John Bracher Posted January 14, 2022 Report Share Posted January 14, 2022 Gents It looks like amongst the 'Winter fettlin' a seat refurbishment (new foams, etc) may be on the list. Q. Has anyone much by way of (current/recent) knowledge of seat heater element kits?? Having become a 'proper softie' and using them in my 'modern metal' for some years, I think they may serve well in the 6, while I have the seats apart? I like the roof down on 'fresh' days, so wondered if any of the aftermarket kits are any good (and reliable) --- or not?? Any suggestions/tips welcomed. Thanks! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john.r.davies Posted January 14, 2022 Report Share Posted January 14, 2022 (edited) Cosy idea, John! Me, I'd prefer to re-use some heated seats out of a scrapped car. Not too scrapped, of course! There's a list here of modrrns that can have them: https://www.evanshalshaw.com/blog/best-used-cars-with-heated-seats/ Edited January 14, 2022 by john.r.davies Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Graham Posted January 14, 2022 Report Share Posted January 14, 2022 I fitted an eBay seat heater kit to the MX5 seats I’ve got in BUO (TR6) not difficult but obviously had to dismantle the seats and strip the covers of them from memory about 11/2 a seat, the kit I fitted had5 heat setting but to be honest if I was doing it again would save some cash and just have the kit with 2 heat settings Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AndyR100 Posted January 14, 2022 Report Share Posted January 14, 2022 I installed a pair of eBay-sourced 2-setting heat heaters in the MX5 seats of my TR4…. Definitely one of my better choices ……. Andy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andy Moltu Posted January 14, 2022 Report Share Posted January 14, 2022 Fitted them to the 6 and the Stag. Used Ebay elements with 2 heat settings. Had a few days in Mid Wales in September. Started with the heater control cable breaking, so opted for on and inadvertently sweltered not realising the heated seat was switched on. (Roof up as bucketing it down) Worth doing if you have a decent alternator. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ed_h Posted January 15, 2022 Report Share Posted January 15, 2022 About halfway down the page: http://bullfire.net/TR6/TR6-56/TR6-56.html Ed Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Waldi Posted January 15, 2022 Report Share Posted January 15, 2022 I have a 2-step system too in my mx5 seats. Since there is quite some current draw (8A each), I used a relay and 4mm2 wiring in the fused feed and also 4 mm return wires. The “controls” are fitted in the centre console. Waldi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jerrytr5 Posted January 17, 2022 Report Share Posted January 17, 2022 I have to confess to being a little sceptical about these when they first appeared, however once I realised that they actually heat the body rather than having some pathetic motor gently warm the air slightly which disappears out of the roof I became a convert. Essential for any convertible that is used year round. Nearly all my cars have them fitted - no problems with this supplier: https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/heatedseat Remove the seat covers, cut the heat elements to size and wire them up. Jerry Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jpmf Posted January 17, 2022 Report Share Posted January 17, 2022 Fitted these to my MX5 seats https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/180918179489?hash=item2a1f9056a1:g:0zAAAMXQHeBSGOiT And with the control fitted under the seat it's out of sight, easy to adjust and know what setting it's on. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Waldi Posted January 17, 2022 Report Share Posted January 17, 2022 Do consider to have the relay switched (energised) by the ign. switch, this eliminated the risk of draining the battery if the heating is left “on” after a ride. Waldi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AndyR100 Posted January 17, 2022 Report Share Posted January 17, 2022 (edited) I have one of the Moss centre consoles in my 4, I used the front face of it to house the switches - they are circled in the attached picture, but you have to look closely to notice them. …. Andy Edited January 17, 2022 by AndyR100 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bluestone Posted January 17, 2022 Report Share Posted January 17, 2022 After reading a feature in a classic Land Rover magazine I decided to fit a heated seat kit - available from Paddock Spares - when refurbing my TR seats last year. They went in okay, however, as I have yet to wire them up I am unable to say how well they work. If they are good enough for Land Rovers I am hoping they will be up to the job of TRing.... Ray Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jhony Posted January 18, 2022 Report Share Posted January 18, 2022 Heated seats are powered by a heating element, a long strip of material that functions as a resistor. A resistor resists the flow of electricity. When electric current flows through it, the energy is turned into heat, which flows through the seat, warming the rider. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueTR3A-5EKT Posted January 18, 2022 Report Share Posted January 18, 2022 (edited) Roger…..we need a logic control for our seat heaters. some basic needs which I guess a simple normally off relay would not provide. Can only be switched on when ignition is on. Turns off and isolates when ignition is off. Requires the switch to be selected on to reactivate seat heating Passing contact switch not latching ? So how to turn off? Has timer function so it cannot be left on continually Icing on cake perhaps. Edited January 18, 2022 by BlueTR3A-5EKT Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobH Posted January 18, 2022 Report Share Posted January 18, 2022 Just one relay needed to do all that Pete: https://www.12voltplanet.co.uk/adjustable-delay-timer-relay-delay-on-or-off-12v-10a.html Activate with a momentary push-button, turns off after a set time of up to one hour. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ed_h Posted January 18, 2022 Report Share Posted January 18, 2022 They work very well in my TR6. The Hi/Lo heat models work by putting the seat bottom/seat back pads in parallel or in series. Power them from an ignition switched source and they go off with the ignition. Ed Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueTR3A-5EKT Posted January 18, 2022 Report Share Posted January 18, 2022 (edited) Excellent Rob. The timed disconnect certainly makes the heated seat circuit error proof. my memory says we had this function on heated rear windows many years ago. I should fit one to my overdrive and see if the specialists can work out why my overdrive disconnects after an hour on a long run……. Edited January 18, 2022 by BlueTR3A-5EKT Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Bracher Posted January 18, 2022 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2022 Gents All good stuff! For what it will cost (certainly when compared to seat foams!!!!!!), I think I'm convinced. I like the timed relay idea too, that is a winner. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Waldi Posted January 18, 2022 Report Share Posted January 18, 2022 I have no timer-relay and do not see a need for that. If the engine is switched of the relay is switched of and that’s it. Waldi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ed_h Posted January 19, 2022 Report Share Posted January 19, 2022 Yes--power the seat heaters from an ignition switched source, and the heaters go off with the ignition. Ed Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hawk Posted January 20, 2022 Report Share Posted January 20, 2022 I have heated MX5 seats in my 6 but have not got round to wiring them in (which I do want to do). I am planning to use the MX5 switch gear so just need to sort wiring. BUT I am hopeless with electrickery and would not know where to start! Can anyone who has done this please give me an idiots guide as to where to take the feed from, relays and fuses required etc .... that would be appreciated. Thanks Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobH Posted January 20, 2022 Report Share Posted January 20, 2022 I think the answer is going to depend on what seats and matching MX5 switches and wiring loom you possess as I believe there were differences between the marks. Some have multi-way plugs with connections for seat-occupancy sensors as well as for the heating elements. Any chance of a photo of what you have? You will need to take an un-switched power feed from the battery (brown wires) to a fused relay with a 15A fuse fitted. The heaters take 10A or so for both seats so this needs to be a new connection, not picked up through an existing wire. The relay coil should be powered from the ignition switch (white wires on the fuse block). What happens from there on depends on what MX5 bits you have. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stillp Posted January 20, 2022 Report Share Posted January 20, 2022 My DD Focus has heated sets, but I'd like a heated steering wheel. Strangely it has a fuse for the heated wheel - now in use for the dashcam. All the other possible extras that the first owner didn't choose have empty fuse positions. I'm a fair weather TR driver so don't need heated seats in the 4A. Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hawk Posted January 20, 2022 Report Share Posted January 20, 2022 48 minutes ago, stillp said: My DD Focus has heated sets, but I'd like a heated steering wheel. Strangely it has a fuse for the heated wheel - now in use for the dashcam. All the other possible extras that the first owner didn't choose have empty fuse positions. I'm a fair weather TR driver so don't need heated seats in the 4A. Pete Mrs Hawk Volvo has a heated steering wheel which I thought was a gimmick and utterly pointless .... until I tried it! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hawk Posted January 20, 2022 Report Share Posted January 20, 2022 2 hours ago, RobH said: I think the answer is going to depend on what seats and matching MX5 switches and wiring loom you possess as I believe there were differences between the marks. Some have multi-way plugs with connections for seat-occupancy sensors as well as for the heating elements. Any chance of a photo of what you have? You will need to take an un-switched power feed from the battery (brown wires) to a fused relay with a 15A fuse fitted. The heaters take 10A or so for both seats so this needs to be a new connection, not picked up through an existing wire. The relay coil should be powered from the ignition switch (white wires on the fuse block). What happens from there on depends on what MX5 bits you have. Thanks for the info. I have no wiring (other than that in seat and the attached connector) and the switches that came out of an MX5. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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