Oxford Hot hands

[donof]

If this has been covered - apologies, but I can't find any mention of it.

I've been looking at my unopened Hot hands all Summer but it's getting cold now so the problem is becoming accute.

If I understand correctly, the kit is supplied to be fitted directly across the battery; meaning that I will definitely forget to switch the things off and come back to a warm handled, flat batteried AT! Not much point in profit in that.

So I looked for a switched 12V point and found one on the ignition side of fuses B,C,D, so if I hook up there and forget to turn off the hot hands they will be switched by the ignition switch but...these things draw around 3A so it won't be long before I'll be looking at replacing the ignition switch which is not designed for this level of current as far as I know.

The solution seems to be to use a relay at the above point and let it do the switching, but there is no mention of needing to do this in the (pretty crap) instructions from Oxford (BTW don't waste your time trying to get through to 'technical support' as there can be only between 0 and 1 person in the place if it exists at all).

However, no one as far as I can see has mentioned having had any of the problems outlined above. Am I missing something and seeing problems where none exist and it really is as simple as Oxford imply?

Any feedback would be gratefully accepted. Thanks.

[barryw33]

If you buy a new pair of the oxford heated grips, they turn themselves off when not in use so just attach direct to battery

[Tarka]

You`ll be fine coming off the switched live that you mention....as long as you`re on the ignition side of the fuses.


You won`t need a relay.


Don`t worry.

[Tarka]

If you buy a new pair of the oxford heated grips, they turn themselves off when not in use so just attach direct to battery

How do they manage that then ???

[GSPD750]

I wired my heated grips into the switched side of the cooling fan. Chances of both fan and grip circuits on at the same time would be slim. I don't like the idea of 'hot wiring' to the battery even if it is auto shutoff. Our little batteries can't take a discharge for too long. Tarka is right...you won't need a relay.
More on Wiki.. http://www.xrv.org.uk/wiki/index.php...749&oldid=1748

[barryw33]

How do they manage that then ???

I dont know, its all the wizardry inside them, but they turn off by themselves. Ask others on here, they will back me on this

[donof]

I wired my heated grips into the switched side of the cooling fan. Chances of both fan and grip circuits on at the same time would be slim. I don't like the idea of 'hot wiring' to the battery even if it is auto shutoff. Our little batteries can't take a discharge for too long. Tarka is right...you won't need a relay.
More on Wiki.. http://www.xrv.org.uk/wiki/index.php...749&oldid=1748

Thanks guys, gives me the comfort I needed. Neither had I known that a wiki entry existed - some great info in it! Thanks

[shack]

Thanks for the info you guys, I've just wired up some hot hands Ive had in a box (and unopened) for the past 3 years! altough I'm not convinced these have an auto shut off.
I was thinking of just disconnecting the join between the batt wires and the on/off switch, I might investigate my other options futher.