Electric Vest question

[willowstreetguzziguy]

Both my wife and I have Eclipse electric vests that we bought way back when. Over the years, I've used mine quite often and it continues to work fine. she hasn't used hers much and hers doesn't work.

My wife's vest and chaps (which hook together with a "Y" connector) do not generate heat.

I have her wiring harnesses attached to the battery, Mine was installed by the dealer. There is a 2nd harness that is between the battery harness and it plugs into the vest & chaps. This has the on/off toggle switch attached.

* I have plugged my vest into her harness and I get heat. So her harness has current
* I have used my harness on her vest and no heat

So I am getting current from both harness's. The fuse is good as I'm getting current from either harness.  I figure it must be something not working inside her vest & chaps.

Does anyone have a suggestion who you would have look at this or would you just throw them out?  Eclipse no longer sells them, (only the tank bags) so they are no help.  Any suggestions...

[Chuck in Indiana]

You're from California, right? Don't need that sissy stuff in California, anyway.
 

[willowstreetguzziguy]

No, Penna. where the high was 54 today. Any suggestions?

[Chuck in Indiana]

No, Penna. where the high was 54 today. Any suggestions?

Dang, I though you were in SoCal. I've quit riding when it is cold. 54 ain't it. 

I figure it must be something not working inside her vest & chaps.

You'd think both wouldn't go tits up at the same time. Same connector to both?

[ohiorider]

I'm the worst when it comes to anything electrical.  However, it would seem that there should be some way to use a multimeter to test whether the vest wiring is good, or if it is broken.  I'm thinking one probe on each of the vest's two connectors.  I haven't used a multimeter for a few years, but it seems that test #1 would be to check for continuity.  If the meter shows 'open' or 'infinity' it probably means a wire is broken within the vest.  Much like with a defective alternator rotor.

Now, will someone who understands this crap help this gentleman out?

[willowstreetguzziguy]

I just plugged her vest into my harness... part of her vest has heat but most of it does not. (wiring inside gone bad at spots?). As far as the chaps, plugged them into my harness and they get warm 100%.

So it appears that:

75% of her vest isn't working but 25% is.
Her harness is not transferring current.

QUESTIONS... Who can I have look at her vest to possibly get it working 100%... a tailor, _____?
                       What electrical instrument can I buy to check the electric current coming into and out of the harness?

In the meantime, I'll check the connection at the toggle switch.

 
 

[fubar guzzi]

I had same problem in86 with my Eclipse vest and chaps,company wouldn't give me the time of day.I am very glad they are out of business: its best for all of us. Use your products without electricity,then throw them where they belong.

[PeteS]

I just check my wife's eclipse vest. It reads 4 ohms if that helps.

Pete

[John Ulrich]

If you decide to upgrade to new......get sleeves and keep your arms warm too!

[willowstreetguzziguy]

Pete, thanks for the readout on the vest.

What type of measuring device should I get?
And any ideas who could repair an electric vest?

[LongRanger]

Give Rider's Warehouse (Aerostitch) a call. That's not their product, but they may be able to steer you in the right direction, or even offer to try to repair it.

[Kiwi_Roy]

If you decide to replace it I recommend Girbing, they have a great warrantee.

If I do a web search it comes up with Gyde, I'm not sure if this is legit.

[PeteS]

Pete, thanks for the readout on the vest.

What type of measuring device should I get?
And any ideas who could repair an electric vest?

I just used my multimeter across the two pin SAE connector on the vest. I think just about any ohmmeter should give a similar reading within a half ohm. If part of the vest is getting warm and some not it must be wired with a number of parallel circuits which I wouldn't have expected. I figured it was just continuos piece of resistance wire.

Pete

[Testarossa]

The heated sections are probably printed circuits on flexible plastic. If you google 12v heat pad you'll see dozens of cheap components like this from China. No warranty of course, but I've been tempted to buy a few of these to make saddle warmers etc.

It's possible that if you carefully slit the seams of the vest you might be able to find (and fix) the broken wire(s) or connectors leading to the bad heating elements.

[Wayne Orwig]

My Widder vest had a bad spot. It is made of a thin nichrome wire spiraled in insulation. It took a lot of work to find the bad spot. Repairing it wasn't too hard.
If you are unable to repair it yourself, I suspect the cost, just to find the bad spot, will be too much, and you would be better off getting a new one.

Lay it flat and run your hand over it. Do you feel ridges, were the wires run?

[pyoungbl]

The heated clothing business has gone through some significant changes in the past 10 years or so.  I can remember my Gerbing vest, circa about 1995, with what felt like #12 wires running throughout.  The connection itself was an industrial looking beast that appeared to only be found with Gerbing.  Oh, and there was only 'on' or 'off'.  The Gerbing worked OK but only OK.  It was also heavy.  Nowdays it looks like almost everyone has moved on to micro heating elements where you can hardly tell that there is anything there.  Still, the new stuff gets good and warm and a modern vest feels no more bulky than a sweater.  Finally, the controllers nowdays are usually timed so they switch between on and off based on how much heat you want.  That way you are only drawing the amount of current needed.  Rather than trying to fix an old heated vest I'd recommend getting something newer and including a quality controller.  You'll be more comfortable and get better heat.  Warm & Safe, Gerbing, Aerostich, etc. all appear to be so similar as to be made in the same factory and thus interchangeable.  You could probably use the vest from one with a controller from another.  I pack my electric vest for every trip, summer or winter.  In my mind it's a critical bit of gear.

Peter Y.

[redrider]

I have a 5 year old Warm and Safe with wires. It is a great outer walking the dog, add a battery, and as an unplugged base layer under leathers. It gets a lot of use. Still works but I wonder about the durability of the newer carbon elements. Firstgear glove liners as well.