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[Eqcons]

Anyone ever done this?   The cheap universal kits on ebay look like they'd do the job happily enough.   I've thought about doing it for a few years, just never got round to it yet.   My wife is always cold so a bit of additional heat like this would be great....

Jim

[Twolanerider]

I've put an element in three backrests.  Two were HD and one was a Corbin.  The heating pad is as obvious as you'd expect.  Then just have to figure how much you're willing to see wires or not and fabricate accordingly. 

One I did was was just wires outside the pad hanging down.  Another HD the guy wanted a little more dress and we go some flexible wire wrap and put it around the original round tube and captured the wires inside.  The Corbin piece the guy who owned it wanted it most hidden.  We took to other pieces of square stock and welded to each side of the original square stock (for symmetry's sake).  On one it was flat edge to flat edge.  On the other we milled out a valley for the wires to go through and come out the bottom.  Wires then went down in side the receiver hole in the seat and came out the bottom.

[Eqcons]

I've put an element in three backrests.  Two were HD and one was a Corbin.  The heating pad is as obvious as you'd expect.  Then just have to figure how much you're willing to see wires or not and fabricate accordingly. 

One I did was was just wires outside the pad hanging down.  Another HD the guy wanted a little more dress and we go some flexible wire wrap and put it around the original round tube and captured the wires inside.  The Corbin piece the guy who owned it wanted it most hidden.  We took to other pieces of square stock and welded to each side of the original square stock (for symmetry's sake).  On one it was flat edge to flat edge.  On the other we milled out a valley for the wires to go through and come out the bottom.  Wires then went down in side the receiver hole in the seat and came out the bottom.

Thanks Don - I suspect you are talking about a rider backrest rather than the passenger one on the tourpack?  I'm thinking the element will be easy, and the switch can mount on the speaker box, and the wiring pass through the existing grommet into the tourpack, where I can hopefully pick up the required live feed, switched with the ignition.  Slight worry is the waterproofiness^tm of the switch.   A few years back when I first thought about this, I seem to recall finding a clear silicone cover for the switches that these cheap kits come with, but I can't find it now....

Jim

[Twolanerider]

Thanks Don - I suspect you are talking about a rider backrest rather than the passenger one on the tourpack?  I'm thinking the element will be easy, and the switch can mount on the speaker box, and the wiring pass through the existing grommet into the tourpack, where I can hopefully pick up the required live feed, switched with the ignition.  Slight worry is the waterproofiness^tm of the switch.   A few years back when I first thought about this, I seem to recall finding a clear silicone cover for the switches that these cheap kits come with, but I can't find it now....

Jim

I definitely brain-farted that one.  Was speaking to rider not tour pak backrest.  Tour pak would be even easier though. 

Once again the biggest hassle for the non-stitchery among us would be fear of the upholstery.  Once that is dealt with though the rest would be a straightforward chore.  Have done this twice too.  Though I admit to having an upholstery shop re-sew a Corbin cover back together once.  That was just more than I was up to. 

The rest was just shaping the inner core to accept the element then deciding where the wires were coming out of the pad.  That decision was based entirely on where it seemed best to enter the tour pak lid.  Once inside then just tied in to the existing 12v that was already inside for charging.  If that doesn't exist wiring it up from the battery or B+ connection somewhere is not a big deal.

[Eqcons]

Yep, I think it will be easy enough, Don - as far as I can see without removing it, the cover is stapled up the back so I'll need to get a staple gun.   Switch getting water in is what concerns me though.  It would be nice to live without an additional switch, and have it come on with the seat heating switch, but that would be altogether more difficult.

[OBB]

Yep, I think it will be easy enough, Don - as far as I can see without removing it, the cover is stapled up the back so I'll need to get a staple gun.   Switch getting water in is what concerns me though.  It would be nice to live without an additional switch, and have it come on with the seat heating switch, but that would be altogether more difficult.

Not to mention the extra load on the switch and circuit might not be a good idea unless you put a relay in to draw power from somewhere else and the seat switch to trigger the relay.

[Eqcons]

Not to mention the extra load on the switch and circuit might not be a good idea unless you put a relay in to draw power from somewhere else and the seat switch to trigger the relay.

Yup.

[Twolanerider]

Yep, I think it will be easy enough, Don - as far as I can see without removing it, the cover is stapled up the back so I'll need to get a staple gun.   Switch getting water in is what concerns me though.  It would be nice to live without an additional switch, and have it come on with the seat heating switch, but that would be altogether more difficult.

The two I did in backrests were very different from each other electrically.  One was as you'd expect.  Wired to B+ through a relay with a waterproof round push button on/off switch in the tour pak (owner's choice).  The switch came with the heating element kit as I recall. The other one was more trick though.

That one got a pad whose little harness had a remote receiver built in to it.  Simple two wire hook up.  Everything else was built in to its harness.  Passenger flipped her little remote for on to off and temp settings in between.  If memory serves the guy said he paid about $400 for that heating kit though.  Fancy costs more (in heating kits too).

[Eqcons]

No need for anything too fancy, it's for the wife remember! 

[Twolanerider]

No need for anything too fancy, it's for the wife remember! 

...and now we know she never reads here! 

[Twolanerider]

Hey Jim, for what it's worth, I just called one of the guys that I helped do this.  Went in a Corbin backrest on a king tour pak.  So it was that big wrap around backrest that Corbin offered.  We used an element that took up as much real estate we could.  If hit his wife pretty well shoulder to shoulder. 

I called to ask him what the wife said about effect.  Worthwhile or not?  The report was that while not earth shattering in improvement (no surprise there) it was "definitely noticeable."  Heated seat was deemed slightly more noticeable and the backrest pad was described at its best on nights that caught you by surprise and maybe didn't have enough of a jacket with you.  Through a heavy leather jacket and a couple of layers she claims to not feel as much. 

None of that seems a surprise.  For a marginal expense and just a little time probably worthwhile if the Mrs. is happy.

[Eqcons]

Thanks Don, that makes sense, and as it's a very cheap mod, I think I'll do it! 

[glinkmeyer]

Thanks Don, that makes sense, and as it's a very cheap mod, I think I'll do it! 

Have you thought about getting her a heated jacket liner, they are light wait and with a temperature controller can be set to keep you warm without turning it off and on. It is also under a jacket so it doesn’t have to heat through a jacket. We have had Gerbing heated jackets for 5 years now and really like them. We use the duel controller for both jackets with a wireless controller. Less work and only one plug in.


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[Eqcons]

She has a heated jacket already, as it happens.  One intended for skiing - recharegable battery in the pocket.   But my wife would be putting an extra jacket on in the middle of Death Valley at noon on midsummer's day!

[glinkmeyer]

She has a heated jacket already, as it happens.  One intended for skiing - recharegable battery in the pocket.   But my wife would be putting an extra jacket on in the middle of Death Valley at noon on midsummer's day!

Ours plugs into the bike and under a leather jacket it will burn you out, my wife also needs heat if it gets unde 70 degrees.


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