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Who has aftermarket heated grips controlled by OEM menus


Duke

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I finally had an opportunity to take some measurements of the PWM duty cycle for each of the 10 levels available on the menu, and what I found surprised me. 

10=51.5%

9=51.5%

8=51.5%

7=51.5%

6=51.5%

5=51.5%

4=31.5%

3=21.4%

2=0%

1=0%

So basically there are only 3 levels of adjustment. I would be extremely interested in taking the same measurements with factory heated grips to see if the percentages are different. 

Also, I figured out why my left grip doesn’t get nearly as warm as my right grip. Can anyone say, “Massive heatsink?”

 

AE9C1D69-F5F5-4CAA-B172-CAB33528BF57.jpeg

Old enough to know better, but young enough to do it anyway.
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  • 3 weeks later...

My buddy loaned me his pocket scope. Guess what? Same duty cycle numbers you posted for the Heat Demons is what I got for Yamaha grips +/- 1%.  

Here's some scope porn from measuring level 10. 

557867744_ScreenShot2019-06-18at4_03_15PM.thumb.png.6b658562367f0e789848172321230173.png

 

And, yes, heat sink. I will say Heat Demon's are balanced pretty well with the addition of the heat shrink. I remember when these came with a big ceramic resistor  :)

Edited by chitown
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20 minutes ago, chitown said:

My buddy loaned me his pocket scope. Guess what? Same duty cycle numbers you posted for the Heat Demons is what I got for Yamaha grips +/- 1%.  

Here's some scope porn from measuring level 10. 

557867744_ScreenShot2019-06-18at4_03_15PM.thumb.png.6b658562367f0e789848172321230173.png

 

And, yes, heat sink. I will say Heat Demon's are balanced pretty well with the addition of the heat shrink. I remember when these came with a big ceramic resistor  :)

Thanks for posting that. You confirmed my suspicions that Yamaha only allows 3 heat levels, even with the factory grips. Interesting that they offer 10 levels of adjustment with most being the exact same pulse width. 

Old enough to know better, but young enough to do it anyway.
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On my ‘15 plate FJ, you can alter the heat values for each of the three settings. This definitely does make a noticeable difference so at least on the older systems there are more than just three values.

Red 2015 Tracer, UK spec (well, it was until I started messing with it...)

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Mine is a 2015 too, but while I can alter the setting for each of the three levels, when I measure the actual output of each setting only levels 3, 4, and 5 are different. 1 & 2 are off. 6 thru 10 are 51.5% duty cycle. I can only presume that yours are the same if you measure them with a meter that shows PWM duty cycle. 

Old enough to know better, but young enough to do it anyway.
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  • 3 months later...
On 5/29/2019 at 7:46 PM, Duke said:

I finally had an opportunity to take some measurements of the PWM duty cycle for each of the 10 levels available on the menu, and what I found surprised me. 

10=51.5%

9=51.5%

8=51.5%

7=51.5%

6=51.5%

5=51.5%

4=31.5%

3=21.4%

2=0%

1=0%

So basically there are only 3 levels of adjustment. I would be extremely interested in taking the same measurements with factory heated grips to see if the percentages are different. 

Also, I figured out why my left grip doesn’t get nearly as warm as my right grip. Can anyone say, “Massive heatsink?”

 

AE9C1D69-F5F5-4CAA-B172-CAB33528BF57.jpeg

First of all thanks for sharing your technical expertise and the "how to" as far as wiring etc. I have been pulling my hair out for a while trying to decide whether to spend $400CDN on the Yamaha heated grips, or $125CDN on the Oxford and and run a new wiring circuit all together with a separate switch etc, so this is perfect and I have already ordered the Heat Demon pads and some TST Industries wire connectors. Have a couple of couple of questions though, dumb as they may be. Have you been reusing the original grips after installing pads, and it is not clear to me how you resolved the different heat levels from left to right? I assume you used too much heatshrink on the left side based on your comments?

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If you can remove the grips without damaging them you can reuse them. IIRC mine came off without any damage. But as I never like oem grips I usually just cut them during removal and replace with some pro grip gel grips.

Too much heat shrink wouldn't be an issue. You're attempting to put a barrier on the bar that prevents the heat from going to the bar. Unfortunately you can't just add more as eventually it would be too thick to get a grip installed. Fwiw the imbalance is no worse than the factory heated grips and I'm fine with the job the heat shrink does. 

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On 5/29/2019 at 6:46 PM, Duke said:

I finally had an opportunity to take some measurements of the PWM duty cycle for each of the 10 levels available on the menu, and what I found surprised me. 

