Wiring heated seats?
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From: I live in Leitchfield, KY
Wiring heated seats?
Hey guys, I'm putting a set of late model Olds Bravada seats in my buddy's 56. They have seat heaters (factory) in them. I'm pretty sure that I need to use the "light gauge" orange wire for the power to the heater switch, but I'm not completely sure about the brown wires? The driver's seat has got a memory function also I know to not tie the orange wires together with the power cause I have to use a heavier fuse for the power mechanism, and it (the fuse) wouldnt blow if I used a heavy enough fuse for the power mechanism part. Anyway, I was wondering if any of you had any SURE idea of if it would be OK to tie all the black wires and the brown wires together for ground? I think these seats are out of a '95 model? Not totally sure about that?
Thanks and GOD bless
Thanks and GOD bless
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Riverside, So Cal
Originally Posted by Truxx1956
Hey guys, I'm putting a set of late model Olds Bravada seats in my buddy's 56. They have seat heaters (factory) in them. I'm pretty sure that I need to use the "light gauge" orange wire for the power to the heater switch, but I'm not completely sure about the brown wires? The driver's seat has got a memory function also I know to not tie the orange wires together with the power cause I have to use a heavier fuse for the power mechanism, and it (the fuse) wouldnt blow if I used a heavy enough fuse for the power mechanism part. Anyway, I was wondering if any of you had any SURE idea of if it would be OK to tie all the black wires and the brown wires together for ground? I think these seats are out of a '95 model? Not totally sure about that?
Thanks and GOD bless
Thanks and GOD bless
Electrical stuff: what goes in, comes out. If you have reasons to not splice the hot leads together, then the same rule applies to the grounds. The amps aren't "used up" by the time they get to the ground circuit.
I would personally wire the hot lead for the heater independant from the seat mechanism, since the heat can be on while you are moving the seat. I expect the heater to pull a heavier load. I would put each circuit on its own fuseable link (30 amp). I used 10 gage wire for power in/out.
The best way to answer your question is with the factory schematic.
Last edited by Randy Jack; Nov 29, 2007 at 08:55 AM.
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From: I live in Leitchfield, KY
I was kind of hoping for a factory schematic. But to sort answer you back, the guy got the pigtail with the seats and the wires going to the heater switch are very light gauge. I'm not changing that, I'm just telling what is already there, I just would like to know about some of what seems to be extra wires? The Driver's seat has a memory function so I think that some of them go to that as well? I work in an upholstery shop and have the seat covers off right now the wires goin to the heater's themselves are light gauge. I HATE these things as they are alot of trouble to work around anyway, and I think they are a BAD idea, but he is a PAYING customer. I would love to have a factory schematic to help me a little in this frustrating process. I wish he would dump the idea of these things, but he is set on having them, so I'll have to figure it out?? Thanks if you can help, and thanks even if you cant' help.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Durham NC
If the switch wires are light ga. then it's likely there is a power relay in the seat, and the "extra wires" likely are the actual power wires to the relay. Look for a box about 1/2 the size of a matchbox that the switch wires go to. There should be 2-4 heavier wires also attached to the device. One good thing about GM is they are very consistant with their wiring colors, so most any GM schematic that includes heated seats will be the same color coding. You may be able to get the service writer at your local Pontiac Olds or Caddy dealership to download and print you out a schematic of a current model with heated seats.
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Posting Guru
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From: I live in Leitchfield, KY
Thanks AX, I'll look? There is a box on the seat frame, but I thought it was for the memory function? The heat switch has a vented square box on the back side of it? It's not very big though? I got a buddy who says he might be able to download a GM schematic for me, that's what I really need. I think heated seats are useless, but the factory has to justify how much they charge for new cars and trucks someway, so this is what we get.
Thanks again AX
Thanks again AX
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
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From: Durham NC
Also look at the wires to the heat pad(s) itself. At least one wire should go from the pad to the relay.
A relay is a remotely operated electrical switch that can handle a much higher current than a traditional manually operated switch. The manual switch "turns on" the relay which in turn sends power from another source to the device that it is controlling. That way the high current does not travel through the manual switch, just thru the relay. The horn and sometimes higher intensity headlights, foglights, glass with built in defrost heaters are usually wired thru a relay.
A relay is a remotely operated electrical switch that can handle a much higher current than a traditional manually operated switch. The manual switch "turns on" the relay which in turn sends power from another source to the device that it is controlling. That way the high current does not travel through the manual switch, just thru the relay. The horn and sometimes higher intensity headlights, foglights, glass with built in defrost heaters are usually wired thru a relay.
Last edited by AXracer; Nov 29, 2007 at 04:13 PM.
