Heated seat power
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,897
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From: Nashville TN
2017 C4 of Year Finalist
Heated seat power
I'm planning on installing heated seats in my '85. I'll do a full writeup as I've not seen anything on this topic that really explained it well enough for me, and I think it's a neat mod idea. For now, I'm in the planning stages of the project and wondering where the best place to get power for the seats will be. Each seat needs 10A of power. Any suggestions on where to pull that from? Thanks!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,189
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From: If your not the lead dog the view never changes Boise, Id
I am redoing the seats in my 85. Have new foam and covers. I was thinking of doing the same, putting in seat warmers. My concern is not so much where to power them (just going to run a new line to the fuse box while the interior is out. I am worried about the folds in the heating pad created by the deep seams in my sport seats. If I did not have the interior out I would power them up on the cigarette lighter line. You would just have to remember to turn the seat heaters off since that is always hot.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,343
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From: Hartford WI
Does the 85 had the option for electric seats? I know mine had only the Driver's side so I found the harness and plugged in the passenger side. Now I have full power. If it did have the option, maybe the harness is there and you can tap into that?
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
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From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
In my '88 the 30A Power Accessory circuit breaker drives both seats and the door locks.
Seems like you could pull 20A (10A for each heater) from here so long as you weren't moving the seats as they warmed up.
Problem is that circuit is "Hot All the Time".
Seems like you could pull 20A (10A for each heater) from here so long as you weren't moving the seats as they warmed up.
Problem is that circuit is "Hot All the Time".
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,897
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From: Nashville TN
2017 C4 of Year Finalist
What I may do is get a relay that can handle the seats, use POWER from the power accessory circuit and then switch the relay off of a small ignition circuit (like the radio). That way they get the power they need without worrying about destroying the battery.
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DUB
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Hartford WI
Sorry I forgot. Mine was there because I have the harness from the switch.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/90-91-Corve...!-1:rk:20:pf:0
See picture 4? There is a crossover. I suspect that is power. One of those lines going to the circuit must be power and the 3 wires are the bridge
https://www.ebay.com/itm/90-91-Corve...!-1:rk:20:pf:0
See picture 4? There is a crossover. I suspect that is power. One of those lines going to the circuit must be power and the 3 wires are the bridge
Last edited by aklim; Feb 10, 2019 at 09:30 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,897
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From: Nashville TN
2017 C4 of Year Finalist
Sorry I forgot. Mine was there because I have the harness from the switch.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/90-91-Corve...!-1:rk:20:pf:0
See picture 4? There is a crossover. I suspect that is power. One of those lines going to the circuit must be power and the 3 wires are the bridge
https://www.ebay.com/itm/90-91-Corve...!-1:rk:20:pf:0
See picture 4? There is a crossover. I suspect that is power. One of those lines going to the circuit must be power and the 3 wires are the bridge
Was the hookup under the seat when you took it out?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Hartford WI
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,897
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From: Nashville TN
2017 C4 of Year Finalist
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,343
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From: Hartford WI
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,897
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From: Nashville TN
2017 C4 of Year Finalist
Got the passenger seat pads installed. Want that bad. I didn't completely remove the leather because I didn't need to and figured no reason to take more off than necessary. I used zip ties to put it back together. They seem to work pretty well, I suppose time will tell. I still have to put everything back in the car and do the wiring. I'll try to remember to take pictures as I go.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2017
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From: Nashville TN
2017 C4 of Year Finalist
My before photo
After with the pigtail coming out
The seat back. I only took about 3/4 of it off to add the heating element
The pad installed under the leather.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,897
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From: Nashville TN
2017 C4 of Year Finalist
Been on a bit of a roll with this project. Got the cushions buttoned back up, and the wiring done as well. I'll redo the wiring later as I mostly just wanted to see if it all worked, and thus used an add-a-fuse running out of the fusebox and under the door trim to provide power. I grounded it at the bolt on the passenger door just in front of the trim.
I added the switch to the seat itself by drilling a hole in the bottom of the seat in the middle. It allows enough clearance for the switch while also keeping the switch out of sight (so it still looks stock) and away from accidentally bumping it. For now, it's on a circuit that will run without the key in the ignition, and thus there's a real danger of draining the battery if the switch is left on. I want to change that in the future by using something that is only on with ignition. For now, though-the passenger seat has heat! I'll work on the driver's side soon. Does anyone know if I might run into problems with the lumbar support airbags on the driver's side? The passenger seat doesn't have those.
I added the switch to the seat itself by drilling a hole in the bottom of the seat in the middle. It allows enough clearance for the switch while also keeping the switch out of sight (so it still looks stock) and away from accidentally bumping it. For now, it's on a circuit that will run without the key in the ignition, and thus there's a real danger of draining the battery if the switch is left on. I want to change that in the future by using something that is only on with ignition. For now, though-the passenger seat has heat! I'll work on the driver's side soon. Does anyone know if I might run into problems with the lumbar support airbags on the driver's side? The passenger seat doesn't have those.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2017
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From: Nashville TN
2017 C4 of Year Finalist
Hole for the switch
I put it out of the way under the front of the seat
I love these round switches they're easy to install with a 3/4 in bit
Installed
In the car
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,897
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From: Nashville TN
2017 C4 of Year Finalist
Thanks! Yeah I think you're absolutely right there. I've had them in past cars and really miss them, as did my wife. Once I get the Vette back on the road I think I'll do my DD as well.