I'm wondering, for all of you who installed the dual star heated elements, how did you wire it up (which arrangement), did you do anything to insulate the left bar, and how sufficient / even is the heat?
My riding season starts this weekend and I'm eager to get a set of these installed..
Many thanks in advance
did you do anything to insulate the left bar, and how sufficient / even is the heat?
yomc,
Did no insulation, the Dual Stars are designed to compensate. They work just fine installed 'stock' (follow the instructions); looking forward to having them along again on tour this Spring.
Regards,
VFR_ATL
VFR_ATL, Mar 31 2005, 12:32 AMyomc,
Did no insulation, the Dual Stars are designed to compensate. They work just fine installed 'stock' (follow the instructions); looking forward to having them along again on tour this Spring.
Regards,
VFR_ATL
So the heat feels even through both hands? Also, which way did you wire it up? I curious to know how much power people are putting through them and how hot they get for you.
Yes, the DualStars are now compensated, so there's no need to insulate the left side. I installed mine with a Heatroller, which I highly recommend!
troy_voorhees, Mar 31 2005, 04:22 AMYes, the DualStars are now compensated, so there's no need to insulate the left side. I installed mine with a Heatroller, which I highly recommend!
Yes...I understand that the left element puts out more heat :pissed:, but it wasn't specifically designed for the 5th Gen VFR. What I'd like to know from those of you who have installed them is what orientation you wired them in (how many watts are they seeing), is that enough, and how even is the heat between the right and the left?
The newer elements heat up the clutch side hotter. I used the heat troller too (variable rate) and wired them up in the lower heat setup. I forget the colors on the wires but I tied off one set. Heat is fine and sufficient for LA winters. I don't think I'd want it much hotter unless I was riding in 30 degrees.
Wattage? Don't know.
I don't understand the question about how they are wired up. Do some kits not come with a hi/low switch? So you use a regular on/off switch and have to decide if you want to have it always be controlling the high or low elements?
I did not insulate under the clutch side and the heat feels even to me. One thing I notice is that the bar end on the clutch side gets hot enough to burn uncovered skin.
-Ryan
Stock grips, no insulation, DS stock high/low switch. I may have older model DS, the left takes longer to heat, but will almost burn your hand off on high. I ride many days in the 20's-30's and use my regular gloves because these things get so warm.
I wired direct to Batt. (can be a problem if you forget to turn off) :unsure: with a 10amp fuse.
I love them !!!!!!! :thumbsup:
zirconx, Mar 31 2005, 06:08 PMI don't understand the question about how they are wired up.� Do some kits not come with a hi/low switch?� So you use a regular on/off switch and have to decide if you want to have it always be controlling the high or low elements?
-Ryan
There are three wires on each element, and depending on which two of the three you wire up(or all three if you're crazy from what I've heard) the wattage at each grip is different
These #'s come from
this siteWire in the the white and...
Left wattage then Right wattage
Parallel (connecting red & blue wire together) 55 Watts 35 Watts
Blue only (omit red wire) 31 Watts 17 Watts
Red only (omit the blue wire) 23 Watts 17 Watts
Series (omit the white wire) 13 Watts 9 Watt
At this point I'm torn between setting it up for 31/17 vs 23/17 and was hoping to get some feedback from people who've already done it to steer me in the right direction.
Bueller?
yomc,
Had my mechanic wire-up the lower power of the two options, switched with the ignition. Works just fine; with my Widder vest under my 'stich I'm good to go in brisk conditions.
Regards,
VFR_ATL
Thanks for getting back to me. Anyone else?
I put the Dual Stars on my 04 last fall and I rode occasionally right through the winter.
Even with the compensation, the left grip never really feels as hot as the left. A lot probably has to do with how hard you grip the bar, where you place the element under the grip, etc.. Also I tend to keep my hand wrapped around the throttle, whereas I keep a very loose grip on the clutch side.
Ride around and make a very careful note of where you grip the bar, whether it is on the inside, or the outside. Make sure to locate the element right under your most common hand position.
Even so they get WAY hot, unless it is in the 20s or 30s you're not going to notice that the right is hotter than the left. The only time the left really wasn't warm enough was a day I went out when the temp was like 15 degrees!
I installed my Dual Star this past winter. As per the instructions by quite a few folks at sport-touring.net I wrapped a couple layers of electrical tape around the left bar. At temp both bars seem to have pretty even temperature. I wired mine in parallel to start with, with the idea that if too hot I would change them. I know some others had complained about HIGH being too hot for them but for me high is nice and toasty so I'm going to leave them wired the way they are. The site you referenced above was really helpful during my installation too. I mounted my switch on the left fairing right next to my Powerlet outlet.
(IMG:
http://sublimediversion.com/interceptor/powerlet/switches_std.jpg)
Wire in the the white and...
Left wattage then Right wattage
Parallel (connecting red & blue wire together) 55 Watts 35 Watts
Blue only (omit red wire) 31 Watts 17 Watts
Red only (omit the blue wire) 23 Watts 17 Watts
Series (omit the white wire) 13 Watts 9 Watt
At this point I'm torn between setting it up for 31/17 vs 23/17 and was hoping to get some feedback from people who've already done it to steer me in the right direction.
I think the guy who wrote this is triping !
Use the High/Low switch , tie red/blue together, white should be acting as ground.
This set-up give's you the hottest possible setting on High and a lower setting as it warms up. I would deffinetly use a H/L or adjustible switch, not just one setting !
No worries ! :beer:
baileyrock, Apr 7 2005, 10:12 AM
Use the High/Low switch , tie red/blue together, white should be acting as ground.
