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3M Air Stream Conversion

Dave Fritz

Dave Fritz

Joined
Jul 24, 2008
Messages
743
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212
Location
Montfort, Wisconsin
My Air Stream battery is going bad. I've had it rebuilt once but have seen conversions done using a smaller battery and attaching that to the helmet. I'd like to look into that. While I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer regarding technology and things electrical, I do have a friend that is. Can anyone recommend an accurate video or tutorial about how to do it that I can give to him rather than trying to explain it myself? While there are videos available, I'd appreciate feedback from those who know regarding a good one. Thank you so much.
 
Dave
I did this, it's dead easy.

Get a Battery pack that's used to charge a cell phone and with a USB output. I then used a USB printer cable that I had lying around (use any robust cable) and cut the other end off (not the end that connects to the battery pack ;-)

Open up the hemet (easy if I recall) and find out where the wires from the old battery pack connect. De-solder those wires and attach the new ones.
I did see a youtube video or guide and will try to find and link (but you really don't need it)
If I recall, the only catch was finding a battery pack that could deliver 2Amps (they ARE available)

I didn't want to add weight to the helmet and so I keep the battery (tiny) in my pocket


edit: found one
View: https://www.youtube.com/embed/T0m9n9Iog7w
 
Alan Zenerich lead us by the hand here on the forum to do this about 8 years ago. The available batteries have improved, but the concept would be the same. I believe he had a pretty thorough explanation in a post inside the thread.
 
I did a similar thing but a lot simpler. I just got some barrel plugs (like the links below) cut the cable that normally runs from helmet to battery and spliced a female connector to the helmet side and a male connector to the battery side. Just do similar color connections on each end of the cable. This allowed the old battery style connector to still work if needed (but I never use it). Then used the usb adapter linked to plug the battery into the helmet.



One caution is some usb power bank batteries have safety devices built in that keep them from starting the fan (I assume to much initial power draw) so I started using a larger battery which doesn’t have that problem and just stick it in my back pocket rather than helmet attachment.

 
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