Questions about seat heaters

[wareaglescott]

I have a couple questions about seat heaters. I am putting together a build plan and am trying to figure a few things out.

I am 6'3 and have determined I will be going with one of the kirkey seat options, likely the high back seat because it gives me the best fit in the car.

I live in Alabama and intend to drive the car through the winter on the nicer days since we have pretty mild winters. I will also have a heater in the car. So a couple questions if anyone can help I would appreciate it. (now keep in mind cold is a relative term. I am from the deep south and a cold weather wimp. For purposes of this discussion I won't be taking the car out much below 50 degrees. Maybe 45 if the heater works real well! ha)


1. Are seat heaters even compatible with the kirkey seats? I know they are basically just an aluminum frame with minimal material and padding. IF so can you provide a link or a particular maker to look at?

2. What is the added complexity to wiring these into the cars electrical system?

3. If seat heaters are not an option, and the car has been sitting in the cold garage, do the aluminum frames get cold soaked and make it not really comfortable to drive the car in a cold environment because you are basically sitting on a cold piece of metal? (Again I am not talking about 20-30 degrees. Think more like 50 ambient with a colder wind chill while driving)

Thank you

[edwardb]

I can't give any response to the Kirkey seat aspects. But I've installed seat heaters three times in the regular low back Roadster seats, so pretty familiar with them. Many including me use these heaters: http://www.cobraheat.com/Automotive-Seat-Heaters_c_18.html. I've only used the regular ones since they're under seat covers. Others prefer the waterproof. They come with all the necessary wiring, switches, relays, etc. All you need is +12V and ground. They draw about 8 amps each on high. I typically wire the pair onto a 20 amp circuit. Easy. They work great BTW.

[wareaglescott]

Thanks Paul. Let me ask you this: Do the heaters install on top of the seat cushioning and just below the leather? Purely speculation but I am trying to figure if they could just install between the aluminum seat body and the covering material.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Easy install in the Kirkeys. Yes, probably a bit less effective due to the heat sink effect but still better than without. Man, won't take it out below 50 degrees? As we come out of winter I love being able to get the car out on a balmy 40 degree day (keep in mind that this is coming from someone foolish enough to drive 50-60 miles to autocross when it's 25 degrees ;)).

Jeff

[edwardb]

Thanks Paul. Let me ask you this: Do the heaters install on top of the seat cushioning and just below the leather? Purely speculation but I am trying to figure if they could just install between the aluminum seat body and the covering material.

Yes, the heating elements install right below the seat covers. For stock Roadster seats, this is between the covering and cushion, as you said. From Jeff's comments, sounds like they can go between the cover and your metal Kirkey's. Just not as effective.

[wareaglescott]

Easy install in the Kirkeys. Yes, probably a bit less effective due to the heat sink effect but still better than without. Man, won't take it out below 50 degrees? As we come out of winter I love being able to get the car out on a balmy 40 degree day (keep in mind that this is coming from someone foolish enough to drive 50-60 miles to autocross when it's 25 degrees ;)).

Jeff

Ok sounds good thanks.
Yes I don't like cold weather! Ha. I'll take 95 degrees and 95% humidity over cold any day!

[Gumball]

I have the cobra heat version in my car with Kirkey seats. I used the low-back vintage race buckets and did a little modification to the shape, then had custom covers made out of leather by a local upholstery shop. While they were at it, I had them add the inflatable lumbar supports and seat heaters (both of which were supplied by Fortes - vendor here). The lumbar bladders go between the seat shell and the foam, but the heaters go between the leather and the foam.

To answer your questions.....

1) Yes - definitely compatible with Kirkey seats. If you use the stock Kirkey covers, though, you'll have to separate the foam from the vinyl to get the seat heaters in place. Since I made covers from scratch, this wasn't an issue.

2) I wired mine on a completely separate circuit from the main harness. The power comes off the battery to a 20 amp fused link, then to a pair of relays. The relays are only powered when the ignition is on. The individual seat switches then connect power through the relays. I had never done any wiring on a car before tackling my build and the seat heaters were one of the last things I did - once I understood better how to best provide power. But overall, they are very easy to incorporate into your wiring system.

3) I use the seat heaters more than I use my heater - on a cool day (what you'd call cold) they are just perfect to take the chill out of a drive.

One other comment is that you will need to be creative in order to hide the switches if you're looking for an invisible installation. I used the Breeze seat mounts, but still wanted a little more lay-back to the seats and added a piece of thin wall tubing across the front to act as a wedge. I was looking for a hidden, but accessible, mounting point for the switches when I noticed that the little round buttons are about the same size as the I.D. of the tubing I was using to lean the seats back - instant hidden mounting point! The switch is in a natural spot if your outboard hand falls to the side of the seat and then reaches in just a couple of inches.

Here's a pic of my seats and one of the switch in the tube......

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab15/CCRsAC/KirkeyFinished2_zps0586d062.jpg (http://s845.photobucket.com/user/CCRsAC/media/KirkeyFinished2_zps0586d062.jpg.html)

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab15/CCRsAC/SeatHeaterSwitchLocation_zpsc2fce924.jpg (http://s845.photobucket.com/user/CCRsAC/media/SeatHeaterSwitchLocation_zpsc2fce924.jpg.html)

[wareaglescott]

Chris this is good information. Thank you.
Is there any issue reaching the switch with the door closed? Don't have a car yet so am not completely familiar with the room between the seat and the body.

[Gumball]

Chris this is good information. Thank you.
Is there any issue reaching the switch with the door closed? Don't have a car yet so am not completely familiar with the room between the seat and the body.

No issue reaching the switch at all. However, since they're out of sight, they're also out of mind. One problem would be if the passenger leaves their switch - as I'd have to check to see if it's on by feel alone. That is why run them through relays that are only powered when the ignition is on... that way, if they leave the switch on, it won't run down the battery when the car is turned off. I usually check, though, after having a passenger in the car on a cold day.

[GoDadGo]

Man I'm Glad I Live Down South Where The Air Is Warm!
God Bless You All Who Live In The Frozen Tundra!
I don't know how you deal with it.