decided it was time to get stuff back in shape and get some more gear for the wife.
Our Sena SMH5 Bluetooth intercoms have been great but the batteries were getting to be not-great. We bought them used (though very much like new) like 3 seasons ago. Mine wasn't lasting for more than a few minutes. I googled and found a thread on replacing the non-replaceable battery which consisted of buying the right battery from ebay and transferring the connector to the new battery. I don't get why Sena doesn't offer a DIY replacement or at least a service where you can send yours in for new batteries. I knew this limitation before I bought them but figured I'd be able to replace them, or if all else failed, they'd just become wired intercoms versus wireless intercoms (can still be used while plugged in and charging).
Old on left, new on right. 400 mAh vs 500 so in theory there should be an increase in runtime.
I soldered the taped the leads. Put it back together, charged and they work fine. I replaced the batteries in both, which were $5 each, shipped from China (not like the old ones were from somewhere else). Haven't been able to test them on the road yet but they're working fine otherwise.
A couple weekends ago when it was unseasonably warm (February 18th with highs in the mid 50's for the lower peninsula) we took the K75 on a trip up to Traverse City for dinner. Although she has base layers, a Turtlefur balaclava, Columbia Omni Heat boots and a cold weather Fieldsheer jacket and pants, she still got a bit cold on the way there and back. Heated gear isn't cheap but I trawled ebay for a few days and found a NOS Eclipse vest for $31. It's old enough to have the SAE connectors but is otherwise as-new.
The cheapest used controller I could find, which would need adapters anyway, was going to be at least $40. So I did some research and found on another forum that controllers aren't necessary and an inline switch is a practical solution. I found an SAE cable with an inline switch on ebay and also ordered a Powerlet to SAE adapter cable. I haven't used it before but my bike has the Powerlet outlet (or w/e you call it) on the coil pack cover. The adapter I got also converts to a cigarette lighter type plug so I tried everything out in the car and it works great. The vest gets TOASTY. We've also yet to try it on the bike but I figure it'll work out great for her. The adapter cable and extension with the switch were much cheaper than a controller. We'll have to go on a longer ride to see if she really wants a controller.
Anyone know how much juice a heated vest draws? I quickly googled and found something like 7 amps. Fortunately I already have an upgraded alternator but I worry about the power draw on the Powerlet circuit, which I think has a 10 amp fuse. The circuit that goes to the dash pad has a cigarette lighter outlet which I use for a USB adapter to power my phone. I really should get an auxiliary fuse block rather than keep stacking rings on the hot terminal of the battery.
She had been using some non-moto (not snowmobile either) winter gloves which weren't cutting it, even with Hot Hands warmers. So, like always, I kept trawling ebay and found some as-new Olympia cold weather gloves. My $20 offer, which included free shipping, was accepted. They fit her well and should work great for her. They seem to be of better quality than my Joe Rocket Sub Zero gloves (don't let the name fool you...without grip heaters I'd be screwed).
They're leather and Gore Tex.
Any other nice scores or work in preparation for 2017?
