Alan_Hepburn
Well-known member
Here's an interesting concept to keep you cooler during your rides: Air conditioned helmet
Air conditioning in your helmet?
- Thread starter Alan_Hepburn
- Start date
Wow, interesting idea. 10-15F isn't that much, though. Some odd things in the FAQ too:
Is there a battery pack that can be used instead of hard-wiring the harness to the motorcycle battery?
There are several 12v battery pack options that can be purchased separately that will work with the ACH-1 connectors such as this option from Talentcell. Please read the specifications carefully and be sure to use a battery pack that does not exceed 13v and works with the ACH-1 connectors. The length of time these batteries will power the helmet in AC mode will vary, but you can expect the following approximate times:
3000mAh battery should power the helmet for around 2 hours
6000mAh battery should power it for 4 hours
12000mAh should work for 6 hours.
any bike with a properly functioning charging system will be outputting significantly over 13V (mid 14s generally).
it sounds like it uses about 1.5A/18W, so almost any bike's charging system should be fine with it.
Is there a battery pack that can be used instead of hard-wiring the harness to the motorcycle battery?
There are several 12v battery pack options that can be purchased separately that will work with the ACH-1 connectors such as this option from Talentcell. Please read the specifications carefully and be sure to use a battery pack that does not exceed 13v and works with the ACH-1 connectors. The length of time these batteries will power the helmet in AC mode will vary, but you can expect the following approximate times:
3000mAh battery should power the helmet for around 2 hours
6000mAh battery should power it for 4 hours
12000mAh should work for 6 hours.
any bike with a properly functioning charging system will be outputting significantly over 13V (mid 14s generally).
it sounds like it uses about 1.5A/18W, so almost any bike's charging system should be fine with it.
Feanor
Unmasked
I think Formula 1 has been using cool helmets for quite a long time, but I don't think their helmets are self contained.
They realized and capitalized a long time ago on the fact that if you keep a persons head cold(er) it doesn't matter (within reason) how hot your body gets. Whether or not its more psychological than physiological I have no idea, but if it didn't work and work very well, I doubt the weight stingy F1 engineers would sacrifice extra ounces for it. I think they also only use them in extreme situations.
Neat implementation!
They realized and capitalized a long time ago on the fact that if you keep a persons head cold(er) it doesn't matter (within reason) how hot your body gets. Whether or not its more psychological than physiological I have no idea, but if it didn't work and work very well, I doubt the weight stingy F1 engineers would sacrifice extra ounces for it. I think they also only use them in extreme situations.
Neat implementation!
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Abacinator
Unholy Blasphemies
10-15 degrees below ambient is a considerable amount IMO.
I'm surprised at the low weight.
If I could buy one integrated helmet, that had all the doodads, and it was a good helmet, like Shoei, maybe.
Like:
A/C, heat, HUD, windshield wipers, defogger.
Using a single plug compatible with my gerbing gear.
It might be a big heavy helmet though, and possibly pointless as a result. The return of Dark Helmet...
Like:
A/C, heat, HUD, windshield wipers, defogger.
Using a single plug compatible with my gerbing gear.
It might be a big heavy helmet though, and possibly pointless as a result. The return of Dark Helmet...
Sounds like a car that you wear on your head.
ST Guy
Well-known member
I wonder what that hunk of hardware on the back of the helmet might do to it's crash worthiness? Would it cause injury in an accident?
I'd always thought I'd install some fine tubing and some misters in the air channels in my helmet, provide a quick disconnect at the back/side of the helmet, and hook it up to one of those pressurized mister bottles. When it gets hot, just press a button and you get moisture in your helmet which would help cooling. Better than stopping and soaking your head. But the times I really wanted something like that were few and far between. The worst was a trip up to Idaho in the middle of the high desert in eastern Oregon. It got up to 115 degrees with zero shade and I was wearing an all black Darien. I stopped to buy some water and ice a few times. 'Took everything out of my pockets and stuffed my pockets as much as I could with ice. Then soaked myself top and bottom with water.