This set-up give's you the hottest possible setting on High and a lower setting as it warms up. I would deffinetly use a H/L or adjustible switch, not just one setting !
No worries ! :beer:
How hot do yours get? I was thinking of using the heat-troller (I like toys) and was originally going to wire it up for max power, but I'm afraid I might just be adjusting the dial between off and 30% to use it. I figure I'd be better off to wire a lower power so I can have more control. That's one of the reasons I've been asking for others' experiences.
I agree with BenSV. I put mine on last fall and insulated the left bar with 2 layers of duct tape. Even then I feel that the right grip is hotter than the left. Maybe a different insulation material would work better.
My Dual-Star page yomc, Apr 7 2005, 09:34 AMHow hot do yours get? I was thinking of using the heat-troller (I like toys) and was originally going to wire it up for max power, but I'm afraid I might just be adjusting the dial between off and 30% to use it. I figure I'd be better off to wire a lower power so I can have more control. That's one of the reasons I've been asking for others' experiences.
IMO I would wire it to have the hottest possible temp. and use the heat troller to control it. I don't understand if you think it will be to hot or to cold ? :unsure:
If your trying to keep your hands warn, you'll never be to hot (unless your not wearing gloves). I use high up to almost 40-45 deg. and drop it to Low till I get hot or it's above 60 outside !
:thumbsup:
baileyrock, Apr 7 2005, 12:19 PMIMO I would wire it to have the hottest possible temp. and use the heat troller to control it. I don't understand if you think it will be to hot or to cold ? :unsure:
If your trying to keep your hands warn, you'll never be to hot (unless your not wearing gloves). I use high up to almost 40-45 deg. and drop it to Low till I get hot or it's above 60 outside !
:thumbsup:
What I'm concerned about with the heat troller is that if I wire it up to the highest setting...will I be reaching the hottest I want it with the heat troller only at 30 or 40% (for example). If so, I'd be better off wiring it to run on a lower power so that I'll be able to use the heat troller through a larger range (maybe 80-100%) of it's travel, thus getting better control, particularly with a clumsy, gloved hand.
I run the heat troller and have it wired for maximum. I don't believe I've ever taken it much past 50% but then again it never gets really cold down here.
yomc, Apr 7 2005, 11:37 AMWhat I'm concerned about with the heat troller is that if I wire it up to the highest setting...will I be reaching the hottest I want it with the heat troller only at 30 or 40% (for example). If so, I'd be better off wiring it to run on a lower power so that I'll be able to use the heat troller through a larger range (maybe 80-100%) of it's travel, thus getting better control, particularly with a clumsy, gloved hand.
The heat troller should give you 0- 100 % if not close of whatever watts your feeding it, 1-100 watts (within it's service limits anyway).
:beer:
Full Power ! :thumbsup:
baileyrock, Apr 7 2005, 03:43 PMThe heat troller should give you 0- 100 % if not close of whatever watts your feeding it, 1-100 watts (within it's service limits anyway).
:beer:
Full Power ! :thumbsup:
That's not exactly what I meant. My concern is that the dual stars will put out SO much heat in the wiring set-up that I choose that turning the heat troller up to a mere 30-40% will give me all the heat I want/can stand. Thus, the'll be 2/3 of the dial that I'll never use for fear of burning my hands off. IF this is the case with a particular wire arrangement, I'd be better off wiring the elements to put out fewer watts, that way, when I use the heat troller, I'll be able to turn the dial most of the way on before I get the heat I need on the colder days, thus, and I'll be able to fine tune the temp to a much finer level by having more range of the dial available.(the point of using a heat-troller in the first place). Sorry if I wasn't clear.
I went more with the thought process that it's better to not need 50% of the dial than have it turned to 100% but still need more.
yomc, Apr 7 2005, 02:51 PMThat's not exactly what I meant. My concern is that the dual stars will put out SO much heat in the wiring set-up that I choose that turning the heat troller up to a mere 30-40% will give me all the heat I want/can stand. Thus, the'll be 2/3 of the dial that I'll never use for fear of burning my hands off. IF this is the case with a particular wire arrangement, I'd be better off wiring the elements to put out fewer watts, that way, when I use the heat troller, I'll be able to turn the dial most of the way on before I get the heat I need on the colder days, thus, and I'll be able to fine tune the temp to a much finer level by having more range of the dial available.(the point of using a heat-troller in the first place). Sorry if I wasn't clear.
yomc
My point is 100% of "not hot enough" does you no good what's so ever ! If you wire it to 31 watts, that's all your getting no matter how high you turn up the troller. Wire it at 55 watts and turn it down as needed ! To me what's important is that my hands are warn, not wether I'm getting full us of the heat troller. Now if it never gets below 40-45 deg. where you live it might make sense, but here full hot could be hotter when it's 20-30-40 deg. out !
When it's cold, there's never "too much" heat IMO ! :thumbsup:
:beer:
I agree with both of you that I don't want it to fall short, but if there's a way I can wire it and get all the heat I want with 90% of the dial's range, I'll take that over 50%.
Problem with tape for an insulator is the adhesive gets hot and turns to a gooey liquid and you end up having a floating element sliding around under your grips. If you can find a heat specific adhesive use that instead. I just bought a cheap plastic throttle end and cut off all the cable stuff and used the part that slides over the bar as an insulator, epoxied it in.
Do you need two right-sided grips for that?
End of thread · 27 posts recovered Wayback Machine snapshot 19 Nov 2005
