Below is a number of models connected via a plug to a 12 V socket. Sometimes there are other options designed for homemade ones: in such cases it is necessary to penetrate into the guts of standard seats so that nothing is noticeable from the outside. But about them is a separate conversation another time.
The most important thing to remember when using such capes is not to forget to unplug the plugs from the socket after the trip. The fact is that not on all machines the sockets are de-energized, and therefore the turned on heater of the fillet and other parts of the body will drain the battery quite reliably. I don’t even want to think about fires.
It is curious that from the point of view of the law, such products can easily be classified as prohibited if desired. Indeed, they, like any gadgets, are not provided for by the design of the car, and therefore all responsibility for their use lies with the owner of the car. There is a sound grain in this: if a foreign rug is capable, for example, of getting hidden under the pedal block, then why can’t the Chinese cape have a similar number? It is clear that in practice no one will cling to this, but you need to be honest with yourself, and therefore, when installing, try not to mess around. A wire pinched somewhere can one day make a bad joke.
However, there are much more interesting questions. And the simplest one sounds like this: is such heating useful or harmful?
Let's start with the positive: useful, of course! If only because plopping down on an icy chair is not very pleasant. And experienced people say that such hypothermia can lead to disease of the kidneys and other organs located nearby. In addition, those same experienced people know: heated seats fight against such nasty things as radiculitis and osteochondrosis. And men who jump out of bed at night because they “got thirsty” or “didn’t turn off the TV” will appreciate heating from this side as well. And there are also arthrosis, intercostal neuralgia, etc.
In other words, are you heating it up? No not always. I don’t want to scare anyone, but if you suspect any tumors, it’s better to forget about seat heating - especially for those who sit behind the wheel for a long time. In addition, a warm place sometimes provokes inflammatory processes, with which a relaxed body stops fighting. And also such unpleasant words as lymphostasis and swelling - brr... In general, consult your doctor. If there is one, of course.
However, you can and should do things simpler. When getting into a frozen car, you need to heat the seat to a comfortable temperature, and then turn off the heating: by this time the cabin is already warm. I think this advice would work healthy people, and sick.
The actual current consumption is about 3 A. Among the design features, we note the symmetrical connectors on the right and left: the plug can be connected from either side. The push-button remote control allows you to select one of two heating modes. Just for fun, we tested it for overheating: after reaching 56°C, the device turned off. However, if you believe the instructions, the timer could have worked for half an hour. In general, there is foolproof protection.
Price - 2700 rubles. A little expensive, to be honest.
We were not given a description - alas... However, everything is clear: the intuitive slide switch of two modes does not raise any questions. After reaching 39°C, the current dropped from the initial 2.9 A to 1.6 A. After reaching 42°C, the device turned off: the protection was activated. Cost - 1700 rubles.
Products devoid of any controls have their own charm: plug it into your network and use it. This is how this cape is made: there are no buttons here - everything is as simple as shelling pears. The current consumption is 3.6 A, but it soon dropped to 3.2 A. The automatic shutdown threshold we recorded is approximately 49°C. The price is lower than others: from about 800 rubles.
I was immediately surprised by the current consumption: as much as 4.3 A. At the same time, the protection threshold is the lowest: 36°C. I didn’t like the sealing of the wire, especially since one protective plate immediately fell off, exposing sharp screws. However, the price is not the most prohibitive: 1000 rubles.
According to the description, the cape contains a “carbon heat element” - I quote the developers. We must assume that we are talking about a carbon fiber heater - it heats up quickly, is resistant to elastic deformation and is famous for its high thermal conductivity. In addition, carbon conductors do not oxidize. The current consumption is normal, about 3 A. When heated to 47°C, a “cut-off” is triggered, stopping further heating. Price - 1350 rubles.
For some reason, as many as three heating levels are announced, although we saw only two. The current consumption is the highest in our sample - 4.8 A. It’s not fatal for the on-board network, but it’s still a little strange: others clearly have less. Another surprise was that the built-in protection worked already at 32°C. Price - 1500 rubles.
Car owners spend a huge amount of time behind the wheel of their car, so comfort plays an important role. During frosts, sitting on a cold seat is not the best thing to do, since the standard car heating is not always enough to fully warm up, especially when you need to get into a frozen cabin early in the morning. Heated seats are an excellent solution to this problem.
