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sammyk


Joined: Feb 2, 2006
Points: 11

Ariens Hand Warmers and electrical equipment
Original Message   Feb 2, 2006 12:48 pm
Well, I just purchased a Ariens 926LE for $630. It was a toss-up between that and the 11hp model with handwarmers and remote differential. BUT, it was a $200+ difference, so I went with a little inconvenience.

My question is about the electrical system on these machines. The 11hp and 13hp power both a light and hand-warmers, whereas the 9hp doesn't have handwarmers. I know that the warmers are not an Ariens accessory option, but if the 9hp electrical system can handle it, I want to wire in a pair of electric gloves that I own.

Does anyone know what kind of power the warmers draw or if the system can handle adding this in?  My gloves are 12VDC and draw 22 watts.

Thanks for the great site!

Replies: 1 - 20 of 20View as Outline
jubol


Location: Dover, De
Joined: Oct 3, 2003
Points: 1558

Re: Ariens Hand Warmers and electrical equipment
Reply #1   Feb 2, 2006 1:03 pm
Sammyk,

I don't know how much wattage is put out by the blower.

Check the wattage on the bulb, if 22 watts or more, put a 2 way swutch in the line.

So either gloves are on and light off, or light on, gloves off!!

                                                                 Fred 

Husqvarna STE927(11.5HP) snowblower,  MTD Pro Series 18/42 Lawnmower, MTD 6.5 HP  Self Prop Lawn Mower,  Weedeater 1500 Blower, Web Gensis  2000 
sammyk


Joined: Feb 2, 2006
Points: 11

Re: Ariens Hand Warmers and electrical equipment
Reply #2   Feb 2, 2006 1:44 pm
That's a very good idea. I did a little more research, and the bulb is rated to draw about 24 watts. Here's what the alternator can provide according to Tecumseh's website:

Alternator 18 Watt A.C. Lighting Alternator, 3 Amp. D.C./5 Amp. A.C. 

But, it's also listed as the same alternator for the models with hand-warmers.

So, Maybe I'll put the switch in, or I'll get an LED bulb and I should be able to power them both at the same time.

Thanks for the reply!

jubol


Location: Dover, De
Joined: Oct 3, 2003
Points: 1558

Re: Ariens Hand Warmers and electrical equipment
Reply #3   Feb 2, 2006 2:01 pm
Sammyk,

What make of your gloves, may do the same!!

                                                Fred 

Husqvarna STE927(11.5HP) snowblower,  MTD Pro Series 18/42 Lawnmower, MTD 6.5 HP  Self Prop Lawn Mower,  Weedeater 1500 Blower, Web Gensis  2000 
sammyk


Joined: Feb 2, 2006
Points: 11

Re: Ariens Hand Warmers and electrical equipment
Reply #4   Feb 2, 2006 2:09 pm
jubol wrote:
Sammyk,

What make of your gloves, may do the same!!

                                                Fred 



Fred, They are Gerbings. Is that what you were asking?

Thanks,

Sam

jubol


Location: Dover, De
Joined: Oct 3, 2003
Points: 1558

Re: Ariens Hand Warmers and electrical equipment
Reply #5   Feb 2, 2006 2:11 pm
Sammyk,  yes

Thanks

  Fred

Husqvarna STE927(11.5HP) snowblower,  MTD Pro Series 18/42 Lawnmower, MTD 6.5 HP  Self Prop Lawn Mower,  Weedeater 1500 Blower, Web Gensis  2000 
MikeSnow


Joined: Jan 1, 2006
Points: 16

Re: Ariens Hand Warmers and electrical equipment
Reply #6   Feb 2, 2006 3:54 pm
They do make aftermarket heated hand grips for snowblowers, but a pricy option, check them out here:  http://www.hotgrips.com/
Snowmann


Joined: Dec 3, 2003
Points: 494

Re: Ariens Hand Warmers and electrical equipment
Reply #7   Feb 2, 2006 10:19 pm
Your unit has a 18W AC alternator if it's a Tecumseh (@12.8V) or a 1.5 amp DC alternator at (@12.8V) if it's a Briggs.

There is no extra juice. It has just enough to power the headlamp.

PK

Garandman


Location: South Boston, MA
Joined: Mar 10, 2005
Points: 341

Re: Ariens Hand Warmers and electrical equipment
Reply #8   Feb 3, 2006 2:09 am
I use the neoprene gloves that ice fishermen wear. About $15. I have some GoreTex gloves but still often start sweating. The neoprene "wetsuit" gloves work well even when your hands are wet. I buy them at Sports Authority.
sammyk


Joined: Feb 2, 2006
Points: 11

Re: Ariens Hand Warmers and electrical equipment
Reply #9   Feb 3, 2006 10:40 am
Snowmann wrote:
Your unit has a 18W AC alternator if it's a Tecumseh (@12.8V) or a 1.5 amp DC alternator at (@12.8V) if it's a Briggs.

There is no extra juice. It has just enough to power the headlamp.

PK



Yeah, I have the Tecumseh and that's what I was reading about it. But my confusion comes because even the 13HP model uses the same 18W alternator, yet it has the headlight AND the hand-warmers.

Where are those getting the extra juice from?

Thanks

newjerseybt


You want it done right?...You better learn how to do it yourself!

Ariens 1128DLE
Ariens 8526LE
Honda HRC216
Bosch 3221L
Craftsman DYT4000
Stihl FS90R


Location: Honesdale, PA
Joined: Dec 19, 2004
Points: 171

Re: Ariens Hand Warmers and electrical equipment
Reply #10   Feb 3, 2006 8:18 pm
Here are some handy formulas:

 Watts = volts x amps.

 Amps = Watts divided by volts.

Amps = Volts divided by resistance (in ohms).

I have a Ariens 2003 model 1128DLE. I have the light, hand warmers and a 12v battery that needs charging.

When I switch on my hand warmers, my head light dims a bit which tells me there is a trade off in lumens when the handwarmers are on.

Snowmann


Joined: Dec 3, 2003
Points: 494

Re: Ariens Hand Warmers and electrical equipment
Reply #11   Feb 4, 2006 2:38 pm
On recent Ariens models, most large displacement Tecumseh engines (318cc and larger) use a split coil 3A DC / 5A AC unregulated system (the only exception is the models with 318cc LH318SA L-heads which use the 18W AC unregulated alternator). The headlight and handwarmers run from the 5 amp AC side. The only time the DC circuit is used is as a battery charger for the 12V start models. You'll notice the 2 or 4 pin connector at the alternator on Tecumseh models (depending on the year), and a single bullet connector on the 18W models. The Briggs powered Ariens models use a 1.5 amp DC unregulated alternator for the 9.5hp Powerbuilts, and a 9 amp DC regulated system on the Inteks, both with single bullet connectors. The Ariens handwarmers use 2.5 amps (30 watts), so you can see an 18 watt alternator could not power the handwarmers even without a light.

PK

sammyk


Joined: Feb 2, 2006
Points: 11

Re: Ariens Hand Warmers and electrical equipment
Reply #12   Feb 9, 2006 2:22 pm
Thanks Snowman. That all makes sense now. Since mine only produces enough AC to run the light, I'm just going to use an 8 AA battery holder to power my gloves. I have plenty of rechargable AAs, and I can just slip the pack in my pocket.  Somehow I'll get these to work!

Thanks for all the replies!

BBgarage


Joined: Dec 6, 2005
Points: 98

Re: Ariens Hand Warmers and electrical equipment
Reply #13   Feb 10, 2006 5:18 pm
What about purchasing a higher powered alternator(must be sold somewhere). These engines have some odd carb setup to maintain a set idle speed, no matter what the load is(I stuck a screw driver against the butterfly and a flame was visable in the muffler and the RPM trippled at least) the engine has plenty of energy available by opening its carb to power a larger alternator.

