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Gerbing's Microwire Heated Jacket Liner
Gerbing's Microwire Heated Jacket Liner by H.B.C. for webBikeWorld.com
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Reviews and Info: Good, better, best…in the absence of having evaluated any other heated clothing jacket liners recently but having put the Gerbing's Microwire jacket liner to the test, I will pick the latter. It is well made, it fits well, it is well priced and it works well. The new technology works. A warm and comfortable rider is able to maintain the critical mental and physical ‘edge’ for longer periods of time over widely varying conditions. Think of the Gerbing's jacket liner as part of the safety net… Introduction There he was with a chance to evaluate the new Gerbing's Microwire heating technology and here I was watching the temperature drop drastically in less than a week -- just when I thought we were going to get some more summer-like weather. Do we have an opportunity? You bet! I had actually just moved the current Gerbing's jacket liners, pants and glove liners out of their summer lounge in the basement up to the front hall in reluctant anticipation that they would be in use far too soon. All the machines in the home fleet can support electric clothing by way of a battery harness or BMW Powerlet accessory ports appropriately fused. The heated clothing garments didn’t actually see much use over the last winter and early spring due to limited riding opportunities and by the time we got back from Daytona in mid-March the riding season had pretty much started with relatively mild temperatures and dry weather. But fast forwarding through our wet summer to early fall, the heated clothing has already been pressed in to service, a bit earlier than usual. I had read a little about the new technologies introduced by Gerbing's but didn’t expect to get an opportunity so soon. Given the current ‘climate’ having a very new jacket liner to evaluate is good.
Gerbing actually introduced two new key technologies -- Nanowire and Microwire heat technology. The Nanowire is a patented process using slivered fibers stitched into a non-woven fabric which is then water-proof sealed. This technology is used in their 7V rechargeable lithium battery powered products and allows very specific heat output to specifically targeted (strategic) areas. Microwire is another patented technology that was developed in response to a U.S. Department of Defense requirement. The technology is based on the use of micro-sized conductive fibers that are intertwined and encased in a Teflon coating, then woven into a multi-panel heating matrix and finally, placed in the garment. And before going any further, it is worth reviewing Gerbing's power and heating features. The tried and true 12V heated clothing products can all be interconnected to form parts of or a whole system, all powered by a simple connection to a battery or a compatible outlet. For some products 12V Hybrid power is utilized that provides the option of obtaining power through a rechargeable 12V battery pack or through a 12V electrical system. By the way, Gerbing's also manufacturers 7V heated products, but they are not intended for motorcycle use. The 7V products are designed for and powered by rechargeable lithium battery packs -- the garment is truly portable by virtue of being self contained. Another 7V product line, the Core Heat Transfer System, uses a combination of Microwire or Nanowire technology along with 7V lithium battery packs that are micro-processor managed and typically good for over 500 (recharge) cycles. However, it's important to note that Gerbing's told us that "Because (the 7V products) are wired for and powered by 7V lithium-polymer batteries, their heat output is quite good, but only for activities such as bicycling, fishing, hunting, camping and other general outdoor use. The 7V products don't have the output to overcome 30-degree weather and the associated wind chill at 70 MPH that may be encountered on a motorcycle".
The Challenge And I'd say that if anyone can put out a challenge and a response, it is Gerbing's. Since the 1970s, the name has been synonymous with comfortable, warm clothing garments that have helped untold numbers of us get through the cold, wind, rain and yes, snow. The use of heated clothing is probably the, or one of, the biggest factors in allowing a comfortable extension of the riding season.
