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Switch yes, later control, no. Posted by Ari [Email]  (#2847) [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Ari) on Thu, 14 Dec 2000 09:32:46
In Reply to: Seat Heater Upgrade, SKB, Wed, 13 Dec 2000 18:25:41 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
Yes, you can just put a switch in that bypasses the thermostat. Although I have no proof, I believe that the seat heating element has been designed so that even if it were on all the time, it wouldn't get hot enough to burn. After all, the designers would have to account for a thermostat that had failed closed. Some folks have reported seat heater fires, but I believe that is due to the heating element breaking, and on rare occasions the broken ends spark, and that can cause the seat cushion to smoke. But just left on heating cause a fire? I don't think so. The flash point of the seat material would be well above anything comfortable to humans.
You CANNOT easily retrofit the adjustable control from later models cars. It is most definately NOT a rheostat. In the adjustable control cars (most 9000, later 900), there is no thermostat in the seat, but instead a temperature sensor (temperature variable resistor). The controller in the dashboard senses the temperature of the seat via the sensor, and if the seat is cooler than the setting on the dash switch, it closes a relay and supplies 12 volts to the heater. Once the sensor says the seat is up to temperature, the relay opens. The longer the relay is closed, the hotter the seat gets. But the heater sees only 12 volts or 0 volts. To retrofit an adjustable unit, you'd need either the seats out of a later car, or the heating pads with sensor. You'd also need to add the wiring to the car.
Another possiblitity would be to move the thermoswitch to a different location. If you could move it a little farther from the heating element, the seat would need to get hotter for the thermostat to sense it. Just a thought.
Good luck!
, Thu, 14 Dec 2000 09:32:46 <-- Viewing This Message
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