-------------------- Tech Support Tips/Troubleshooting/Common Issues --------------------

Stress Tests

Looking at the product video, the product showcase tests the temperature output of the smaller 5x10cm [ https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11288 ] at different voltages. Here are some of the results:

~112°F @ 5V and 0.8A
~168.2°F @ 9V and 1.2A
~240°F-246°F @12V and 1.35A-1.5A for 4-6 hours, starts warping some damage
~350°F @ 17.7V and 1.61A, polyester melts, pad starts breaking down, damages the product

Note: Keep in mind that the heating pad does not recover quickly when a cooler object touches the heating pad.

Battery Power

I had a customer use this for their project to heat a horse bit up. A 9V battery didn't work as well and it was getting hot to the touch. The heating pad was putting out less heat when the battery was overheating. He then used 4 AA batteries (for about 6V) in a battery holder https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12083 and didn't have a problem using it.

does anyone know what the wire is called, the one that the heat radiates from.

"these are low power, flexible and draw little power" - this post brought to you by Sparkfun's department of redundancy department ;)

I could use this for a heated mouse. Anyone else get 'cold mouse hand' in the winter?

How much current does this draw?

Can someone please measure the resistance of the heating pad? That way I and everyone else can calculate the current and wattage at various voltages. The 'warmup profile' is interesting but can't really be used to figure out how it'll behave in different applications. The video gives a coarse way of calculating the resistance by stating the current draw at 5v... but I'd rather just know the specs of this thing.

How waterproof? If I wanted to put them in gloves could I hand wash them or would I have to take them out?

5V, but at what current draw? and does the draw vary over time as the temp slowly increases?

Hi! I am trying to heat 5 of these up to 40 C (about 100 F). I'm planning on wiring them in parallel and feeding them with a 9V 3A AC/DC converter that is regulated with a buck step-down converter. However, I'm worried that this configuration won't get the heaters hot enough. Any circuit suggestions? Thank you so much!

I like how in the suggestions there is everything you need to make a temperature controlled project.

Waterproof? Have an outdoor application to avoid dew accumulation.

If not I can always just use some sugru to seal and attach it...

Hey, I just got my heating pad, I was wondering if there is a code sample I can use, I would like to control the heating pad. Is that by any means possible?

What's the nominal resistivity on this? I'd like to drive the temperature on this put have a current limit of 1.5A.

Hey, got a couple questions that I hope some of you can answer. I'm looking to install some of these in clothing, are they washable? Can I run these through a lilypad arduino board and a 5v battery with enough heat generated to feel through fabric? If anyone can answer either one of these questions that would be great, thanks!

I am interested in trying this product in a trail cam. The camera gets cold enough at night that it won't work. one uses a 6volt lantern battery and the other uses 6 d-cell batteries(9volt). Both will work during the day if it's warmer but shut down at night and batteries only last 1-2 days. could this be hooked to the battery pack or would the draw kill the batteries anyway?

i purchased these with arduino atmega328 board, what relay i should use to this product ? Iam using LiPo battery 2000mAh 3.7V, Could you please send me a link to the product ? Thanks for help

If I have components that are rated to a low of 0 degrees Celsius, could I place this item near/around them and use a temperature sensor as a trigger to turn it on/off and keep them within their operating temperature range during the winter?

Sorry for the long sentence. Basically, can I use this to keep certain components warm during the winter?

i'm prototyping a product i'm looking to sell; can these be pulsed to maintain a lower heat temp? and can these be resized or folded rather tightly (say around the inner diameter of a 9mm pistol grip?) also whats the lowest voltage these can run off of? would a 3.7v CR123a cell be sufficient if the capacity is high enough?

another head slap momemnt :)

Thanks. That would work perfectly and be very simple.

I would like to use 4 of these from a car battery. Anyone have an off the shelf power converter recommendation ? Thanks

These are going in my ski boots.

hi, i want to read the temperature of a horses leg while it runs to prevent serious leg injuries. could you use this product in reverse? so if i wrapped this around a horses leg creating heat to the pad, would a slight voltage be created or change in resistance that i am able to read? cheers.

I am thinking of building an (mini) hot air balloon using these, would that even be remotely possible? I will have to use an fabric that will handle being heated and seal of the bottom of the balloon directly to the payload.

But will these provide enough heat to get the balloon in the air? And what kind of power would be able to feed these (I thought a lipo-battery)?

im getting help with this part on the forums, thanks.

Hey, any idea of when this is going to be available, or if it's not going to be available? thanks

Might be useful for the terrarium project I am thinking about. A few of these might heat up a small one nicely.

Cool... I could use one of these with a little aluminum foil wrapped in an old towel for my cat to lay on so she would keep off the answering machine and my lap top. She will suck the heat out of anything warmer then she is.

If I wanted to heat up a circular area, would it be possible to cut them somehow or could there be some way of applying some form of a heatsink to the corners?