Microwire Jacket Liner and Controller Gerbing says that hundreds of microscopic stainless steel strands wrapped in Teflon are then used, depending on the application, in heating pads, woven patterns or a patented ribbon matrix to allow precise ‘tuning’ of heat distribution. The liner features heating pads on the chest, back, collar and sleeves and uses compressible, water-repellent and durable Thinsulate insulation. According to Gerbing, the shell is Teflon coated and wind resistant while the high-cut collar is lined with a soft micro-denier material. Both inside and outside pockets are provided. The cut provides a form fitting garment and with proper sizing, it fits comfortably under outer garments. Glove plug pockets are located on the lower sleeves to keep the connection harnesses secured and out of sight when not in use. The Power Distribution Unit stitched to the lower left front flap of the jacket liner eliminates most of the cord clag. The power distribution unit features Gerbing's "Dual 2" wiring configuration, which allows gloves, pants or socks to be connected with accessory plugs, all in keeping with the Interconnected System approach. Also used in this evaluation was a Gerbing Portable Dual Temp-Controller. This controller lets two different articles be adjusted separately by the user. It uses digital technology to precisely control the power used by the connected garment(s). [UPDATE: A controller must be purchased separately. Gerbing's controllers range from $69.95 for a single to $119.95 for a dual temperature controller.] The final item was a Portable Dual Temp-Controller leather clip case or holster, just right for housing, protecting and carrying the controller.
Changes and Constants This size was sent based on the actual body size sent to Gerbing. Gerbing will make custom fitted sizes; here's what they told us: "Tall sizes, like our in-between sizing and our choice of Regular and Long sleeves, are all part of the Gerbing’s commitment to fitting our customers properly so they get the maximum heat and comfort from our garments. As you know, if someone is beyond our normal size range, we will custom-make a Jacket Liner or Pant Liner for them, at no additional charge. There is a charge for custom tailoring if we have to custom make any of our motorcycle outerwear. But there is no charge for our liners. Again, a Gerbing’s exclusive!" Measurements between my two Gerbing's liners are virtually identical although the sleeve/cuff on the Microwire jacket line is about 10 mm longer, which is good given my long arms. While size differences are negligible overall, the weight differential between the old and new garment is noticeable. Out of curiosity I weighed my original jacket liner and then the new Microwire garment using my calibrated Pelouze scales. The original liner comes in at 940 g or 33.15 oz (2.07 lbs) while the Microwire garment tips the scales at 838 g or 29.60 oz (1.85 lbs). This makes the new garment about 102 g or 3.6 oz lighter. I never have found the jacket liner to be ‘heavy’, but for those who do feel the weight, the difference will be noticeable. Everything is well cut with double or heavy duty single stitching used throughout. A full inner liner makes easy work of getting the garment on and off and adds greatly to overall comfort levels. A heavy-duty YKK zipper runs full-length to the top of the high-cut lined collar. With its long sleeves, full knit cuffs and the zipper done all the way up, the garment encases the wearer providing insulation efficiencies even when not in use as a heated garment. Simply designed and extremely comfortable, it is a versatile garment, mounted or dismounted. Along with the weight reduction, another comfort factor is due to the change in the harness itself. Rather than a network of thick strands running throughout the liner, there is now typically only one heavier wire connecting the various pad areas. The Microwire assemblies are themselves virtually undetectable. Quality is another constant and I certainly have no complaints. Based on numerous testimonials and postings to be found, it seems Gerbing's is quick to resolve quality or fitment issues of any kind. They want a satisfied and warm customer.
Getting Wired Up Using an accessory power supply cable is another option. There are a number of power interface cables available that provide the necessary coax connector at one end. I have three Powerlet cables of this sort on hand and they are always in use for clothing and communications systems. The power distribution unit on the jacket liner has three connections. Based on previous model information, the white-tip plug closest to the zipper is the power in, the middle one is for the gloves (not needed if the sleeve connector leads are used) and the outside plug is for connecting the pants.
Connection Procedure
Activating a circuit via one of the circuit controls is easy; understanding which is which requires a few words as the dual circuit temp-controller doesn’t have any markings. The clue however is in the form of two small LEDs located between the two rotary controls. When the dual temp-controller is connected to power, both circuits are available for use. The Black rotary is the primary connection to the jacket liner and its LED is Green. The secondary circuit rotary is Gray; its LED is Red. As the circuit control settings increase the LED pulse rate changes from a rapid blinking to a constant-on. Note: it is important that the garment not be plugged in or the controller turned on until the power source is on (i.e., motorcycle running). Always turn the controller off or disconnect the power lead before stopping the motorcycle. One of the most frequently asked question regards power requirements. This information is available from a variety of sources, but as a starting point I have reproduced a Gerbing's table that lists individual amperage and added the requirement in watts (power draw).
To calculate specific system totals/requirements, just add up the garment totals. My typical configuration is the glove liners (2.2A) and the jacket liner (6.4A), for a total of 8.6A. In this instance a 10A fuse is the proper rating to use. If I add the pants (4.0A) the revised total would be 12.6A, so a 15A fuse (the default fuse) is the nearest rating for use. Always use the lowest-rated fuse calculated; using a higher rated fuse can result in the circuit not being properly protected. Most modern motorcycles will or should handle the draw of the jacket liner without much fuss, but if you start adding garments, it adds up quickly. And remember, this total is on top of whatever the motorcycle needs on a constant basis (common operating load) and anything else connected. It can add up quickly. On the big Beemers that typically provide with 700-800 Watts at peak charging output this may not be such a big issue, but on something like the smaller F800GS that has half the output of the big guys, it can be. It is always prudent to calculate excess electrical capacity of the host motorcycle before adding anything of substance. This exercise could be another article in itself, but there is no real need to reinvent the wheel when others have done it previously. One of the best starting points is the Powerlet Learning Center that features an excellent step by step primer.
Three Celsius and Dropping…Brrrr! Riding through the eye-catching splendor of fall makes me appreciate even more the time I get to spend on a motorcycle but it also makes me realize that the mesh jacket and pants are not cutting it anymore, even with the liners in. The solution is both simple and complex. It is simple to solve the ‘need warmer clothing’ issue when there is lots of stuff hanging in the closets, but on the other hand, with other variables injected, like forecasts, routes and durations, the choice needs to be a good one. This is a perfect scenario for heated clothing. This fall I have been wearing the Gerbing's Microwire jacket liner continually, under jackets of varying weight and protection. I practically live in my Firstgear HT over-pants and use either a pair of Olympia liner pants or more frequently the Gerbing's liner pants, especially when a minimal-coverage mount is used and where wind chill is a prominent factor. When heated grips and/or hand-guards are not an installed option, the Gerbing's heated glove liners have their own appreciated status. With the liners nestled inside a pair of Olympia Gore-Tex outer gloves and connected to current, this combination is THE answer for extreme cold or inclement weather riding. The heated clothing gets prolonged daily use as well. My treasured part time job sees me accumulating significant time and distance on various motorcycles that don’t typically offer much protection from the elements. Luckily most of them can be quickly wired with a 12V connection harness and have the electrical capacity to handle the jacket liner.
And speaking of the jacket liner…the thing is ultra light, ultra comfortable and ultra warm, even without being connected and turned on. When power is applied and the controller adjusted to the desired level the differences between the original jacket liner and this new garment can be felt in short order. This means that heat from the Microwire garment is felt in less than a minute, compared to my original Gerbing vest that takes two to three minutes to provide the same feeling. While there may be measurable differences in efficiencies between the two garments, my subjective assessment is that I am far more comfortable at a lesser control setting with the Microwire garment. That brings me to the temp-controller itself. It is an extremely simple looking component and outside of the On/Off detent for each circuit rotary or knob, there are no setting marks or positive steps to use as reference points, other than the maximum level stop. But by the same token, the pure rotary controls allow infinite adjustment between the minimum and maximum points. I hear lots of pro and con points regarding this type of controller and sometimes think that a more sophisticated analog or digital control module would be nice to have, if only for status visualization. It is possible to use a third-party controller, such as a Heat-troller, so there are choices. As with my original dual temp-controller I have coloured one of the raised grip strips on each rotary control so that a quick glance provides visual feedback. Based on the rotational range of the controls I haven’t yet had to push the applicable control knob beyond 50 percent in 3 to 7 C (37.4 to 44.6 F) temperatures with significant wind-chill added. This makes me confident that the liner is capable of keeping the core warmed in much colder temperatures for extended periods of time. The liner’s effectiveness depends greatly on proper fitment and on what is being worn as the next-to-skin layer. I always wear a long-sleeve micro-fibre undershirt and depending on the riding conditions, a second thin long-sleeve layer -- either cotton or light-weight fleece. This under-layer combination works well for me. The only ‘bare’ spots that don’t seem to be receiving much conductive heat are the underarm and inside upper forearm areas. The heating pads in particular really do their job in concentrating the warmth in critical areas and I for one really appreciate the collar pads (that long neck issue).
