It didn't take very long this year for this roof drain to develop a nice icicle. I'm hoping that the warm weather (+20°F and above) doesn't continue for too much longer. It makes for slick roads. On today's ride I was tempted to go back for the GoPro as even the main roads had 4" to a 12" of snow on them. And not a single DOT plow to be seen. I guess it means good business for the tow trucks and body shops in town.
While riding, I noticed that the heated gear wasn't heating. Upon stopping, the red led on the Gerbing dual controller was flashing indicating a short in that circuit somewhere. I disconnected the gloves and the jacket heated up nicely. When I got home I checked the gloves and the liner cables. Just like before, the cable on the jacket liner that feeds the gloves has developed a short. On top of that, the left glove is an open circuit indicating a broken wire somewhere. In both cases, the failure is a broken wire at the connector. I need to find better connectors.
Took the to connectors apart and re-terminated them. And used multiple layers of shrink tubing to reinforce the wire at the connector. The connector on the jacket liner has a cracked plastic housing. That probably led to the broken wire. Am I the only one that has this problem with heated gear? I checked the most recent Gerbing stuff and it still uses the same style connectors. They just don't design the gear for everyday use.
Apparently, they're going to have to design a tougher class of connectors for guys like you RichardM!
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking of using mini-XLR connectors. I started out looking at Amphenol mil-spec connectors but that seemed overkill.
DeleteI'll keep a careful eye out for when I start to use my G3's Richard. The weather is too warm for them now so it will have to be in 6 months or so!
ReplyDeleteI think that they just don't expect anyone to use them everyday especially at our winter temperatures. The older design with a plastic header in the jacket liner may have been a better design.
DeleteHeck that must be frustrating! I think I'd have a back-up to the gloves, would heated grips at least keep your hands moderately warm as a back-up?
ReplyDeleteI have heated grips as well. The grips keep your palms warm but the gloves do s much better job with the back of your hands and fingers. I have used just the heated grips and light gloves many times.
DeleteRichard
ReplyDeleteI've been using Hippo Hands for the last 5 years now,http://www.hippohands.com/URAL.htm
I've got heated grips, and in the winter at 15deg I've ridden with just wool liners on. My Gerbings always cracked the connector on the jacket. I cut one of the glove connectors off and extended the cord so it wasn't in a bending point. I also bought a pair of Gerbings trousers that I really like. Hippo hands just got back in business the original owner retired. Good luck
I have Hippo Hand copies that I picked up from Sportsmans Wharehouse which do a decent job of keeping the cold wind at bay. Without them the heated gloves and grips would almost be a waste of time once it gets below about 20°F.
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