Heated cold-weather gear: Difference between revisions

Line 43:

[http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?storeId=226&catalogId=40000000226&langId=-1 Campmor] is one of the most popular places for outdoor gear.

====Installing heated grips====

"Heated grips are the BEST modification anyone can do to their bike." Well, some may vote for the 15T sprocket, and others will go for 'non-stock tires', but we'll grant a little leeway to our enthusiastic clubber, considering that these grips can add some real time to each end of the riding season. "They are soooooo cozy and warm. I did not want to get off my bike when I was testing them out!" (In all fairness, he seldom wants to get off his bike. We like that in a fellow rider.)

They are fairly simple to put on, but do require some electrical know-how. The switch was provided, but a female crimp connector and some heat shrink tubing needed to be bought. You also need to know how to solder and have a decent iron to help you out. Here are the directions as provided by [http://www.aerostich.com/catalog/US/Heated-Grip-Kit-p-16539.html Aerostich]. (Really! The dog ate my homework!)

[[Image:IMG_0748-1.jpg|100px]]

There are two joints to solder. You can see them and the rest of the wiring in this photo.

[[Image:IMG_0744.jpg|150px]]

Here is a close up of the soldering points covered in shrink tubing and electrical tape.

[[Image:IMG_0741.jpg|150px]]

Here is a picture of the female end you need to attach to the switch. These are just standard crimp connectors, available at any hardware store.

[[Image:IMG_0742.jpg|150px]] [[Image:IMG_0747.jpg|150px]] [[Image:IMG_0743.jpg|150px]]

These are the accessory wires (yes, the ones that everyone writes in and asks about). The stock wiring on the bike is 18 AWG. If you're using these accessory wires, then there's no use in using any bigger wire than that for this modification. If you're running the hot and ground wire back to the battery, however, you might want to use something a little heavier for this heat-producing application. Ring connectors (not shown) were used to plug into the accessory connections. Obviously, each one is only connected to one wire.

[[Image:IMG_0740.jpg|150px]]

'''One important thing to remember:''' The aux/accessory wires get power ALL of the time, even when there is no key in the ignition. This page on [http://www.canyonchasers.net/shop/generic/relay.php Canyon Chasers] has good ideas on how to use relays so you can turn off the accessories when the key goes off. This bike has the high/off/low switch mounted on the right side fairing. Just consider how easy it would be to forget to shut off the switch when it is cold out and you want to be in.

Some manufacturers say to glue the grips to the heaters, but that's not necessary. They stay put just fine. Just mount them [[I want to get some new grips.|in the usual way]].

There is another good article on mounting heated grips on the [http://www.canyonchasers.net/shop/generic/heated-grips-alt.php Canyon Chasers.net] website.

@@ Line 43: / Line 43: @@
 [http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?storeId=226&catalogId=40000000226&langId=-1 Campmor] is one of the most popular places for outdoor gear.
+====Installing heated grips====
+"Heated grips are the BEST modification anyone can do to their bike." Well, some may vote for the 15T sprocket, and others will go for 'non-stock tires', but we'll grant a little leeway to our enthusiastic clubber, considering that these grips can add some real time to each end of the riding season. "They are soooooo cozy and warm. I did not want to get off my bike when I was testing them out!" (In all fairness, he seldom wants to get off his bike. We like that in a fellow rider.)
+They are fairly simple to put on, but do require some electrical know-how. The switch was provided, but a female crimp connector and some heat shrink tubing needed to be bought.  You also need to know how to solder and have a decent iron to help you out. Here are the directions as provided by [http://www.aerostich.com/catalog/US/Heated-Grip-Kit-p-16539.html Aerostich]. (Really! The dog ate my homework!)
+[[Image:IMG_0748-1.jpg|100px]]
+There are two joints to solder. You can see them and the rest of the wiring in this photo.
+[[Image:IMG_0744.jpg|150px]]
+Here is a close up of the soldering points covered in shrink tubing and electrical tape.
+[[Image:IMG_0741.jpg|150px]]
+Here is a picture of the female end you need to attach to the switch. These are just standard crimp connectors, available at any hardware store.
+[[Image:IMG_0742.jpg|150px]]  [[Image:IMG_0747.jpg|150px]]  [[Image:IMG_0743.jpg|150px]]
+These are the accessory wires (yes, the ones that everyone writes in and asks about). The stock wiring on the bike is 18 AWG.  If you're using these accessory wires, then there's no use in using any bigger wire than that for this modification. If you're running the hot and ground wire back to the battery, however, you might want to use something a little heavier for this heat-producing  application. Ring connectors (not shown) were used to plug into the accessory connections. Obviously, each one is only connected to one wire.
+[[Image:IMG_0740.jpg|150px]]
+'''One important thing to remember:'''  The aux/accessory wires get power ALL of the time, even when there is no key in the ignition. This page on [http://www.canyonchasers.net/shop/generic/relay.php Canyon Chasers] has good ideas on how to use relays so you can turn off the accessories when the key goes off. This bike has the high/off/low switch mounted on the right side fairing. Just consider how easy it would be to forget to shut off the switch when it is cold out and you want to be in.
+Some manufacturers say to glue the grips to the heaters, but that's not necessary. They stay put just fine. Just mount them [[I want to get some new grips.|in the usual way]].
+There is another good article on mounting heated grips on the [http://www.canyonchasers.net/shop/generic/heated-grips-alt.php Canyon Chasers.net] website.