Trouble-Shooting Widder Vest

[James Burleigh]

I have a Widder heated vest and gloves. When I test the whole rig with my multi-meter I get good (100%) continuity in all wiring paths. And I've confirmed I'm getting voltage off the plug into the vest. But I don't feel no stinkin' heat! And damnit it's getting almost down to 50 degrees out here in the morning!

I do see that with the ignition off I'm getting about 9 to 9.5 V off the plug from the bike into the vest. With the engine on it jumps up to a little more than 10. WTF? Is that my problem? I don't want to buy new gear if it's the connection and not the gear.

Is less than 12 V enough not to feel the heat from the vest, and if yes, how do I increase the V coming off the bike? I'm using a cigarette lighter-style plug.

Thanks in advance.

Jb

 

[redtail]

The cigarete style plug is the problem, I believe. Was told it's not good enough for heated clothing. I've just added tourmaster vest with powerlet plug and it's the cats meow!!!

 

[Rogue]

Could be a bad connection under load. Connect and turn it on, then unplug one glove and check the voltage at the glove plug.

 

[dcarver]

JB-

I get good (100%) continuity in all wiring paths.

Put the ohmmeter in the lowest range, most likely x1, then read it again. It should not be zero, that indicates a direct short, which would draw way too much current, thus reducing your voltage. I'll measure my Widder when it warms up and daylight arrives.

with the ignition off I'm getting about 9 to 9.5 V

Is that with the vest plugged into the circuit or 'open', unplugged voltage?
Try this -

1. Disconnect vest and all other loads, e.g. aux lights off, flashers off, etc, just leave on the 'normal' running lights.
2. Measure voltage at vest connection, ignition on, bike not running. Should be approx 12.5 - 12.7 depending upon your battery condition. Not 10 volts. Test of battery/connections/wiring and relay if used.
3. Start bike, measure again, should be 13.6 to 14.3, approximate numbers (not 10). Test of charging system.
4. Engine running, plug in vest, no gloves connected, observe reading, should be > 12.7
5. Connect one glove, repeat.
6. Connect other glove, repeat.

Somewhre along this process you'll discover what's wrong.

Hey now, you are setting the voltmeter to VDC, when measuring voltage, (battery) right?

and Resistance when measuring Ohms (vest resistance)

Just askin' :lol:

If all this doesn't work, put more clothes on. :****:

 

[3dogs]

I do see that with the ignition off I'm getting about 9 to 9.5 V off the plug from the bike into the vest. With the engine on it jumps up to a little more than 10. WTF? Is that my problem? I don't want to buy new gear if it's the connection and not the gear. Is less than 12 V enough not to feel the heat from the vest, and if yes, how do I increase the V coming off the bike? I'm using a cigarette lighter-style plug.

You need to read my book to help you understand just what to test when having electrical problems.

Here is the link on this forum to the BOOK

 

[Grumpy]

A really stupid question, "Did you try turning the plug around where the controller cord plugs into the vest?" It makes a difference on my vests.

 

[Bounce]

check polarity. if using the digital controller, a reversed polarity will cause problems. (like Grumpy said)

 

[James Burleigh]

Thanks, all, for the great advice. Now I know the diagnostic path forward, from turning the plug ass-side up before plugging it in, to buying a book (when I can get free advice on the Forum? :blink: ), to taking the transmission apart (I think that's what Carver said to do), to putting on more %#$*! clothes (hey, Carver: :****: ).

This morning was the coldest we've had here in the Bay Area, at least from my morning-commute perspective. I left at 6AM to meet friends for breakfast (yes I have friends, and yes I was on the road by 6), and the temp was 42 F. That'll drop another 10 degrees before spring comes. I had put on long underwear in addition to the usual t-shirt, long-sleeved shirt, sweater, sweatshirt, and 'stitch, so I was tolerable on the body side. It was my hands that were in a lot of pain. So this is timely.

Thanks again, all you inglorious bastages! I'll let you know what I figure out.

 

[James Burleigh]

I confirmed that I get strong voltage off my trickle charger dongle (can I use that word? :glare: ) coming right off my battery. So today I picked up an SAE - Widder adapter at Calif Sport Touring. I plugged the adapter into my trickle charger and my vest into that. Presto: heat! It seems the problem is in the wiring from the battery to the BMW receptacle. Next time I decide to go through the agony of taking the panels off to get under the dash I'll address it. Thanks again, all, for your advice.

jb

 

[dcarver]

Thanks, all, for the great advice. Now I know the diagnostic path forward, from turning the plug ass-side up before plugging it in, to buying a book (when I can get free advice on the Forum? :blink: ), to taking the transmission apart (I think that's what Carver said to do), to putting on more %#$*! clothes (hey, Carver: :****: ).
This morning was the coldest we've had here in the Bay Area, at least from my morning-commute perspective. I left at 6AM to meet friends for breakfast (yes I have friends, and yes I was on the road by 6), and the temp was 42 F. That'll drop another 10 degrees before spring comes. I had put on long underwear in addition to the usual t-shirt, long-sleeved shirt, sweater, sweatshirt, and 'stitch, so I was tolerable on the body side. It was my hands that were in a lot of pain. So this is timely.

Thanks again, all you inglorious bastages! I'll let you know what I figure out.

I feel pretty, oh so pretty and loved! :lol:

25 this AM in Creston, :****:

 

[James Burleigh]

This weekend I disassembled my faring panels to get to the fuse box I installed under the dash so I could hook up my new Gerbing gloves and install the controller next to my hazards flasher. Anyway, I inspected the connection for the Widder vest at the cigarette lighter jack, and immediately spotted the problem. The idiot who connected it in the first place only wrapped the wires around the connection points on the cigarette lighter. So I soldered those points, and now am showing 14+ volts consistent coming off that connector. :yahoo: