Heated front seats?

Randy in Maine · Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 12:17 pm Post subject: Heated front seats?

Has anyone ever used these before?

http://www.sportsimportsltd.com/carbon-fiber-seat-heater-kit.html

I was thinking that they would be pretty easy to install if you were doing the seats anyway.....

Thoughts?

vttype2 · Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 1:45 pm Post subject:

i've been looking at those for the past year. if its as easy as they say it is they would be a piece of cake to install, just install a disconnect so that you can still remove the seats. i thought about installing the switch in the seat pedestal in front of where the seat belt buckle is located..........also does the alt put out enough to power them? that was my only hesitation, that and price. i've seen them cheaper than that listed price on ebay........
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jtauxe · Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 1:52 pm Post subject:

Man, wouldn't that be nice, especially in Maine?

We have heated (front) seats in our Subaru Outback, and it sure is nice in the winter!

But, yeah, the power draw must be pretty large.
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Randy in Maine · Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 2:09 pm Post subject:

They say 4 amps on high.....

Opossum · Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 2:09 pm Post subject:

I have those. They are great ! Very easy to install. So thin and flexible, you don't notice they are there. I didn't remove seat cover, just loosened and slid in. They get hot fast and have two temp settings. My Wife is always cold and I'm always hot; each seat has it's own controller. I put the switch at the seat base (near aisle) where there already is a hole in the metal. Just made it a little bigger and popped in the switch.

Switch location looking straight down from driver's seat.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

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theizzardking · Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 2:16 pm Post subject:

yep i think this is pretty rad a def. on my list of upgrades further down the list but on the list none the less....
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TomWesty · Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 6:24 pm Post subject:

Randy, Nice find! I currently have Mr. Sideless sheepskin covers on my seats and they help tremendously, but actual active heaters would be nice on those frosty days Cool

I wonder if I could hook some up to my Kadrons as pre-heaters Idea

VWBusrepairman · Samba Member Joined: July 06, 2004 Posts: 4726

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vw76westy · Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 10:29 pm Post subject:

heated seats !!!

now picture them being vanogon seat with arm rest that are heated
my to-do list just got longer

markd89 · Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 11:53 pm Post subject:

Is this site the best pad to get. Anything better or less $?

BusBerd · Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:34 pm Post subject:

Did you do your seats, Randy??
How did it turn out??
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markd89 · Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:40 pm Post subject:

I got those and they worked nicely. I don't remember if I got 11x11 or the rectangular ones as it's been a year or so. I'm also using old 911 seats with vinyl covers so not exactly apples to apples for a bus seat. Nonetheless, I can say that they heat well and keep me warmer. I'm also in Los Angeles, so it's not really ever arctic here.

You should experiment with pad placement. i.e. I moved the seat back pad upwards and the bottom pad forward from the seat crack and found that nicer than the default position.

Mark

Blood Loss · Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:52 pm Post subject:

I bought a pair of these for $37 (with free shipping). Not very elegant but does warm my butt nicely in my aircooled 1982 Westy.
http://www.amazon.com/Wagan-12V-Heated-Seat-Cushion/dp/B000ANOUHQ

pb24ss · Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 3:04 pm Post subject:

those look nice. i just point the espar up front and it hearts everything. the kids would sure love some of the back bench seat though. hmmmm.

silverside61 · Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 3:08 pm Post subject:

you could always pull a set out of an old saab 900. there are plenty of them in the salvage yards around maine. just cut the mat out of the seat, and take the relay and switch, too. probly get them next to nothing. remember, some of them need pressure applied if you test them, to work.

skills@eurocarsplus · Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 4:36 pm Post subject:

those are the same set up that volvo uses in the newer cars and prone to cause fires when the grid breaks. here is the recall http://www.autorecalls.org/1996/5522.shtml

i just did one the other day on a 07 XC70, burnt the cushion, and the leather cover. i think they will issue another recall. personally, i used volvo 240 elements, which are a 'wire' (not like the carbon ones) in my recaro's for my jetta. way more rugged than the carbon deals. just my opinion Cool

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danfromsyr · Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 9:17 pm Post subject:

While I am certainly planning on heated front seats, and these are really good prices.. I do also intend on a heated REAR SEAT BENCH, ie. some under pad heated elements for the lower bed. take that chill off before bed or in the am. Wink

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kmmcdonald · Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 6:03 pm Post subject:

How did all of these heated seat installations work out?

Did the alternator provide adequate current?

thanks

Keith

calebmelvin · Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 7:15 pm Post subject:

Mid America carries some now as well:

http://www.mamotorworks.com/acvw?frame=1.10528
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Randy in Maine · Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 4:05 am Post subject:

Well I am going to bring this post back to life and I need some advice....

This 79 "project bus" has a 70 amp alternator.

I bought a couple of these that will be going in. Currently the seats are all torn apart, getting new foam cushions, new seat covers (brown camping cloth of course), cleaning and repainting the innerds.

http://www.heatedseatkits.com/heatedseatkits/iheat2/index.html

How should I wire these up? I need to get 20 amps to the front of the bus to power them up and I was thinking about putting an additonal fuse box someplace to do it. How big of wire do you figure I need to run? I will likely mount the switches in the floor like opposum did.

The only other wierd stuff I have going on in here is that I would also like to power up the 2 "ambulance fans" and the power amp for the stereo into this new fusebox if that is the way to do it.

The stock fuse box can do the ambulance fans if needed and the power amp comes off the battery right now. I could just leave that alone if needed. The power amp is currently under the rear seat, but will likely move to the overhead compartment. I would rather deal with it all at once as opposed to in phases.

The bus is headed for the paint shop here later this week and will be naked on the inside (and outside also....no windows or pop top as they are getting new seals/canvas after the paint job).

Thoughts?


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