What a heated visor cord does

A heated shield (also called an electric shield or heated visor) is a helmet shield with built-in heating, meant to help keep fog and frost off the lens in the cold. How it is built and how well it works vary by helmet, so follow your helmet maker's instructions. It needs 12V power from the sled, and that is the cord's only job: get power from the battery to the helmet. The two-piece cord is made for an easy disconnect, so unplug it before you get off the sled rather than counting on it to come apart by itself. Search terms vary (heated visor cord, heated shield cord, heated helmet cord, snowmobile helmet cord, heated visor cable), but riders are asking for the same part.

What the cord does not do is make a helmet heated. Your helmet has to come with a heated shield and a plug on the helmet side. Check that plug first, because it decides whether this cord fits.

The Universal Electric Shield Power Cord: what is in the box

Here is exactly what our Universal Electric Shield Power Cord page lists:

Because the page does not give cable lengths, measure the run from your battery to where you sit before you install, and ask us if you need the length. Owners in our reviews say the cord is long enough and noticeably heavier than the thin single-wire cords they had before. The page describes a quick install. HJC, CKX, G-Max, EXO-CX950, Ski-Doo and their model names are trademarks of their owners; we use model names only to describe fit.

Does it fit your helmet? If your helmet's visor plug is RCA-style, it is the type this cord is made for. If your helmet is not on the list and you are not sure what plug it uses, send us a photo of the plug before you order. We will not guess.

Wiring it safely: the outlet test that matters

A plug that fits is not proof that a circuit can carry the load. Before you connect a visor cord, or anything else, to your sled:

• Read your owner's manual. Confirm the battery or outlet you plan to use is 12V, is fused, and is rated for everything you will run from it at the same time (the visor plus any heated gear).
• Keep the cord's fuse in place. The 10 amp fuse built into the cord is there for a reason; never bypass it or swap in a bigger one.
• Route the battery lead clear of heat and moving parts, away from the exhaust, the steering and the track, and secure it so it cannot rub through.
• Not sure your sled has a battery or spare capacity? Ask your dealer before you wire anything in. Some sleds are set up differently, and the cord's page describes a battery connection.

Our heated clothing FAQ covers how 12V gear connects in general, so we will not repeat it here.

Running a heated visor and heated clothing together

If your sled has a built-in female RCA outlet for the visor and you also wear heated gear with coax plugs, the Male RCA to Female Coax & Female RCA Adapter plugs into that outlet and gives you two outputs: a female coax for heated clothing and a female RCA for the visor. Its page says it is made for snowmobile and snow bike riders, works with heated clothing brands that use coax connectors, and is 7 inches long.

Two cautions. First, that outlet now carries the visor and the heated gear together, so the owner's manual check above applies to the combined load, not just the visor. An outlet may not be fused, which is one more reason to check the manual. Second, outlet shapes vary between sleds, so check that the adapter seats snugly in yours and does not wobble; if it does, tell us before you ride on it.

If you need to turn one RCA connection into two RCA outlets, the Heated Clothing RCA Splitter does that. Its page is written for 12V heated clothing wiring and asks you to confirm your gear uses RCA plugs, not coax, before you order. The same load check applies.

For which heated layers to add and how each one is powered, read our heated snowmobile gear layer system guide. It covers gloves, socks, insoles and the rest.

Is there a heated visor battery pack?

We do not sell a battery pack made for heated visors. Our portable battery kits are built for our heated clothing, and their page does not list visors, so we do not recommend them for a shield. The Universal Electric Shield Power Cord runs your visor from the sled's own battery while you ride.

Snowmobile helmet bag: carrying the helmet off the sled

A heated-shield helmet spends a lot of time in the truck, the trailer, the cabin and the garage. Our Helmet Bag for Motorcycle, Snowmobile & ATV Helmets is made for that:

• Heavy-duty nylon outside, UV-coated to protect the paint from sun.
• Sherpa lining to protect your helmet from dings, scuffs and scratches.
• A zipper that opens edge to edge, so the mouth spreads wide and a big helmet goes in and out without a fight.
• A carry handle stitched into the top.
• A front pocket for sunglasses or goggles.

The page says it fits motorcycle, dirt bike, ATV and snowmobile helmets, including the biggest full-face helmets with a visor. That is why the same bag answers the "motorcycle helmet bag" search too. Owners tell us it takes large snowmobile helmets with room to spare, and several keep gloves, a balaclava or a spare visor in it over the off season.

Storing your helmet, shield and cord between rides

• Bring the helmet inside after the ride and let the liner and shield dry at room temperature before bagging it.
• Unplug the helmet-to-sled cord and coil it loosely in the bag's front pocket rather than leaving it dangling from the sled.
• Store the bag somewhere it will not be crushed or knocked off a shelf. For the sled itself, see our snowmobile cover sizing guide, and for gear you carry on the trail, our snowmobile luggage guide.

What to buy

• Heated shield with an RCA-style plug, nothing else heated: the Universal Electric Shield Power Cord.
• Sled with a built-in RCA outlet, plus heated clothing with coax plugs: the Male RCA to Female Coax & Female RCA Adapter, after the owner's manual check.
• A helmet worth protecting off the sled: the Helmet Bag, with the cord in its front pocket.

You can see more trail gear in our snowmobile accessories collection.

Questions riders ask us

Will the shield cord fit my helmet?

It is made for helmets with RCA-style visor plugs. The page names HJC, CKX, G-Max and EXO-CX950 helmets and some older Ski-Doo helmets. If yours is not listed, check the plug type or send us a photo.

Can I run my visor and heated gloves from the same outlet?

The Male RCA to Female Coax & Female RCA Adapter gives you both outputs from one RCA outlet. Before you do it, confirm in your owner's manual that the outlet is 12V, fused and rated for the visor and the gloves together. Gloves may also need their own cord or controller; the layer system guide linked above covers that.

Is the cord fused?

Yes. A 10 amp fuse is built into the cord.

How long is the cord?

The product page does not state the cable lengths. Measure the run on your sled and ask us before you order if length matters.

Will the helmet bag fit my big snowmobile helmet?

The page says it fits all helmet types, including the biggest full-face helmets with a visor, and owners report large snowmobile helmets fit with room to spare.

Can I store a damp helmet in the bag?

Let it dry first. The lining is soft but does not breathe much, so a wet helmet stays wet inside it.