diy heated jacket

[mighty ninja]

anybody used these heat4jackets.com ?
and anybody got any ideas about adding a heat controller?
pro"s and cons for this system?

thanks in advance for any input.

[Snaphappy]

I have got a heat mat from heatpro that sits in the pocket for the backprotecter reaches 37° so no need to regulate either on or off


and the pdf auf kraut
http://www.heatpro.de/media/downloads/HeatUpPad.pdf

[winxp-master]

+1 on the heat pads, snap got me one and sent it over, there bliss.

I have installed a 12v adaptor to my handlebar and simplt plug in and switch on, if i get to warm i just switch off, simple.

I didnt put mine in a back insert i just slip it up my front as thats where i get cold, well, not any more i dont

[donkster]

I've made 2 of the heat4jackets kits, very easy, couple of hours work

has kept me warm during this winter, and heating your body core means no more cold hands or feet

thoroughly recommended!

looks like spring is here today though so maybe too late?

[mighty ninja]

you could be right about the warm weather been here,was just wondering if it would be a good project to try,might look for some used HG jacket and trouser liners to make a full suit.hoping to go to sweden and norway later in the year but hopfully in the summer months,might take one just in case though.thanks everyone for the input.

[Traveller]

I did this.
I bought a heated car seat cover off e bay for £14 inc postage. The power consumption is about 40 watts (similar to heated jackets).

I carefully cut the cover up and stripped out the heating elements. There are two heating loops (the white insulated wires). One for the seat base and one for the backrest. I re connected the wires up in the same configuration to ensure the same resistance.

I then used masking tape to hold the heater wires in place temporarily whilst I laid them out evenly spaced on the inside of a quilted gillett/waistcoat.

I then sewed the wire in place with loops of cotton (tedious). The seat pad comes with a cable clamp to anchor the power wire to the jacket, a two stage switch that can be utilised and a cigarete lighter plug all ready fitted.

You have to wear it over a tee shirt to keep the wires from direct contact to your skin. I thought I would line the gillett with some material to cover the wires and reduce the risk of snagging them.

It certainly works. The project is work in progress as the quilted gillett is too bulky to fit well under my bike kit. Now I know it works I am prepared to spend some time refining it (ie sort out a less bulky gillett).

Re a controller.
The two stage switch with the seat pad just bypasses a short length of the heater wire when switched on to high, some of the wire doesnt heat up but the rest is hotter.

The electronic controllers feed pulses of 12 volts. The higher the setting the longer the on part of the pulse and the shorter the off part. Full on is no off pulse. Full off is no on pulse.

I am told lectric model aircraft use the same technique to alter the motor speed. These controllers will cope with much more than the 4 amps the jacket heater uses. Alternativly buy a controller for another make of jacket and plumb it in.

At the moment I am relying on simple on off to regulate. I will play further when the jacket is sorted. I am also toying with some gloves, trousers and in-soles ideas.

I have since bought the kit you mentioned and intend to use it for the above projects, arranging the wiring to suit (no pun intended but left in now I have typed it). It seems ideal, with less faff than reverse engineering (cutting up) the car seat cover.
Hope this is of interest.

[Kjell Lindberg]

I just took the whole car seat heater and hanged it on my shoulders.

seat part on my front and the back on my back so to say.

No regulator, I do not have that on my handgripheater either.

just on/off, simple.

I live by the rule of KISS

Keep It Simple Stupid!

[mighty ninja]

thanks for that traveller,i was thinking a heat controller from gerbings or one of the other manufacturers usually costs a minimum of 30 quid so add that to some HG liners and you are well on your way to the price of just buying a heated jacket from one of the cheaper manufacturers.still some good ideas though,let us know how you get on with the heat4jackets kit...thanks

[Dangerous_Dave]

You could try lining your jacket with tin foil.

I found that on my way back from Tesco's once, when I had forgotten my bag and bought a big pack of Dorito's, that keeping the pack in my jacket really reflected my body heat back on to me. It was surprisingly warm.

[winxp-master]

It was surprisingly warm
when the lightning struck.

fixed it