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Building a "dimmer" for heated vest

Started by Monsterlover, March 19, 2009, 05:28:54 PM

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Howie

#15
March 20, 2009, 10:11:13 PM
Crude.

mitt

#16
March 21, 2009, 05:23:59 PM
Quote from: Monsterlover on March 20, 2009, 02:38:04 PM
Here's a pic of the control box I have now.

The knob is in the middle of the X, obviously, and spreads the two bars apart the more you tighten it.



looks like a bimetal assembly.  You adjust the gap between the conductors, they touch and heat up, but when they get hot enough, they separate, then as they are cooling, they touch again and then start heating up, repeat.  Much like thermostat for your furnace, only it uses the surrounding air to judge if the current should flow or not.

mitt

Monsterlover

#17
March 22, 2009, 07:17:44 AM
So you guys think this PWM controller thing is the way to go?
"The Vincent was like a bullet that went straight; the Ducati is like the magic bullet in Dallas that went sideways and hit JFK and the Governor of Texas at the same time."--HST    **"A man who works with his hands is a laborer.  A man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman.  A man who works with his hands, brains, and heart is an artist."  -Louis Nizer**

Howie

#18
March 22, 2009, 07:30:10 AM
Quote from: Monsterlover on March 22, 2009, 07:17:44 AM
So you guys think this PWM controller thing is the way to go?

Absolutely.  Solid state, smaller and more consistent.

Gimpy

#19
March 22, 2009, 03:18:13 PM
Maybe it relies on the vibration of the bike to pulse modulate.   [laugh]  Thanks for posting that.  I like to see older solutions to things before solid state took over.  [thumbsup]  That said I agree with everyone else, buy the smaller PWM thing that you can install on the bike itself. 

Monsterlover

#20
March 22, 2009, 07:36:39 PM
Quote from: mitt on March 21, 2009, 05:23:59 PM
looks like a bimetal assembly.  You adjust the gap between the conductors, they touch and heat up, but when they get hot enough, they separate, then as they are cooling, they touch again and then start heating up, repeat.  Much like thermostat for your furnace, only it uses the surrounding air to judge if the current should flow or not.

mitt

The two arms of the X don't touch.  The "inner" arm stays as is (that I can see) the "upper arm" is the one that is "bendable"  Turning the knob tightens a screw against the center of the upper arm, putting a bow in it.  As far as I can tell, they don't touch except at this point.

I think I'll get the pwm deal.

Thanks for all the input guys!

"The Vincent was like a bullet that went straight; the Ducati is like the magic bullet in Dallas that went sideways and hit JFK and the Governor of Texas at the same time."--HST    **"A man who works with his hands is a laborer.  A man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman.  A man who works with his hands, brains, and heart is an artist."  -Louis Nizer**

DEVO!

#21
March 23, 2009, 01:02:41 PM
You dont need it if the vest doesn't get that hot! just get a on/off switch. when I ride with it on the freeway around 50 degrees its nice and warm I haven't had to adjust it at all. I would test it out first before you make any plans to make it adjustable you may not need it, I have the exact same box and have never used it the on/off switch that came with it looks like a switch that controls a table lamp and thats all you need I wouldnt mess around with it too much its old tech and you dont want to turn your vest into an electronic grill! [laugh]

Monsterlover

#22
March 23, 2009, 01:12:01 PM
Too late, pwm controller already on order ;D

8)
"The Vincent was like a bullet that went straight; the Ducati is like the magic bullet in Dallas that went sideways and hit JFK and the Governor of Texas at the same time."--HST    **"A man who works with his hands is a laborer.  A man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman.  A man who works with his hands, brains, and heart is an artist."  -Louis Nizer**

DEVO!

#23
March 23, 2009, 01:59:08 PM
I got mine really cheap and it was never used, it came with all the accessories and it was all sealed in plastic. the date on the printed instructions was 1981. I have used mine for 2 years and no problems the cord did come out of one of the white plastic connectors but that has been the only thing that has happened. keep in mind that it is not the newer version that uses radiant heat I believe the term is but these are more along the lines of an eclectic blanket. with that  said let me know how it works out but I am very happy with mine.

Monsterlover

#24
May 27, 2009, 07:52:09 PM
To update you all:

I got the PWM controller and paid a local audio shop to unsolder the pot and extend it 5 feet.  I didn't feel comfortable that I could do it and not get solder places it's not supposed to be.

I got a case at radio shack and trimmed the lid to allow the heat sink (or is it sync?) to stick through. I soldered some leads to the board and ran them through a grommet.

I took apart the wider wiring so that I could use their plugs with my own wiring.

The original wiring was old and I felt like it might contribute to me being burned alive so I redid it all.

It works *very* well. With the knob full ccw it's off. Full cw is almost uncomfortably hot with somewhere in the middle being just right.

Total cost was $50 for everything and I mounted the knob on my little aluminum plate "dash" I have bolted to the bar clamps, right next to the grip heater switch.

Other than what you can see coming off the pot all the wiring is hidden :)

Thank you to everyone who posted here.

Well, except mrinc. I just like to defy your logic ;D

;)
"The Vincent was like a bullet that went straight; the Ducati is like the magic bullet in Dallas that went sideways and hit JFK and the Governor of Texas at the same time."--HST    **"A man who works with his hands is a laborer.  A man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman.  A man who works with his hands, brains, and heart is an artist."  -Louis Nizer**
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