Discussion
JackHolroyde said:
on this note - im thinking about getting the heated seats out of an old volvo and running the heating element through my bike seat. Any ideas how much current these draw?
No but if you can get hold of one you can work it out if you have a multimeter. Measure the resistance across the element in ohms (R) and you can then work out the current you'll get through it connecting it to a 12v supply. V = IR so if V is 12 then the current in amps will be 12/R. You can then work out the power in watts it will draw using P = IV. That is P = (V^2)/R or in our case P = 144/R. It's clear from this that you can control the power generated by the seat by controlling the voltage you provide to it which you can do with a dividing resistor or a rheostat from OW to the max power which will be 144/R.If you know all this and just want to know the result then no, no idea at all
Hooli said:
ive considered the same. i doubt a whole seat uses more than 3 or 4 amps as they arent relayed - just run on the switch. then allow that you'll only need one of the heated pads not both in the bike which'll halve the current use.
id say its a goo-er.
Thats what i was thinking. WHip off the seat cover, glue the heated pad on, wire it up to the heated grips (soon to be added), and staple the whole thing to the seat unit. Result.id say its a goo-er.
- mooches off to find abandoned Volvo*
Edited by JackHolroyde on Wednesday 12th December 12:51
JackHolroyde said:
I didn't know that. I wanted the answer.
I'm more of a 'plug it in, if it catches fire its wrong' sort of guy...
That's the way to find out.I'm more of a 'plug it in, if it catches fire its wrong' sort of guy...
It won't catch fire if you just plug it in because you'll be feeding it the same voltage as you get in a car so it'll produce the same amount of heat - that much is obvious, surely? I assumed the issues you were considering were firstly whether or not the alternator can handle it (depends on your bike and the power the seat uses) and whether or not bits of the bike will melt (depends where you put it and what the melting point of the materials are adjacent to it such as the seat padding, cover, bodywork etc).
If you don't want to work it out then just try it. The worst that will happen is that you'll break down in the middle of nowhere with a flat battery and your seat melted and stuck to your arse
Edited by dern on Wednesday 12th December 12:54
JackHolroyde said:
Thats what i was thinking. WHip off the seat cover, glue the heated pad on, wire it up to the heated grips (soon to be added), and staple the whole thing to the seat unit. Result.
If you're planning on simply wiring it to the output of the heated grip controller then the controller may not be rated for the extra power and it may melt or break... it may also not do either of these things and, as before, you can either work it out or just try it.dern said:
If you're planning on simply wiring it to the output of the heated grip controller then the controller may not be rated for the extra power and it may melt or break...
Agree.....I would wire it seperately with a switch.You can have an option of a built-in heating pad if you order a Corbin seat, so there's nothing wrong with the theory.
The thing is making sure the heating pad in an old Volvo/Saab or whatever is working...one small break in the internal wire and they are scrap.
That's why you should never let kids jump up and down on heated cars seats, or never kneel on a heated car seat.
Edited by aeropilot on Wednesday 12th December 13:22
dern said:
JackHolroyde said:
I didn't know that. I wanted the answer.
I'm more of a 'plug it in, if it catches fire its wrong' sort of guy...
That's the way to find out.I'm more of a 'plug it in, if it catches fire its wrong' sort of guy...
It won't catch fire if you just plug it in because you'll be feeding it the same voltage as you get in a car so it'll produce the same amount of heat - that much is obvious, surely? I assumed the issues you were considering were firstly whether or not the alternator can handle it (depends on your bike and the power the seat uses) and whether or not bits of the bike will melt (depends where you put it and what the melting point of the materials are adjacent to it such as the seat padding, cover, bodywork etc).
If you don't want to work it out then just try it. The worst that will happen is that you'll break down in the middle of nowhere with a flat battery and your seat melted and stuck to your arse
On my Multi the seat sits on the fuel tank. This could produce a very warm arse if a heated seat were fitted.
Edited by dern on Wednesday 12th December 12:54
JackHolroyde said:
dern said:
JackHolroyde said:
or, i could order a corbin seat
edit - they dont do them for CBR600s
Perhaps some thicker pants would be in order edit - they dont do them for CBR600s
Personally, I'm finding that having a very thin bit of plastic and a millimeter of padding between me and four exhaust pipes is quite sufficient, thanks very much 
Seems to be quite sufficient for the fuel tank too, as it seems to like breathing VMax at me in the middle of town, which is a little disconcerting, and reason enough to start hunting out a new seal for the filler cap.
I will admit, however to pondering the wisdom of heated grips on a pile of Italian electrics.
Seems to be quite sufficient for the fuel tank too, as it seems to like breathing VMax at me in the middle of town, which is a little disconcerting, and reason enough to start hunting out a new seal for the filler cap.I will admit, however to pondering the wisdom of heated grips on a pile of Italian electrics.
randlemarcus said:
Personally, I'm finding that having a very thin bit of plastic and a millimeter of padding between me and four exhaust pipes is quite sufficient, thanks very much Seems to be quite sufficient for the fuel tank too, as it seems to like breathing VMax at me in the middle of town, which is a little disconcerting, and reason enough to start hunting out a new seal for the filler cap.
You should have a breather hose running from your tank somewhere - check that that isn't blocked or pinched up somewhere. Did the problem start after a service by any chance? While your filler seal may be knackered the breather hose should be the path of least resistance for the fumes unless the seal is either missing or has failed pretty dramatically but if that was the case you'd probably have fuel in your lap too. Seems to be quite sufficient for the fuel tank too, as it seems to like breathing VMax at me in the middle of town, which is a little disconcerting, and reason enough to start hunting out a new seal for the filler cap.Edited by dern on Wednesday 12th December 15:08
Errr....
So is it fair to say I'm the only one still enjoying myself then?
Ride home from work was blast: spinning the back wheel over white lines, dozy car drivers pulling out on me coz they can't see my huge headlights
and the visor is covered in crap within 3 minutes of leaving the house. 
Why am I dreading getting a car again?
So is it fair to say I'm the only one still enjoying myself then?
Ride home from work was blast: spinning the back wheel over white lines, dozy car drivers pulling out on me coz they can't see my huge headlights
and the visor is covered in crap within 3 minutes of leaving the house. Why am I dreading getting a car again?
hiccy said:
Errr....
So is it fair to say I'm the only one still enjoying myself then?
Ride home from work was blast: spinning the back wheel over white lines, dozy car drivers pulling out on me coz they can't see my huge headlights and the visor is covered in crap within 3 minutes of leaving the house.
Why am I dreading getting a car again?
Nope I'm still loving my commute 20mins door to door, despite the dozy drivers, idiotic cyclists and crazy pedestrians. Anything is better than an overpacked tube train even in the winter!!!So is it fair to say I'm the only one still enjoying myself then?
Ride home from work was blast: spinning the back wheel over white lines, dozy car drivers pulling out on me coz they can't see my huge headlights
and the visor is covered in crap within 3 minutes of leaving the house. Why am I dreading getting a car again?
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