Some Observations I just don’t like the current location of the connection point/power distribution unit. This three-connector component is stitched inside the lower front left flap of the liner. If all connections are or can be made before zipping the liner up, then all is well. But when trying to connect or disconnect anything, especially once the outer layer, typically a three-quarter length jacket, is covering it all, access can be frustrating. I’m not sure there is a perfect location, but locating the connection component on the outside and covering it with a flap would help. Alternatively it could be left where it is and made accessible via a pass-thru from the left front slash pocket. Enough said.
Specifications
Conclusion From my perspective these activities and accomplishments are reflected in the Microwire Jacket Liner. It fits as well in most areas and better in others, is much lighter, is obviously more efficient (read fast) in producing that cozy feeling and cumulatively is thus a more effective tool in my arsenal for keeping body temperatures consistent, fighting off ‘speed-chill’ and staying alert... Two thumbs-up.
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Comments are ordered from most recent to oldest.
Not all comments will be published (details). Comments may be edited for clarity prior to publication. From "J.A." (02/11): "In the review both the writeup and picture for connecting a jacket with gloves are incorrect. The black female plug on the controller must be plugged into the center black male plug on the PDU (power distribution unit) for the gloves to receive any power at all when connected to the jacket liner sleeves. As depicted the gloves will not work when connected to the jacket liner sleeves. One of the commenters tried to point this out but the reviewer didn't seem to understand the point. I've seen others do the same thing and think there is something wrong with their gloves. I'm guessing there must be a problem with the Gerbing instructions that allow for misinterpretation. But, if you read the instructions carefully it becomes obvious. I use the old version Gerbing jacket liner and gloves and have found them to be warm and comfortable. I had one issue with one of the jacket liner glove connectors stop working after about three years. Sent the jacket liner to Gerbing and they repaired it at no cost. I wear the jacket liner over a long tech T-shirt and a Touratech jacket over it all. I've upgraded to Microwire gloves, but will wait until the jacket liner dies before upgrading it to the Microwire. Keep up the great reviews. I count on webBikeWorld." HBC's Response: "The feedback (thankfully) reminded me that clarification regarding the correct connectivity for the Gerbings Dual and Dual 2 heated products vis-à-vis single circuit controllers and garments was due. The Gerbings Interconnectivity is a good overview, but for the newer Dual and Dual 2 products, it is not as well detailed as it could be... The Dual 2 Wiring Configuration shown here visually details the correct configuration. As well, the respective sections from the original article are now updated: Getting Wired Up Getting warmed up is easy. Remove the supplied 12V fused direct connection power supply harness that is tucked into the inside zippered pocket for shipment and hook it up to the battery or a central connection point such as a Centech or a central connection point or auxiliary power fuse panel. Using an accessory power supply cable is another option. There are a number of power interface cables available that provide the necessary coax connector at one end. I have three Powerlet cables of this sort on hand and they are always in use for clothing and communications systems. The Dual 2 power distribution unit or PDU on the jacket liner has three connections: two coaxial plugs and one coaxial socket. The white-ringed plug (closest to zipper) is the power input for the garment, the middle plug (gray ring) is a second power input, typically used for gloves or glove liners connected via the sleeves leads. The third connector is a coaxial accessory socket for connecting pants, etc. For those using a single circuit Temp-Controller or if the garment does not have glove plugs, like the vest, Gerbings has an accessory splitter or 'Y' harness to provide two output connections from one. This allows both input circuits on the Dual 2 garment to be powered (for garment and gloves/glove liners) or, for other garments using the appropriate harness. Remember, however, that output will be exercised by one control. Connection Procedure: Following is the correct procedure to used connect the Gerbing's Microwire Heated Jacket Liner. Make sure power source or power supply is on (ie - motorcycle is running). Connect the (White-sleeve) output connector of the Single or Dual Temp-Controller to the (White-ring) connector on the garment's power distribution unit. Plug the Temp-Controller power lead into the power supply harness (both Red sleeve). Activate the appropriate rotary control on the Temp-Controller clockwise to activate the circuit. Typically the Gray rotary (Green LED) controls the primary or White-sleeve output and the Black rotary (Red LED)controls the secondary output. To modulate output, turn the rotary control clockwise to increase output and turn it anti-clockwise to decrease or turn the circuit off completely. As power output is increased, the LEDs will change from a slow to rapid pulsing and then a 'constant-on' at the maximum setting. Activating a circuit via one of the circuit controls is easy; understanding which is which requires a few words as the dual circuit temp-controller doesn’t have any markings and the Gerbings Interconnection Diagram so widely used is not absolutely clear in every respect. Note: it is very important that the garment not be plugged in or the On/Off switch or Temp-Controller turned on until the power source is on (i.e., motorcycle running). Always turn the controller off or disconnect the power lead before stopping the motorcycle. One of the most frequently asked question regards power requirements. This information is available from a variety of sources."
