ATVPT

All Terrain Vehicle Product Tests ATV Technical Magazine

Symtec 4 Zone Controller



Controls 4 different accessories, seat heater, heated hand grips, thumbwarmer, and vest or foot warmers. Basically it is 4 independent controls sharing one set of display LEDs and set up buttons in a very compact package. Each accessory can be set at any of 5 power levels. Features include memory of your settings after you shut down. Adjustable intensity LED Light. The control only can replace your existing 2 zone without any wiring changes.

Symtec Seat Heater



Use for ATV's, snowmobiles, motorcycles, golf carts etc. Installs under vinyl by removing the seat staples along the back of the seat. On/Off rocker switch or can be plugged into the 4 zone controller (210043) that has 5 levels of heat. Warms up fast and is very flexible.

Symtec Heated Vest



SYMTEC has designed a new modern heated vest that will withstand all of the punishment you will give it. Made of polyester and manufactured for the ATV and Snowmobile market this is the only heavy duty heated vest built for the market where durability and function are important. This is the only vest that has a removable heater system so that you can wash the vest in a washing machine. Available in two sizes Medium-Large and Large-Extra Large. The vest has an expandable system with two zippers on each side so that is is fully adjustable. Plugs right into the new 4 Zone System. Two models available - 9 watts for use with a battery pack (holder included -no batteries) or the 18 watt unit works with the 4 zone control or with the On/Off switch (included).

Product Review

Product: - Symtec Four Zone Winter Pack
Vehicle: - Kawasaki Brute Force 650

Four Zone Controller Installation:

      The first step is to lay out all of the parts and come up with a plan for install. I recommend finding a place for the controller and mounting it before any of the other components. This controller mount is one of the easiest and convenient that I have used. Electrical hook up and mounting was very simple. When choosing a mounting location, remember that there are two accessory ports on the bottom of the unit that need to be accessible for the vest, seat heater, or boot heaters. Follow the manufacturer’s directions and always check the machine’s wires with a voltmeter before assuming that you have the correct wire. Always go directly to the chasis or negative side of the battery rather than connecting your ground wire to an OEM wire that you assume is ground.

Grip Heater Installation:

      Check the fitment (length and diameter) before you start to remove your old grips. These grips are installed using WD-40 instead of glue and I found the install to be pretty easy. I usually have problems with normal grips tearing and coming loose when the glue is heated up. This design has been rock solid and I have not had any problems. I could have saved a bunch of money if I had gone with this grip system years ago.

Seat Heater Installation:

      You will need a stapler, long drill bit, staple removal tool (flat head screw driver works), sealant (I used industrial hot glue), hammer, and a soft surface to work on so you don’t tear the vinyl on your seat. First, you will need to remove the back half of the seat cover. This is done by removing the staples on the underside of the seat while being very cautious to not tear the vinyl. The instructions for this seat heater tell the installer to run the cable down the back of the seat and tuck it under to run up to the controller. This is a problem for the Kawasaki Prairie/Brute Force. If I were to install the cable this way, the cable would pinch as soon as the seat was installed and the cable would be too short to make it to the controller located on the handle bars. To remedy the situation, I drilled a hole in the plastic towards the middle of the seat, ran the cable down and then forward. If you go this route, you need to be very careful not to catch your drill bit in the foam causing seat cushion damage. Also, you will need to check for clearance before choosing a spot to drill; you wouldn’t want the cable to be too close to heat or possible pinch/wear spots. In order to make my seat removable, I had to add an extension cable with matching plugs running from the controller to just under the seat where the heater element plug comes out. I also had to add an adhesive strip to the loose side of the heater element. Originally I tried the seat heater without modifying it and the element bunched up under the vinyl causing creases in the element and a poor finished look on the vinyl. I had to remove the seat cover and add the second strip of adhesive.

Vest Installation:

      Put it on and plug it in to the four zone controller.

Review:

      The installation was straight forward and fairly simple with the exception of the seat heater element. Symtec has been notified of the issues that we had and we were told that no changes would be made to the seat heater element. I recommend that you order an extra extension cable like the one that comes with the vest so you can modify it like I did. Also, you can either add some thin two sided tape, or hot glue to the loose side of the heater element to hold it in place.

    This is the first system that I know of to offer 4 zones of independent adjustment for perfect heat distribution. I am very happy with how easy the system is to use. With the memory feature, you don’t need to reset all of your zones when you turn the machine off and on for short ride breaks. I would like to see a preset feature added though, so you can go all on and all off with the touch of a button rather than adjusting each zone to off when the heat isn’t needed.

    The grips are comfortable, yet very durable. By now, if I was using the grips that I used to, I would have gone through at least 3 different sets.

    The vest is comfortable and is very adjustable. I am using the 3XL vest and it fits more snug than any of my 3XL ski jackets or coats, but the length is just right.


Pros:

    All in one kit
    independent adjustment of each zone
    durable grips
    Controller is small, and easy to use
    controller has two different display settings for day and night use

Cons:

    Seat heater design is flawed and needs to be modified for install

Bottom Line


 
The four zone winter pack is my favorite non performance accessory that I have added to my ATV and I highly recommend it even with it’s flaws in the seat heater design.

Contact Info

SYMTEC, Inc.
6227 University Ave NE
Fridley, MN 55432

Phone: (763) 571-9193
Fax: (763) 571-9194

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