Battery Heated Jacket

[SpudRider]

I've decided I am going to stick with the cordless tool batteries. Milwaukee uses Samsung INR18650 cells in its M12, Red Lithium battery packs.





If I decide to buy similar battery cells and manufacture my own battery packs, I will place the cells in a rectangular package. Now I need to research the methods and materials for shrink wrapping the battery package.

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by recracer

Spud . I buy these from china . i was going to post on ebay ,but the price of the solid case Shorai and generics makes it hard to compete and gain a Reasonable profit . After paypal and ebay fees . This red one has true a123 systems cells at 3.3 volts per cell . china makes a lifepo4 cell at 3.2 volts per cell . At this time i am not sure when or who will be making the a123 cell . a123systems filed bankruptcy and sold off some of it's divisions. However there are still many oe a123 cells in the pipeline . If anyone would be interested, i would see what i could do , 4 cell , 8 cell or larger . The price to chinariders would be a token profit plus shipping cost .This 8cell wieghs in at 1.9lbs and cranks the viva faster than a leadacid battery ever could .http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/q...psea8a400a.jpg

Thanks for the good information, Racer.

[SpudRider]

My Heatcore heated jacket was shipped on Friday, and is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday.

[SpudRider]

I can buy the 2.0 AHr, Samsung batteries on eBay.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trks...=293&_from=R40

It appears I could build my own, rectangular battery packs for about $20, plus the cost of the shrink wrap. Can anyone help me learn more about packaging methods and materials? I could charge my rectangular battery packs with the charger supplied with my jacket. I could also buy a Milwaukee charger, and use alligator clips to rig the connections.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trks...at=0&_from=R40

Of course, I can keep things simple, and just use the Milwaukee, M12 battery packs. They don't look that uncomforable, especially when riding a motorcycle, walking around town, or working outside.

[GlennR]

Spud,

Here's a thread that you might like to check out. http://advrider.com/forums/showthrea...=928036&page=3

And check this battery holder, that is also linked from that thread.
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/1-Battery-Hol...item33729fd669

For a wrapper, how about the plastic dip stuff for tool handles? (Duct tape would probably be fine for me.)

[GlennR]

Another idea....

For only $54 you can just buy another complete heated jacket, for a spare or a guest to borrow. Then you'd have a spare battery pack that's a perfect fit, instead of piecing one together.

Hmm?

I think I've just sold myself on that idea!!

(You can always repack the battery pack if the original batteries ever die.)

[Weldangrind]

Originally Posted by recracer

Spud . I buy these from china . i was going to post on ebay ,but the price of the solid case Shorai and generics makes it hard to compete and gain a Reasonable profit . After paypal and ebay fees . This red one has true a123 systems cells at 3.3 volts per cell . china makes a lifepo4 cell at 3.2 volts per cell . At this time i am not sure when or who will be making the a123 cell . a123systems filed bankruptcy and sold off some of it's divisions. However there are still many oe a123 cells in the pipeline . If anyone would be interested, i would see what i could do , 4 cell , 8 cell or larger . The price to chinariders would be a token profit plus shipping cost .This 8cell wieghs in at 1.9lbs and cranks the viva faster than a leadacid battery ever could .http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/q...psea8a400a.jpg

Please send me a PM with the details. I'd love to hear about the price.

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by GlennR

Spud,

Here's a thread that you might like to check out. http://advrider.com/forums/showthrea...=928036&page=3

And check this battery holder, that is also linked from that thread.
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/1-Battery-Hol...item33729fd669

For a wrapper, how about the plastic dip stuff for tool handles? (Duct tape would probably be fine for me.)

Thank you for posting the thought-provoking thread and links. After doing some more research, I think I have found the best battery packs for the YesMind Heatcore jacket.

The highest capacity, 3-cell, Milwaukee M12 battery has a 2.0 AHr capacity, and costs at least $30, or more. The following 3-cell battery has a 2.2 AHr capacity, and costs $20. In addition, this battery is rectangular, so it will fit more comfortably in the heated jacket's pocket. Also, this battery pack can be recharged by the charger which comes with the Heatcore jacket.

http://www.batteryspace.com/li-ion18...lswithpcb.aspx



If one needs even greater capacity, this 6-cell battery has a 4.4 AHr rating, and only costs $37.50. This battery will probably power the jacket on high heat for well over 4 hours. It would power the jacket on low heat for well over 18 hours.

http://www.batteryspace.com/li-ion18...hinacells.aspx

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by GlennR

Another idea....