Mike
Snowmann


Joined: Dec 3, 2003
Points: 494

Re: Ariens Hand Warmers and electrical equipment
Reply #14   Feb 11, 2006 11:57 am
Certianly the alternator could be upgraded. It would likely involve a new flywheel with more powerful magnets. It would get expensive.
BBgarage


Joined: Dec 6, 2005
Points: 98

Re: Ariens Hand Warmers and electrical equipment
Reply #15   Feb 11, 2006 4:29 pm
Is there any free spot to attatch another coil that would work alongside to existing one, allowing the magnets to remain in place?
ntrtouch


Joined: Dec 14, 2005
Points: 4

Re: Ariens Hand Warmers and electrical equipment
Reply #16   Feb 11, 2006 7:49 pm
Hand warmers?  Are you kidding me?   Just put a pair of gloves on, all set.   Talk about a nice and cheap option!!!!
faithfulFrank


He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep
to gain what he cannot lose....


Location: Batavia, N.Y.
Joined: Jan 20, 2004
Points: 1067

Re: Ariens Hand Warmers and electrical equipment
Reply #17   Feb 12, 2006 11:54 am
I have handwarmer grips on my 2004/2005 1332DLE...bought new last year.
I have never even used them.
I wonder if I could wire an auxilary light with that power instead and mount that extra light on the top of my snowcab?
I'd probably never do it, but was just wondering.  It would be nice to have an extra light shining from on the top of the snowcab frame.


Snowmann, Good to hear from you. We appreciate the expert advice.....don't see you much at the other place....

Frank D.

Ariens 1332DLE Pro, Exmark 52" HP ZTR, Gardian Generac generator, Shindiawa T230  Excell/Honda PW, Craftsman rototiller, Favorite IPE- My Mac + Ipod- No Windoze for me!
Snowmann


Joined: Dec 3, 2003
Points: 494

Re: Ariens Hand Warmers and electrical equipment
Reply #18   Feb 12, 2006 12:10 pm
BBgarage wrote:
Is there any free spot to attatch another coil that would work alongside to existing one, allowing the magnets to remain in place?

BBgarage,

I'm not too intimate with the workings of the alternators, however I doubt you could just add another coil. Some of the people on this forum that have torn down the engines often would have a more positive indication than I.

Frank,

The AC circuit on your unit has 5 amps at 12V (actually this is probably more like @ 12.8-14 volts). Your 3 amp DC circuit you don't want to touch without worrying about your battery charging. The light you have is an incandescent 1156 automtive bult with something like 22W or so of draw. If you do not use your handwarmers, you have in the nieghborhood of 40 watts left over to power another light. The handwarmer take 2.5 amps (~30 watts) so if you keep your light wattage low (the current halogens used on the Tecumseh engine models is 15W) you may just have enough AC power to run handwarmers and both lights. The only way to tell for sure would be to try it.

faithfulFrank


He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep
to gain what he cannot lose....


Location: Batavia, N.Y.
Joined: Jan 20, 2004
Points: 1067

Re: Ariens Hand Warmers and electrical equipment
Reply #19   Feb 12, 2006 4:15 pm
Thank you Paul..!
I appreciate the time you take to help us all.......one of the many reasons I bought an Ariens!

Frank D.

Ariens 1332DLE Pro, Exmark 52" HP ZTR, Gardian Generac generator, Shindiawa T230  Excell/Honda PW, Craftsman rototiller, Favorite IPE- My Mac + Ipod- No Windoze for me!
Garandman


Location: South Boston, MA
Joined: Mar 10, 2005
Points: 341

Re: Ariens Hand Warmers and electrical equipment
Reply #20   Feb 12, 2006 7:36 pm
ntrtouch wrote:
Hand warmers?  Are you kidding me?   Just put a pair of gloves on, all set.   Talk about a nice and cheap option!!!!

I used some gauntleted goretex gloves today and they worked great.
Replies: 1 - 20 of 20View as Outline
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