Question For The Electrical Guys

[AlsoRan]

I purchased a heated vest to use on occasion only and rather than do a re-wire I was hoping to run it from the utility jack. I knew it was a low output but "guessed" that it would run 3.5 amps and was wrong ::010::. Knowing now that the electrical outlet fuse is 3 amps and won't pull the vest, I'm wondering if it would be a complete meltdown to replace the utility outlet fuse with a 5 amp? Almost double seems risky but I thought I would run it past the electrical experts first. Also I have an SAE connector for the battery minder which I can plug to if needed, but now it's reversed with a 15 amp fuse and 3.5 amp vest. Seems like meltdown potential for the vest as well.

Thanks in advance for your help...

 

[jmcgilroy]

I've always plugged mine (Gerbings) into the battery tender plug. Gerbings sells an adapter with the right connections for less than $10. I also use this plug for a Slime air compressor and the 15A fuse works fine.

Jim

 

[Don in Lodi]

As an alternative, do you have a battery tender SAE connector on your battery? Some gear will plug right in, otherwise there's a multitude of adapters that will plug into it. ::008::

Ah, Jim got me...

 

[wessie]

My Keis jacket has an inline fuse and came with O ring connectors to fix to the battery. As you can plug gloves into the jacket, Keis supply higher rated fuses.

Does your jacket not have an inline fuse that would zap regardless of the main fuse?

The battery in a S10 is easily accessible.

 

[Dogdaze]

::026:: On the adapter

 

[AlsoRan]

Does your jacket not have an inline fuse that would zap regardless of the main fuse?

It's a Venture Heat vest which does not have an inline fuse. There is a battery harness that has a fuse, but I do not want to add this on top of the harness that I have for the battery minder (too many thing screwed into the battery terminals). I can buy an SAE plug that goes directly to the vest but without a fuse. I would be running on the battery miner fuse which is 15A.

 

[TheHelios]

I'm wondering if it would be a complete meltdown to replace the utility outlet fuse with a 5 amp?

Don't do that. The wiring to the accessory outlet is very thin and placing in a higher powered fuse could potentially have too much power draw into those wire and either melt them or cause a fire. I agree with the others her: An SAE adapter would be a safer/easier alternative.

 

[Don in Lodi]

It's a Venture Heat vest which does not have an inline fuse. There is a battery harness that has a fuse, but I do not want to add this on top of the harness that I have for the battery minder (too many thing screwed into the battery terminals). I can buy an SAE plug that goes directly to the vest but without a fuse. I would be running on the battery miner fuse which is 15A.

This is through Firstgear, less than ten bux. The adapter through Venture is listed @ 30 bux. If you want we can try your Venture stuff with my Firstgear harness. Any Sunday...

 

[Checkswrecks]

This is through Firstgear, less than ten bux. The adapter through Venture is listed @ 30 bux. If you want we can try your Venture stuff with my Firstgear harness. Any Sunday...

I use one of these, also. That way, the SAE plug is available for the battery tender and air compressor.

 

[AVGeek]

You can also always add an inline fuse for the vest when you make up the harness to attach to the SAE connector. Best of both worlds.

 

[AlsoRan]

This is through Firstgear, less than ten bux. The adapter through Venture is listed @ 30 bux. If you want we can try your Venture stuff with my Firstgear harness. Any Sunday...

Looks like I will get the SAE connector and just go direct to the battery harness.

Thanks for the help everyone.

 

[AlsoRan]

Checked with the Battery Minder manufacture and they indicated that it should not be a problem running a 5 amp fuse on the harness instead of the 15 amp. So I picked up an SAE adapter, tried it and it works great. One harness runs the charger and heated vest. Problem solved !

 

[Don in Lodi]

::008:: ::008::