Heated jacket question
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Intermediate
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Heated jacket question
I bought a used RKC, and there is a pigtail coming off the battery which the seller said was for a battery tender. To my uninformed eye it looked like whats used to run a heated jacket too. So could I somehow plug one into it, or am I way off base here?
Thanks in advance!
Thanks in advance!
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 280
Likes: 10
From: Knoxville, TN
When I bought my Ultra, it had a pigtail for heated clothing. Of course it was put on by the previous owner. You'll just have to look at the pigtail, the corresponding plug on the clothing, and see if they match.All the clothing takes is a hot and ground, so it's easy to wire.
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 190
Likes: 2
From: Central MA
I believe some heating clothing does use a pigtail like a battery tender. A friend of mine had some but I don't recall the name. The Gerbing gear I have uses a round plug. The problem you will likely have is the fuse may be too small to run the jacket if it really is a battery tender pigtail. I suppose you could swap it out for a larger one.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 492
Likes: 0
From: Castle Rock, CO
Depends on the connector - my Gerbing's gear uses a coaxial connector and the battery tender is a 2-pin quick disconnect. I made my own adapter by buying another battery tender cable, cutting off the ring terminals on both the Gerbing's and battery tender cables, and soldering the Gerbing's cable ends to the battery tender cable ends (remember to mind your +/- polarity when doing this). Plug this assembly into the battery tender cable that's connected to your battery and you're good to go.
Remember this is a straight to battery connection, so don't run your battery down by running your gear with your bike off.
edit: HDThunder makes a good point about fuse sizes. I swap fuses when running the heated gear.
Remember this is a straight to battery connection, so don't run your battery down by running your gear with your bike off.
edit: HDThunder makes a good point about fuse sizes. I swap fuses when running the heated gear.
Last edited by ks6c; May 19, 2011 at 02:45 PM. Reason: update
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,832
Likes: 37
From: Rockland County, NY
On an old bike I had I also spliced a Gerbing's cable patch cord to match the Battery Tender and used the same lead for both. As long as the fuse is the right amperage you've got nothing to worry about.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
you can mix an match to your hearts delight with different kinds of connectors and adapters for the heated gear and yes that is fine and the best place to tap into. I use by battery tender pigtail for the wifeys heated jacket.
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Road Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 871
Likes: 7
From: Manchester, NH
Gerbring used to make a coiled adaptor that plugs into the transformer side of the battery tender with a male coax on the other end. That way you can use the same connector coming off the battery for your heated gear & tender.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,336
Likes: 67
From: SW Minnesota
Go to Gerbings site and read the FAQ's.
A Battery Tender Plus only draws 1.25 amps, and some leads have only a 3 amp fuse. Heated clothing draws much more than that, and there is a big difference when you lay the two leads side by side.
The Gerbing lead has a 15 amp fuse.
See attached picture. The lead on the left is what comes with a Battery Tender Plus, with a 3 amp fuse. The lead on the right is the Gerbing, with a 15 amp fuse. The fuse holder is larger on the Gerbing....without stripping the wires I couldn't tell you what the wire gauge is.
The Battery Tender lead is a flat two prong connector. The Gerbing is a coaxial, although you can find adapters to use your Battery Tender on the Gerbing lead.
http://cozywinters.com/shop/wg-dcpg150sae.html
A Battery Tender Plus only draws 1.25 amps, and some leads have only a 3 amp fuse. Heated clothing draws much more than that, and there is a big difference when you lay the two leads side by side.
The Gerbing lead has a 15 amp fuse.
See attached picture. The lead on the left is what comes with a Battery Tender Plus, with a 3 amp fuse. The lead on the right is the Gerbing, with a 15 amp fuse. The fuse holder is larger on the Gerbing....without stripping the wires I couldn't tell you what the wire gauge is.
The Battery Tender lead is a flat two prong connector. The Gerbing is a coaxial, although you can find adapters to use your Battery Tender on the Gerbing lead.
http://cozywinters.com/shop/wg-dcpg150sae.html
Last edited by MNPGRider; May 19, 2011 at 06:20 PM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,347
Likes: 602
From: The 9th Island
Gerbing advises to use their pigtail for that reason, their pigtail is rated for the AMP Draw of their gear, your battery Tender pig tail may not be. We are talking wire gauge, not fuse size. You can use the Gerbing pigtail with the Battery Tender with the correct adapter, or make your own.