There are two types of such heating systems: external or external (covers and capes) and built-in (mounted under the upholstery of seats). To figure out which seat heating is better, it’s worth considering the features of these varieties in more detail.
External seat heating
This is the cheapest option, which is most often used by drivers if the car manufacturer has not taken care of heated seats for the car. Covers and capes are equipped with heating elements:
- carbon fiber wiring;
- nichrome spirals covered with a polyvinyl chloride sheath;
- Teflon coated wires;
- Fiber Thermetics thermal fiber.
The power of heating elements of this type ranges from 40 to 100 W with a current consumption of 4-8 Amps. External heaters operate from the cigarette lighter. Some models are equipped with touch or mechanical control panels. The method of fastening the product depends on the type of heater.
Types of external heaters
This type of system is divided into two categories.
"Capes"
Heated front seats of the overhead type are considered the simplest and most affordable. The products are made of rubberized or dense fabric, on which heating elements are attached. Such heating pads can be fixed using special Velcro or elastic bands with hooks. To install a heated seat cover, simply attach the lower hooks to the chair springs yourself. After that, just connect the “cape” to the cigarette lighter.
However, such simple heater options have many disadvantages:
- Most models do not have temperature controls, which often leads to overheating.
- The product is fixed only with a few hooks or Velcro. Because of this, the cape constantly slips.
- "Capes" don't look very nice.
- The cigarette lighter is constantly busy.
- The rear seats cannot be heated.
Cases
Products of this type can be made from the most different materials(fabric, natural or artificial leather, eco-leather). They are installed on top of the standard “seats” and connected directly to the on-board system, which is much better than heating the car seats from the cigarette lighter. At the same time, the products can be installed on all seats at once, without thereby disturbing the interior design.
Cases, as a rule, are equipped with additional control panels that allow you to control the heating temperature, thanks to which the risk of overheating is virtually eliminated.
However, if we compare heated covers for the front seats of a car and covers, the first type is much easier to install yourself. It's not that easy to put the cover on the seat. In addition, such systems require the installation of control buttons that are embedded in the car panels. It is recommended that this work be entrusted only to auto electricians.
In addition, the cost of covers is much higher. However, it all depends on the chosen model.
The best external seat heating systems
Most often, car owners choose the following products:
| Model name | Heating elements | Peculiarities | Cost, rub |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Thermosoft" | Thermal fibers Fiber Thermetics | Does not deform even when bent 180 degrees. Attached with rubber bands. | 2 100 |
| Waeco | Teflon sheathed wire | Equipped with a thermostat to prevent overheating. | 1 900 |
| "Emelya 2" | Carbon fiber | Uniform heating, ability to operate in 4 modes. | from 900 |
There are also special covers that are used for child seats. Among them it is worth highlighting:
In addition to capes and covers, there are also stationary heating systems, which are considered more reliable and durable.
Built-in heating
These elements are installed between the upholstery and the foam layer of car seats. They are made from special mats using nichrome spirals, carbon fiber and thermal fiber. Based on this, there are several features of the built-in heating system:
- Products with nichrome spirals are cheaper, but such elements cannot be built into every chair design. If the system intersects with reinforcement elements, it will have to be adjusted to the required size.
- Carbon fiber and thermal fiber mats can be installed on any chair without any restrictions. If necessary, they can be easily cut and given any shape. However, such models are expensive.
If we talk about the advantages of such systems compared to covers and capes, it is worth highlighting:
- Access to car cigarette lighter. The heating is connected to a separate power supply.
- Hidden connection of the system. There will be no wires dangling under your feet.
- Possibility of installing the heating system both on the rear seats of the car and on the front ones.
- High reliability of the system.
- The presence of a thermostat. Thanks to this, the device will not short-circuit.
- Possibility of installing the power supply in any convenient place.
Among the disadvantages of such systems, one can highlight only the rather high cost of the products. However, you can also find relatively cheap models.
