I found my old 12 volt heated vest for riding motorcycles in cold weather. In the interest of immortality, I sold the motorcycle, but still have the vest. I had it hooked up to the 12 volt battery with an on/off switch, which I'd flip as needed.
I have an 18 volt 80 watt power supply for an old laptop that I no longer own. I suppose I could hook it up with another on/off flip switch, but I'd rather use something else that wouldn't make an all-or-nothing demand on the power supply. Maybe an assortment of power resistors, or some semiconductor device, whatever. What electrical component would you recommend?
By the way, I had it connected to another wall-wart rated at 18 volts and 800 milliamps. It kept me toasty warm (comfortably so) for a few hours, then I noticed a burning smell, and the wall-wart was a bit toasty, too. So, I'm guessing for indoor use, this electric vest (works like an electric blanket) will need a range of about 5 to 20 watts at 18 volts.
Gee, now that I think of it, I wonder how I could hook this thing up to a portable battery pack for the great outdoors . . .
Anyway, Thanks,
It's made by the ECLIPSE company.
http://home.comcast.net/~dwpeter/electric.html
Supposedly it draws 45 watts at 12 volts.
P=IE makes it about 3 amps?
I have an 18 volt 80 watt power supply for an old laptop that I no longer own. I suppose I could hook it up with another on/off flip switch, but I'd rather use something else that wouldn't make an all-or-nothing demand on the power supply. Maybe an assortment of power resistors, or some semiconductor device, whatever. What electrical component would you recommend?
By the way, I had it connected to another wall-wart rated at 18 volts and 800 milliamps. It kept me toasty warm (comfortably so) for a few hours, then I noticed a burning smell, and the wall-wart was a bit toasty, too. So, I'm guessing for indoor use, this electric vest (works like an electric blanket) will need a range of about 5 to 20 watts at 18 volts.
Gee, now that I think of it, I wonder how I could hook this thing up to a portable battery pack for the great outdoors . . .
Anyway, Thanks,
It's made by the ECLIPSE company.
http://home.comcast.net/~dwpeter/electric.html
Supposedly it draws 45 watts at 12 volts.
P=IE makes it about 3 amps?