SV650.org - SV650 & Gladius 650 Forum



Bikes - Talk & Issues Newsworthy and topical general biking and bike related issues. No crapola!
Need Help: Try Searching before posting

Reply
 
Thread Tools
Old 15-01-13, 02:40 AM   #1
bellisan
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Homemade heated vest controller?

I just got a hand-me-down heated vest. It has no controller. I looked at the site and they are available, but I don't want to spring for the $70.- for it. I could bodge up a really Neanderthal resistance based controller, but they end up dissipating power in the added resistors. So I was thinking that I could do something micro-controller based that would control the heat by varying the duty cycle. I should be able to use some power transistors as a switch and they would not dissipate much power, or I could go with a relay based solution. I was also thinking that I could incorporate a thermal sensor and create a feedback loop. Issues: my EE skills are poor at best, software is what I do. Anyone have any pointers or suggestions?
  Reply With Quote
Old 15-01-13, 06:48 AM   #2
punkyp
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Heated vest controller

Research pwm controllers.
  Reply With Quote
Old 15-01-13, 10:29 AM   #3
yorkie_chris
Noisy Git
Mega Poster
 
yorkie_chris's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Halifax/Leeds
Posts: 26,645
Default Re: Homemade heated vest controller?

I'd use an atmega328
Link the ADC to a variable resistor or some sort of lo-hi-off 3 way switch, then one or two mosfets to control it through pwm

You might also want to look at arduino, it's a slightly higher level programming language. I've been using C for some diving stuff and to be honest it's giving me indigestion. By the time you've finishd you might wish you'd spent the $70... will be fun though!
__________________
Currently Ex Biker
Now rebuilding a 63' fishing trawler as a dive boat

Last edited by yorkie_chris; 15-01-13 at 10:30 AM.
yorkie_chris is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15-01-13, 10:31 AM   #4
Mark_h
Member
Mega Poster
 
Mark_h's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Fleet, Hampshire
Posts: 2,448
Default Re: Homemade heated vest controller?

Or just have a switch. If cold torn to -On. If warm enough turn to - Off. Replace with a thermostat inside the jacket if you find you are turning it on/off too often. Or are the elements so powerful you'd end up basted?
__________________
Don't want to be the quickest; don't want to be the best; just want to be the one having the most fun.
XL125Varadero -> Curvy SV650N-Y -> SV1000N-K3 -> Multistrada 1200s Twin-tastic stuff.
Minister for Sustainability
Aliquid prudentissimus delectabiles et intelligentes in adamasset lingua.
Mark_h is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15-01-13, 03:32 PM   #5
keith_d
Member
Mega Poster
 
keith_d's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Ruislip
Posts: 1,131
Default Re: Homemade heated vest controller?

Quote:
Originally Posted by yorkie_chris View Post
I'd use an atmega328
Link the ADC to a variable resistor or some sort of lo-hi-off 3 way switch, then one or two mosfets to control it through pwm

You might also want to look at arduino, it's a slightly higher level programming language. I've been using C for some diving stuff and to be honest it's giving me indigestion. By the time you've finishd you might wish you'd spent the $70... will be fun though!
Sounds like vast overkill for a heated vest. Just use a variable duty cycle oscillator (ICM7555?) and a high current FET switch. If you're not warm enough turn up the duty cycle.
keith_d is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15-01-13, 03:35 PM   #6
yorkie_chris
Noisy Git
Mega Poster
 
yorkie_chris's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Halifax/Leeds
Posts: 26,645
Default Re: Homemade heated vest controller?

Quote:
Originally Posted by keith_d View Post
Sounds like vast overkill for a heated vest. Just use a variable duty cycle oscillator (ICM7555?) and a high current FET switch. If you're not warm enough turn up the duty cycle.
That would probably be a better and cheaper alternative

I should add the caveat to my earlier post "I know nothing!"
__________________
Currently Ex Biker
Now rebuilding a 63' fishing trawler as a dive boat
yorkie_chris is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-01-13, 06:34 PM   #7
bellisan
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Homemade heated vest controller?

Quote:
Originally Posted by yorkie_chris View Post
I'd use an atmega328
Link the ADC to a variable resistor or some sort of lo-hi-off 3 way switch, then one or two mosfets to control it through pwm

You might also want to look at arduino, it's a slightly higher level programming language. I've been using C for some diving stuff and to be honest it's giving me indigestion. By the time you've finishd you might wish you'd spent the $70... will be fun though!
I've been looking into arduino, especially since I'm contemplating a brake and turn signal controller also. I enjoy C, haven't done it in a while. Don't much object to paying the money per se, just to paying it for a pot and a couple of wires.
  Reply With Quote
Old 16-01-13, 06:37 PM   #8
bellisan
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Homemade heated vest controller?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark_h View Post
Or just have a switch. If cold torn to -On. If warm enough turn to - Off. Replace with a thermostat inside the jacket if you find you are turning it on/off too often. Or are the elements so powerful you'd end up basted?
The resistance on the elements is 3ohm so max dissipation wil be about 50W, so should not cook. Besides I like to take projects like these as opportunities for learning, e.g. about power MOSFETS, software controlled feedback loops, sensor interfaces, etc.
  Reply With Quote
Old 18-01-13, 03:43 PM   #9
embee
Member
Mega Poster
 
embee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 2,801
Default Re: Homemade heated vest controller?

Plenty of stand alone off the shelf 12V pwm controllers available for pennies, like this for example . They are often described as motor speed controllers. At that sort of money I wouldn't bother messing about making anything, just put it in a box.
__________________
"Artificial Intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
embee is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Where/how did you mount your heated grips controller? Fifteen15 SV Talk, Tuning & Tweaking 10 26-03-12 08:51 AM
Heated Grip Controller munkygunn182 Stuff Wanted 4 19-10-11 05:33 PM
Heated Vest For Sale (New) cb1000rsteve For Sale - Other Bikes and General biking items 2 01-07-11 07:40 PM
Brand New Heated Vest For Sale cb1000rsteve For Sale - Other Bikes and General biking items 13 01-12-10 10:45 PM
New oxford heated grips controller Alpinestarhero SV Talk, Tuning & Tweaking 21 30-09-08 03:00 PM


All times are GMT. The time now is 11:59 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® - Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.