Need something to control the power going into USB heating element

[OM2]

I've got some USB heated gloves
They're wired and you need to connect to a USB connection

They're brilliant!
Except they get too hot for my liking
There's no controls for turning heat up or down
Is there a device I can add tot he middle that varies the power or voltage going to the gloves?
I'm sure I've seen something like this before - i just can't remember where!

I was hoping on of you guys might know

Thanks

 

[Alec_t]

What is the source providing power to the USB cable?
How much current to the gloves currently draw?
How much space do you have available for an adapter to go between the source and the cable?
Would you be able to build an adapter or are you dependent on hving to buy an off-the-shelf one?

 

[Why Not Indeed]

Would a constant current driver work with a resistive heating element?
EDIT: no, probably not, because it varies the voltage to keep the current the same. Not really helpful here!

 

[RandomGrinch]

Would a constant current driver work with a resistive heating element?

I was wondering if PWM would work?
It wouldn't take much to make up a simple circuit.

There are also USB fan speed controllers available...

Amazon.co.uk

I have no idea how well they would work.

But, it might help if the OP answered some of @Alec_t 's questions!

 

[SithLordHood]

I've got some USB heated gloves
They're wired and you need to connect to a USB connection

They're brilliant!
Except they get too hot for my liking
There's no controls for turning heat up or down
Is there a device I can add tot he middle that varies the power or voltage going to the gloves?
I'm sure I've seen something like this before - i just can't remember where!

I was hoping on of you guys might know

Thanks

By their nature, once they are warm they will keep the heat well, plus your bodyheat will keep the inside of the gloves warm.
Why not just turn them on for a few minutes when you first use them then turn them off. I doubt you will need to keep turning them on and off all the time!

 

[JohnW2]

By their nature, once they are warm they will keep the heat well, plus your bodyheat will keep the inside of the gloves warm.
Why not just turn them on for a few minutes when you first use them then turn them off. I doubt you will need to keep turning them on and off all the time!

Yes - I very nearly wrote something very similar

 

[Why Not Indeed]

Why not just turn them on for a few minutes when you first use them then turn them off.

Because they get too hot. He wants them to get warm, not hot.

 

[JohnW2]

Because they get too hot. He wants them to get warm, not hot.

They must 'go through' a stage of being warm before they get to the point of being too hot, mustn't they?

That's how any sort of 'thermostatic control' works, whether it be automated or 'manual'.

 

[SFK]

OM2
You have not told us what USB connectors you have.
But making presumption this ist is a normal USB I suggest you try this.

Suggesting it as it is a PWM dimmer (ie it chops the voltage and current up so it reduces the average power (and therefore the heat) but keeps the voltage and current high enough to keep the element hot).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/MASUNN-DC5-24V-Wireless-Control-Controller/dp/B077SKFJTD/

 

[JohnD]

I wonder if these are motorcycle gloves.

 

[FrodoOne]

I've got some USB heated gloves
They're wired and you need to connect to a USB connection

They're brilliant!
Except they get too hot for my liking
There's no controls for turning heat up or down
Is there a device I can add tot he middle that varies the power or voltage going to the gloves?

Apart from an "External Resister"
that which you need is a DC - DC Step Down Converter, such as one of these (or similar) : -

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100...=scene:pcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller|query_from:

You would need to "make your own arrangements" concerning how to connect it
between the USB "source"
and
the "Plug" which (no doubt) connects to the gloves.

This is (obviously) a SMPS device, similar to that referenced in Post #4.
(Apart from the bulky knob, that one may be a better choice.)

Because of the size (capacity) of the Capacitors used on either device,
I suspect the one referenced in Post #4 is operating at a much higher frequency than the one which I referenced.

 

[ebee]

Well 5v USB power supplies do not usually offer much in the way of current so I would be surprised if they use much current at all (I might be wrong but if you have the means to check the current draw, at the 5v end not the mains end) then you might decide that a simple current limiting circuit would suffice).
If you have a friend is into electronics then they might be able to build you such a simple little circuit using basically three simple components.
an IC of the current limiting type and two resistors, one of which could be variable either as a potentiometer or a little preset = a voltage regulator IC could be configured as a current limiter instead so you have a bit of choice.
Worth a thought anyway, simple and cheap.

 

[JohnD]

We don't know what the power source is.

That may be highly relevant.

 

[ebee]

We don't know what the power source is.

That may be highly relevant.

Yes you are absolutely correct but given that they are USB and no further info as yet it makes one wonder if they can be plugged into any/most USB supplies, that is why I said to get the current draw checked to ensure what is feasable.

My initial thought is that if we take existing current then try limiting it to say 75% and 50% and 25% of that figure and test the results once warmed up it might give us a clue for a reasonable current setting to aim for and that might solve the problem cheaply and easily.
Then again it might not, we really need to know what current it runs at before having a stab at this.
Obviously buying another problem that might be more expensive might be more suitable.

If we know the make/model/where from we might be able to read a spec or even try them out and find a way to resolve the problem.
Off course we might suggest some decent gloves or something instead.

 

[JohnW2]

We don't know what the power source is.

It's true that we haven't been told.

However, given that we are talking about gloves, is there any possible credible power source other than some sort of 'power bank'?