I'd always thought I'd install some fine tubing and some misters in the air channels in my helmet, provide a quick disconnect at the back/side of the helmet, and hook it up to one of those pressurized mister bottles. When it gets hot, just press a button and you get moisture in your helmet which would help cooling. Better than stopping and soaking your head. But the times I really wanted something like that were few and far between. The worst was a trip up to Idaho in the middle of the high desert in eastern Oregon. It got up to 115 degrees with zero shade and I was wearing an all black Darien. I stopped to buy some water and ice a few times. 'Took everything out of my pockets and stuffed my pockets as much as I could with ice. Then soaked myself top and bottom with water.
Slow Goat
Fun Junkie
F1 (actually none of the euro open-seat series) don’t use helmet cooling. For the 3-4 hottest locations the driver does wear a cooling vest but they’re self contained, unlike the vests which are supplied by cold water via pump system that are used in DTM and the endurance races. Even Indy car doesn’t have helmet cooling.
NASCAR and the Aussie Supercar series DO use helmet coolers as the enclosed cabins get much hotter inside than an open-wheeler and another 30lbs is less of an issue for them.
My brother drove for a GT3 team in the early 2000’s and he said that Porsche would have been miserable without wearing a pump-supplied vest.
The helmet linked by OP has a stated weight and of 1,450 grams (+-30gr), which works out to about just 3.23lbs...that’s about the weight of your normal Arai or Shoei!
stangmx13
not Stan
ive never really worried about how hot my head was during a race. but I do go through a bit of effort to reduce my body temp - ice towels, cold showers, soaking my undersuit, etc. so head cooling would probably be helpful. theres no way this would ever be "legal" for race use though.
its just another thing to get destroyed and soak up energy in the event of an impact. so long as the helmet is "complete" without it and theres nothing to pierce the shell, I cant imagine this would add risk.
actually, I can imagine one scenario. its adding a longer lever arm on the back of the helmet for rotation. with all the MIPS stuff and trying to reducing skull rotation, this could make that worse. but, if it just breaks off easily, itd probably reduce that too.
its just another thing to get destroyed and soak up energy in the event of an impact. so long as the helmet is "complete" without it and theres nothing to pierce the shell, I cant imagine this would add risk.
actually, I can imagine one scenario. its adding a longer lever arm on the back of the helmet for rotation. with all the MIPS stuff and trying to reducing skull rotation, this could make that worse. but, if it just breaks off easily, itd probably reduce that too.
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Aware
Well-known member
When my head is hot (like when my head is baking inside a helmet in full sun at 100f++), my capacity to think diminishes significantly. My lizard brain just about functions well enough to handle riding with minimal distractions. I'd prefer a settable thermostat, but a 10f or so reduction would be a huge help.
HeatXfer
Not Erudite, just er
/dev/null
taking a wrong turn
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moto-rama
Well-known member
Not necessarily.
Ive used a Buff, soaked in cold water, pulled up over my head under my helmet for years. If it's really miserably hot, the water evaporates, along with any dampness in the helmet itself (Shoei).
Before Buffs were available I used a plain old wet bandana just flat on my head, with my helmet pulled over it, not tied or anything. With the top vent open evaporative cooling works pretty well. And it requires no batteries!
I've filled my roadcrafter pockets with ice on many rides across nevada or other blisteringly hot places.
It does sound icky, but I cannot tolerate getting overheated (Multiple sclerosis) and staying relatively cool is a big deal for me.
These A/C helmets are a great idea, assuming they work, and may encourage some riders to use a full face helmet instead of the usual bare head (non-mandatory states).
A/C saves lives!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef8y2aKRqUU&feature=youtu.be
Video on the helmet from their website.
I could not find how much more it weighs but the components look light.
**Edit - found it: The complete Feher ACH-1 helmet weighs 1450 grams +/- 30 grams. This is in the range of many high-end helmets.***
Video on the helmet from their website.
I could not find how much more it weighs but the components look light.
**Edit - found it: The complete Feher ACH-1 helmet weighs 1450 grams +/- 30 grams. This is in the range of many high-end helmets.***
Toast
Well-known member
Its a great idea, when it's 100+ degrees out and you're riding down the slab it gets very fatiguing. Especially if you are already tired, having a cooled helmet would make things much more comfortable. It's not too heavy or expensive either, it looks like a win as long as it's not shit. I hope they have a pinlock option on there too.