The best built-in systems
To choose high-quality seat heating, you should pay attention to the following brands:
| Model name | Peculiarities | Cost, rub |
|---|---|---|
| Waeco MSH-300 | Heating is carried out by carbon elements. An electronic power supply is installed that allows the system to operate in 3 modes. | 16 000 |
| "Emelya UK2" | Wire type heaters. There are 8 working modes. Equipped with a spark protection system. | 4 000 |
| "Emelya UK" | Most a budget option. 2 heating modes. | 1 4000 |
There are no permanent systems for child seats, since such installation of heated seats will be fraught with many difficulties. However, if necessary, you can make a heater for any type of seat yourself.
Do-it-yourself seat heating
In order to make such a system, it is enough to purchase a heating cable. If you want to save even more, then before making heated seats yourself, you can prepare ordinary nichrome wire with a diameter of 0.5 mm. It will act as a heater. After this, all that remains is to sew it onto thick fabric and attach it under the chair. The operation scheme is extremely simple. In order to make a homemade burn you need:
- Divide 3 meters of nichrome into two equal parts (one of them will go to the “seat”, and the second will be needed for the back of the seat).
- Sew it on the fabric with a zigzag (you can use old jeans).
- Connect the completed structure to a 12 V power source.
How to check that everything is working? Very simple. To do this, you need to wait until the wiring starts to heat up. If the seat becomes warm after a few minutes, then everything is fine. If this does not happen and the wire continues to heat up, it is recommended to connect a thermostat or other device to measure resistance.
You need to be careful and avoid overheating. Otherwise, a fire may occur. That is why self-production Such elements are not recommended for those who are far from electricians.
You can also make the heating a little differently, using the same nichrome wire. Only in this case it will be needed a little more - 10 m. From nichrome you need to form 4 spirals at a distance of 40 mm from each other, curling the wire in “figure eights”. For convenience, it is better to wind spirals on nails driven into the board.
After this, the spirals are connected in parallel and attached to a dense mother (again, you can use jeans). At the next stage, all that remains is to mount the relay and connect the system to the power source.
In custody
Before you install heated seats, you should check that it works. Even if we are talking about a ready-made heating system, it is worth connecting it and seeing how intensely the heating occurs before directly installing it on the car seats.
Winter is just around the corner. Every driver is familiar with the unpleasant sensations that one has to experience when sitting on a seat that has frozen overnight. However, technological progress does not stand still. Several years ago, electric seat heaters appeared on the Russian car accessories market. By its design, the seat heating is a heating element placed in a fabric shell and connected to the vehicle's on-board network. According to the installation method, all heaters can be divided into external and built-in. External seat heaters are made in the form of a cover on the seat, to which they are attached with belts, and are connected to the on-board network through the cigarette lighter socket. Built-in heaters are installed under the seat trim and are powered from the mounting block. Each type of design has its own advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of external heaters include the fact that their installation does not require special skills, the installation does not involve opening the upholstery of the chair, as well as the relative simplicity of the design. But since external heaters are connected to the cigarette lighter socket, then, firstly, the power cord can create some inconvenience, and secondly, the use of a “tee” is required, since in a modern car quite often several devices powered through the cigarette lighter socket are used simultaneously (imagine if your wife or, worse, mother-in-law is traveling with you; then you need to turn on two heaters at once). In addition, exterior heaters generally cannot be used for rear seats (due to limited power cord length). Another disadvantage of external heated seats is that their outer surface inevitably becomes dirty, and most manufacturers do not provide the possibility of washing their products.
The advantages of built-in heaters are the ability to be installed in both the front and rear seats, hidden wiring, and the ability to place heating panels in a place convenient from the point of view of the car owner. The control panel can also be positioned arbitrarily. However, their installation requires the involvement of qualified specialists, which inevitably entails additional costs, and self installation, under the terms of most manufacturers, automatically voids your warranty. If the heating panels fail (though, to be fair, it is worth noting that this happens quite rarely), most likely the seat itself will have to be replaced. It is also important that, if necessary, the external heater can be easily moved to another machine, but when using a built-in one, you are deprived of this opportunity.
Currently, there are a lot of heated seats on the market from both domestic and foreign manufacturers. When choosing, you must remember that this type of product is subject to mandatory certification and must meet the requirements of GOST 27570.0-87 (IEC 335-1-76) and GOST 27570.01-92 (IEC 967-88). The most common ones were selected for the test.