From "C.A." (10/09): "I just read
your new Gerbing liner review and have a comment /
question. I have been riding with heated gear for
many years, starting with a Kanetsu, wearing out a
Gerbing liner, and now using a Warm'n'Safe liner. For this reason (and the collar on my wife's unit not working) I ditched it and reused the heating panels in a fleece liner for my dad (and didn't buy another Gerbing). Can you address the shell quality (materials and seams) compared to the previous generation of Gerbing liners?" HBC's Reply: The quality on my original (two year old) jacket liner and the new Microwire jacket liner appears to be virtually identical and judging by the material used and stitching, there should be no issues. I haven't observed any wear and tear on the original garment, but then again long term use has not become a real issue yet. Therefore it would be hard for me to qualify the wear and tear issue right now (ask me in a few years). I did ask two other owners of older Gerbing's products about their experiences - they have had no problems to date and in fact one of them switched back to Gerbing's after purchasing and suffering failures with two other brands - connectors and wiring issues. Regarding your issue with the shell seams giving out after one season and other issues -- was this discussed with Gerbing's for support, early on or as time and wear progressed? I acknowledge that failures will happen, even with the best of products - having experienced it myself on one or two occasions. But I have always managed to get resolution from the distributor or manufacturer, eventually." From "O.B." (10/09): "You mentioned that if you use the integrated wiring in the sleeves for the gloves you do not need to use the middle power port of the Power Distribution Unit. But you also mentioned that you used a dual temp controller. I thought the purpose of a dual temp controller was to have the ability to hook your gloves to one port and the jacket to another port. But based on your review, using the integrated wiring for the gloves, only one of the port on the controller would be used and that the gloves would always be set at the same temp as the jacket. Is this the case or did I mis-read the facts of the PDU and the dual temp controller?" HBC's Response: Gerbing's uses the same power distribution unit for their major components: jacket, jacket liner and vest. Keep in mind that the power distribution unit is powered by a single circuit connection either by the simple on/off switch or a single or dual temp controller. As the jacket and jacket liners have glove interconnects built in to the sleeves, the gloves can be wired directly to form part of the jacket liner circuit and controlled by the appropriate rotary control on the temp controller. So in this instance, yes, the gloves would be controlled by the primary jacket liner circuit to the same temperature setting. The power distribution unit's Dual 2 versatility is more directly applicable for the vest where there are no integrated glove harnesses. In this instance, the Y-harness that is supplied with the gloves or purchased as an accessory item is then be plugged in to the middle connector on the power distribution unit of the vest - again the gloves would be controlled by that circuit. If pants are used, they can be connected through the third connector as detailed in the article. So this brings us to the Dual temp controller. The primary is typically used to power and control the main garment - jacket, jacket liner or vest. The second circuit is available for separate control of any garment or garment(s) is desired, like the gloves, pants, etc. Depending on the garment, the power distribution unit and whether a single or dual temp controller is used, there are a number of options for connecting multiple garments in the Gerbing's heated clothing system - everything is meant to work together and everything can be interconnected in some fashion. The three connection power distribution unit, the garment interconnect harnesses and the temp controllers provide lots of options. One just needs to make sure the necessary
interconnect cables are utilized or on hand and decide
whether one circuit or two is the better way to go for
heat management. The
system connection diagram on the Gerbing's site is a
good visualization of what is possible. |
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