For only $54 you can just buy another complete heated jacket, for a spare or a guest to borrow. Then you'd have a spare battery pack that's a perfect fit, instead of piecing one together.

Hmm?

I think I've just sold myself on that idea!!

(You can always repack the battery pack if the original batteries ever die.)

The second battery and extra charger are probably worth over $30 by themselves. I might choose this option, myself. I will know much more concerning how well this jacket performs after I receive it, in three days.

[SpudRider]

One could also solder a male coaxial connector to the two leads of the Harbor Freight, 1.3 AHr, lithium ion battery. Several wraps of electrical tape would then cover the exposed tabs. This battery normally sells for $20, but a 25 percent off coupon would lower the price to $15.



One could then recharge the HF lithium battery with the charger that accompanies the Heatcore jacket. Of course, one could also pop the cover off the $18, 1.5 AHr, Chinese battery, solder two wires to the connectors, and thread the wires through the cover before he replaced it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Milwauke...item3382b35c48

[recracer]

Originally Posted by Weldangrind

Please send me a PM with the details. I'd love to hear about the price.

i seem to be having trouble using PM in the new forum system . any thing i need to do?

[Weldangrind]

Originally Posted by recracer

i seem to be having trouble using PM in the new forum system . any thing i need to do?

I received both of your PM's, and I responded this morning. Thanks!

[SpudRider]

FedEx delivered my YesMind, Heatcore heated jacket this morning. I am very pleased with the quality of this jacket. I ordered a large size jacket, and I think the sizing is true for a North American body. The sleeves are a little tight in the upper arms; if you are a body builder, you might want to order one size larger than you normally do. Otherwise, this jacket appears to be almost identical to the Milwaukee heated jacket, including the nice, elastic sealed cuffs.

The jacket comes with a 5.5mm x 2.1mm power jack. The battery pack came charged. However, I plugged the battery into the supplied charger to top off the charge. The charger completed the top off charge in 45 minutes. The charger requires 5 hours to fully charge a drained battery.

The lithium ion battery supplied with this jacket is rated at 2.2 Ahr, and is ruggedly manufactured. Currently, the Milwaukee M12 battery packs are only available in this size at 2.0 Ahr capacity. The 3-cell battery supplied with this jacket is lightweight, and comes with an LED light and test button. When you press the button, the light glows green if the battery is fully charged. The light glows red if the battery needs to be charged. The supplied battery charger also has an LED light. The light glows red when the battery is being charged, and glows green when the charge is completed.

I am going to give the jacket a test ride today, and I will report my review this evening. The free shipping code at Sportsman's Guide expires today. Therefore, unless you join the buyer's club, the jacket will cost $11 more if you order it tomorrow.

[FastDoc]

Enjoy your jacket Spud, electric heat is the only way to go when it's in the 40's or below for me.

I wore my Gerbing jacket liner and gloves this morning and I felt like I was still in my jammies wrapped in the electric blankie set on high.

I honestly think that with this combination, and my chaps, I could ride the Gold Wing comfortably at very cold temps.

I'll test it too. If on some sunny day this winter it gets very cold (we can briefly get down to 0 here), I'm going riding.

[SpudRider]

I rode about 130 miles today while testing my Heatcore heated jacket, and it worked great! I am very pleased with the quality of this jacket. I started my ride with temperatures in the forties, and ended my ride with temperatures in the fifties. In between, the high temperature today was in the sixties.



I wore my Heatcore heated jacket under a fleece vest and my rain jacket.



I climbed 1,500 feet to the top of Big Southern Butte.



I got home just before sunset.



I ran the jacket on low heat for 4-1/2 hours, and medium heat for 1 hour. I also ran the jacket on high heat for 1 hour, intentionally draining the battery after I returned home.

The 2.2 Ahr battery which comes with this jacket outperforms the specifications set by the 1.5 Ahr battery which was included with the original Milwaukee jacket. Here are the standards for the 1.5 Ahr battery.

High Heat: 2 hours
Medium Heat: 4 hours
Low Heat: 6 hours

I believe the Heatcore, 2.2 Ahr battery will last 50 percent longer than the original, Milwaukee, 1.5 Ahr battery. Here are the standards I estimate based upon today's performance by the 2.2 Ahr battery.

High Heat: 3 hours
Medium Heat: 6 hours
Low Heat: 9 hours

The Heatcore jacket operates exactly like the Milwaukee M12 jacket; I'm sure it comes from the same factory in China.



The 2.2 Ahr battery and charger supplied with this jacket are worth at least $30 themselves. At a price of $55, delivered, this jacket represents an exceptional value. I am very pleased with this purchase.