Testing of seat heating was carried out using a thermal imager, the image of the thermal field was displayed on a computer. Filming was carried out at 20 second intervals for 4.5 minutes. The material presents thermal imaging images corresponding to 1 and 4.5 minutes of operation of the heaters from the moment they were turned on. Temperature environment was 22 degrees. Since, to a first approximation, the heating characteristic can be considered linear, the data from this test is quite sufficient to get an idea of the heating dynamics at any (including negative) temperature. The products themselves were evaluated not only by performance characteristics, but also by design, mounting method, ease of use, and design reliability.
The material was prepared by Egor ALEXANDROV.
Seat heating TERMOSOFT |
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONSVOLTAGE: 12 V. POWER: 50 W. MATERIAL: auto velor A HEATING ELEMENT: thermal fiber CONSUMER ANALYSISDESIGN FEATURES: The production of the TERMOSOFT seat heater is based on thermal fiber heating technology. All TERMOSOFT seat heaters use a special polymer fiber as a heating element. Externally, it is a strong thread that can conduct electricity and as a result warm up. Using such threads, a special tape is made, the basis of which is a durable material. Three polymer threads are laid parallel in the tape. The entire structure has a tensile strength of up to 180 kg, and it is this that is placed inside the heater. It is very important that the three threads mentioned inside the tape are connected to each other in parallel. The tapes themselves in the heater are also connected. All this ensures exceptional reliability of the entire device. After all, a parallel connection means that if one thread in the tape is damaged, the remaining ones will continue to work. The same is true if one of the tapes fails - the heater will continue to produce heat, although less efficiently. Thus, the system is protected many times over. The consequence of this design, however, is very a large number of contacts between fibers. At the same time, the polymer fiber cannot be soldered, which means that all contacts are completely mechanical. However, manufacturers guarantee high reliability of all connections and confirm their words with long-term statistics. Now a little about the fiber itself. This material is a patented development of the Thermosoft company and is widely used in heaters of the most different types(not only automobile ones). Its main feature is its exceptional reliability. The polymer thread tolerates any deformation; it can be bent without fear of breaking. Such a heating element is completely invisible and does not add additional rigidity to the product. Thermal fiber does not support combustion, which means it provides a high degree of safety. This material also reduced energy costs. And due to the uniform distribution of the heating fiber in the heater, the surface of the product is heated evenly and gently. Finally, according to manufacturers, the heat emitted by thermal fiber has a therapeutic effect, relieving tension, stress and muscle pain. To heat seats, Thermosoft produces three types of heaters: a kit for installation in a car seat, a seat cushion (without a backrest), and a seat cover (includes both a cushion and a backrest). The installation kit for the TERMOSOFT seat heater can be placed under the seat trim or under the cover. It consists of two rectangular pieces of fabric with a heating tape built into them. Three tapes are laid inside each such thermal panel. The entire design has one connector for connecting to a car cigarette lighter. To change the heating intensity of the device, the user can select one of two modes: parallel and sequential activation of two parts of the heater. Due to this switching, the power of the heating pad and, accordingly, the heating speed change. When switched on in parallel, heating is accelerated (50 W), that is, after 2-3 minutes of operation, even at -30 degrees, the heater becomes noticeably warm. Mode for maintaining a comfortable temperature - sequential activation of two system heaters. It is convenient to leave the device in this mode if the driver is going to leave the cabin for a while - the seat will be warm after his return. Changing heating modes is carried out using standard keys included in the kit. The cape consists of the same thermal panels, only now they are sewn into a special form made of auto velor. The power cord comes out of the central part of the device, which allows you to freely use the heating pad both on the driver's and passenger's seats. The cape is fastened through the headrest, the lower part of the seat, and also with the help of additional elastic bands. The latter make it possible to firmly mount the heater on seats of various designs. In conclusion, we note that the heating element is manufactured in the USA, and all other structural elements - casing, connectors - in Russia. And, according to company representatives, after three years of experience in selling these products, the failure rate of devices is minimal. SUMMARY The most modern technologies and materials are used in the production of the Thermosoft seat heater. All this slightly increases the cost of device design, but at the same time guarantees high quality of the product. |
