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I have really poor circulation in my toes, specifically my Big and Index toes.
I looked around for a heated insole or sock and found that almost all my choices were either too expensive, too bulky or both.
Most of the time I have issues with my toes I am near a computer, so I figured there must be a way to heat my cold toes via USB. I looked around for USB Foot Warmers and found a website selling cheap slippers with heated inserts in them.
I ordered the slippers (pink bunnies) for 10 dollars and awaited my package!
Opening the package and plugging them in I realized this isn't a solution, the slipper has cardboard and fur between the heating element (a heated fiber type material) and the actual bottom of the foot and the heat just didn't get to where it needed to be.
Then it hit me...
Take them out of the slipper, and rig them to my insoles so I can insert them into any footwear I own.
I looked around for a heated insole or sock and found that almost all my choices were either too expensive, too bulky or both.
Most of the time I have issues with my toes I am near a computer, so I figured there must be a way to heat my cold toes via USB. I looked around for USB Foot Warmers and found a website selling cheap slippers with heated inserts in them.
I ordered the slippers (pink bunnies) for 10 dollars and awaited my package!
Opening the package and plugging them in I realized this isn't a solution, the slipper has cardboard and fur between the heating element (a heated fiber type material) and the actual bottom of the foot and the heat just didn't get to where it needed to be.
Then it hit me...
Take them out of the slipper, and rig them to my insoles so I can insert them into any footwear I own.
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Signing UpStep 1Getting your Materials together
Get your materials together:
1. Heated Slippers from DealeXtreme.com - $10-14 US
2. USB Extension Cord. - $2 US any where.
3. White Electrical tape. - $1 US Home Depot
4. Duct Tape. - $1 US Home Depot
5. Your sneakers.
1. Heated Slippers from DealeXtreme.com - $10-14 US
2. USB Extension Cord. - $2 US any where.
3. White Electrical tape. - $1 US Home Depot
4. Duct Tape. - $1 US Home Depot
5. Your sneakers.
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I am going to try all kinds of power options this coming winter, battery packs, wall socket.. etc...
Great instructable you have here. I want to make myself one of those to keep my feet warm when I go hunting in winter. I want to plug these pads to a battery pack holding four C type rechargeable batteries. Each battery output 1,2 volts (same as AA rechargeable batteries) so I'll have 4,8 volts to power the heating pads. Would 4,8 volts be enough, compare to the 5 volts the USB port outputs?
The batteries are 6000 mah, which I think is not bad at all. But what about the current consumption of the pads? It has to be under 500 mah (the USB current output, i think). 6000 mah / 500 mah = a minimum of 12 hours of working time, in theory.
I'm a newbie at this: Any advices?
Finally: What about the heat coming out of these pads?
Your probably going to get a bit less than your calculation but I wouldn't be 100% sure on that as I plug them into my computer and my car when I need them.
About heat, it can get quite toasty, I ended up putting them under the soles and it worked out better. I am not sure if lowering the voltage would still allow it to work but it might. It would be interesting to put a regulator on them and try it out, but that will have to wait for the winter :)
good luck
The battery pack worn at the belt would be quite nice, but since I'll be sitting in the same blind all day long, I'll try pluging the insoles in a 12 volts power pack, using an adapter for a cigarette plug. I'll have more juice, and less trouble.
Which device do you use to plug into the car?