10=51.5%

9=51.5%

8=51.5%

7=51.5%

6=51.5%

5=51.5%

4=31.5%

3=21.4%

2=0%

1=0%

So basically there are only 3 levels of adjustment. I would be extremely interested in taking the same measurements with factory heated grips to see if the percentages are different. 

Were these measurements taken at idle? I wonder if the values are dependent on RPM, alternator output, or some other variable. I ask because I have my Low value set to 2 and there is obviously some heat in the grips at this setting. This would be impossible with a PWM value of 0%, right? 

I've also noticed that sometimes 10 feels hotter than 6, and sometimes it doesn't. Usually 10 feels the same as 6 when I also have my heated jacket cranked to max, so it could again be related to something in the charging system (or a flawed perception on my part). 

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1 hour ago, chitown said:

If you can remove the grips without damaging them you can reuse them. IIRC mine came off without any damage. But as I never like oem grips I usually just cut them during removal and replace with some pro grip gel grips.

Too much heat shrink wouldn't be an issue. You're attempting to put a barrier on the bar that prevents the heat from going to the bar. Unfortunately you can't just add more as eventually it would be too thick to get a grip installed. Fwiw the imbalance is no worse than the factory heated grips and I'm fine with the job the heat shrink does. 

Thank you chitown, much appreciated. Hmmm... I will have to make a decision on the grips. I use Grip Puppies at the moment, but realize they will reduce the effect of the heating pads, but wont know if it will be an issue until after the install grip warmers needless to say. Maybe I will upgrade grips and try to live without Grip Puppies. Do love the Grip Puppies though, especially on long days since I do not have cruise control. Did 600 miles in a day this summer and no right hand aches, pains or cramping. With just the oem grips I'd be in trouble after 3-4 hours, if that.

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2 hours ago, fj09viking said:

I have been pulling my hair out for a while trying to decide whether to spend $400CDN on the Yamaha heated grips, or $125CDN on the Oxford and and run a new wiring circuit all together with a separate switch etc, so this is perfect and I have already ordered the Heat Demon pads and some TST Industries wire connectors.

Following with interest... let us know how you do. I am replacing my handlebar this winter, and will attempt to remove my Oxfords from the OE bar without damaging them. I expect a good fight... and may have to go for all new grips.

canada.gif.22c5f8bdb95643b878d06c336f5fe29f.gif

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Piotrek, I will gladly provide an update once I am up and running.

Thanks again chitown. That is great to know. I don't ride much in sub zero temperatures anyway except the odd 20 min morning commute, so I will reuse oem grips if they survive the removal process.

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I’m sorry for not responding sooner, but hunting season is upon us so I’ve been busy elsewhere. 

As stated earlier, you can reuse your grips if you’re careful. I did. 

I took the measurements at idle. Since we’re dealing with PWM, the heat output will not change. The heat output would only change if you changed one of the variables in Ohm’s Law. The resistance is fixed, the voltage is fixed, so the current and subsequently the wattage are fixed.

As for my the uneven heat between the grips, I did put heat shrink on the left grip when I installed it, but there simply isn’t room to put more. My only viable option is to wrap the bar end in heat shrink or electrical tape during cold weather riding. The other option is to remove them in cold weather, but I don’t like that option. 

Old enough to know better, but young enough to do it anyway.
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Sucess! Installed Heat Demon pads yesterday without too much difficulty, thanks to Duke's easy to follow instructions. Both grips came off easily with a flat head screwdriver and some isopropyl alcohol. Only hickup was not heating the shrink tubing enough. It seemed tight (could not twist it with fair bit of effort and I am a bigger guy), but came loose when I went to install grip later. Luckily the Heat Demon element is designed to take heat so with heat gun on low and some patience, I was able to further shrink the tubing without damaging element, and reinstall grip without triuble. As a matter of fact I used heat gun on throttle side to get heating pad to stick properly as my garage is getting cool already.

Took it for a ride today for about 30-40min in 45F / 5c, mostly hwy at around 60-65mph. Works great! Medium was plenty hot for those temperatures and did not leave it for long high so I can't speak to the difference from medium to high. Worth noting that the gloves I wore are not ideal for heated grips, as they are leather with plenty of insulation and gel pads on in palms, so quite thick, but got nice and toasty in medium on hwy. My hands would be cold after about 15-20 minutes in wearing those gloves in the same temps (too small and new gloves on the way, but that is another story).Cost me $95 CDN total, and if a heating pad dies and needs to be replaced, no biggie needless to say!

I did not notice a difference I  heat levels between grips while using medium heat. The left side took a bit longer to warm up.

Big thanks Duke for sharing your knowledge and providing instructions, and to chitown and others for their insight as well!

Edited by fj09viking
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