Another wiring question for heated clothes

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Oct 9, 2009 | 09:20 AM

etstrine

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From: Kings Mountain, NC

Another wiring question for heated clothes

My wife and I have been using heated vests for a few seasons now and we really enjoy them. They are the old style plugs and to power them I used a splitter off of my Battery Tender plug, with simple on/off switches for each. Well I bit the bullet last week and bought heated jacket liners and gloves for both of us (got a good deal from someone on Craigslist) and I am ready to wire them up this weekend. These new jacket liners have the newer plug style (pin style) and they each came with their own wiring harness to hook them directly to the battery. If I hook both of these directly to the battery, there will be three leads attached to each post of the battery (the Battery Tender plug and two heated clothing plugs). I am not too crazy about having all of those wires hooked directly to the battery. My questions is this: Do any of you have a better way to do this? Any pictures would also be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Oct 9, 2009 | 09:46 AM

hullhorr

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From: Mount Airy, MD

The only thing I can tell you for certain is that you cannot buy an adapter to plug everything into the battery tender lead. I thought you could, but a couple weeks ago I went into my local dealer and they said they don't make one, that I would have to connect the heated clothing pigtail to the battery directly. Apparently they used to make one, but there was some issue with the amperage and fuses burning out the clothes bla bla bla!

I don't think it's a problem to connect both to the battery along with your tender. I'll check the owners manual tonight and see if it makes any reference.

Oct 9, 2009 | 10:04 AM

etstrine

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From: Kings Mountain, NC

I'm thinking about running one set of wires to a fuse block where I could hook up all three sets. But when I start thinking I get in to trouble, if you know what I mean.

Oct 9, 2009 | 10:09 AM

gmc

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From: Salt Lake City, UT. Dushore, Pa.

I'm pretty sure they have a splitter adapter that you and your wife can use. I'm not sure about the battery tender.
This is good question since I have the old style plugs on my gloves and the new plugs on my jacket liner and so far just run two wires. I know the right person can just wire up an adapter for the battery tender. My neightbor is good at this but he's on vacation but maybe Radio Shack has that plug, else call Gerbing's and they probable have or can make an adapter 800-646-5916. http://gerbing.com/Products/accessories.html

Oct 9, 2009 | 10:17 AM

timvan

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From: Acworth, Ga

Nothing wrong with having 3 cables coming off the battery, you are better off doing this than going downstream of the battery to a fusebox

Oct 9, 2009 | 12:25 PM

SamB

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From: Southwest Colorado

I just purchased Gerbing's heated jacket liner and gloves. I asked Gerbing's about an adapter for the battery tender plug and they said not to use anything like that and I don't think it is available anyway. And to answer your question, it is fine to run three wires off the battery terminals. This is what I am now doing with no problem.

SamB

Oct 9, 2009 | 01:53 PM

Peculierboy

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From: Baa Haaba, Maine

If you have an 04 or later model, you can use one of the HD Electrical Accessory Adapter, it's plug and play into the wiring harness, you solder your own ends on, works great. HD Part #70270-04 http://www.harley-davidson.com/gma/g...bmLocale=en_US