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONSMANUFACTURER: Teplodom company. VOLTAGE: 12 V. POWER: from 25 to 100 W. MATERIAL: auto velor A HEATING ELEMENT: carbon fiber. CONSUMER ANALYSISDESIGN FEATURES: The main difference between Emelya seat heaters and other heaters is the unusual heating element. These are the only heaters on the market that are based on carbon fiber. This feature of these devices distinguishes them from many competitors. Carbon fiber has a large mechanical strength. It can withstand loads of up to 100 kg, does not stretch during use and does not break after frequent bending. All this makes it unpretentious to operating conditions and ensures durable operation. The heating carbon filaments inside the device are connected in parallel, so even after one of them is damaged, the entire device does not fail, but continues to work. True, due to the parallel connection, a large number of contacts inevitably appears in the design, but the manufacturer guarantees the reliability of all connections. Uniform heating of the seat is ensured due to the optimal location of the heating element inside the device. To change heating modes, the most advanced models of Emelya heaters are equipped with an electronic unit. After connecting power to the device through the cigarette lighter, intense heating is turned on (the red light on the connector starts blinking). The heating pad heats up strongly in a short period of time (about 1.5 minutes) and reaches a comfortable temperature. After 4 minutes, the red lamp begins to light without blinking - the temperature maintenance mode is activated. At any time, by pressing the button, you can sequentially select high, medium and low heating modes. It is very important that if the owner forgot to turn off the heating pad, the device will automatically turn off 30 minutes after selecting the last mode. This protection system will prevent the battery from draining. To heat seats, the Teplodom company produces a whole series of heaters. The simplest version of “Emelya” is a regular pillow that heats only the lower part of the seat. In this case, the back will remain cold. The design of this model is simplified as much as possible, and, as a result, it does not have an electronic heating control unit. To warm the entire surface of the seat, you will need a cape. This heater is available in two versions: with a conventional connector and with an electronic regulator. In the first case, heating adjustment is not provided. The choice of modes is only available in a heater with an electronic unit. The heating elements are located on a special material that does not allow heat to penetrate downwards. According to the manufacturers, this ensures fast heating and increases the efficiency of the device. For stationary installation on two seats, an installation kit can be purchased. The latter includes four flexible heaters for installation under the driver and passenger seat trim, a wiring harness for connecting power and heating control buttons. For reliable fixation of the heaters, a special adhesive composition is applied to the back side. In the Emelya line there are two types of such installation kits, which differ only in control units. The Emelya UK1 kit includes a combined push-button heating control unit. In another version - “Emelya UK2” - two rotary control units are already provided for installation in different places. In addition, the latest set has twice as many heating adjustment modes. All products of the Emelya brand are given an official 1-year warranty, and Emelya UK is given a 4-year warranty, however, according to the manufacturer, the statistics on the use of all products are very good. SUMMARY In terms of their characteristics, Emelya seat heaters are superior to many similar devices. |
Heated seats COMFORT |
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONSMANUFACTURER: LLC "Teplo-Lux", Bryansk. VOLTAGE: 12 V. POWER: double heater (lower cushion + back) - 90 W, single heater - 45 W. MATERIAL: car velor, tent fabric. A HEATING ELEMENT: CONSUMER ANALYSISDESIGN FEATURES: All Comfort seat heaters use a nichrome spiral in a PVC shell as a heating element. This spiral is quite strong, but is still inferior in reliability to polymer thread or carbon fiber. Its advantage is that it is much cheaper than these materials and can greatly reduce the cost of the entire structure. In addition, when working with such heating elements, there are no contact problems. Official warranty for all products is 1 year. At the same time, manufacturers are completely confident in the reliability of the Comfort design and claim that all heaters are designed to operate for 10 years. The heating element inside the COMFORT seat heater is connected to the electrical wire in series. This reduces the number of contacts to a minimum - there are only two such contacts in each heater, and they are located in a place where minimal pressure is applied to the heater. The only drawback of this design is that the heater will fail if the wire is broken in at least one place. However, statistics show that such malfunctions occur extremely rarely. According to the developers, all “Comfort” seat heaters are designed for the harsh Russian winter. After connecting them to the vehicle’s on-board network, they intensively heat up to a high temperature and quickly warm the passenger. The approximate heating rate to 50 degrees is 10 minutes. However, this value cannot be considered accurate as it may vary depending on the conditions in which the device is operated. But in any case, we can say with confidence that such a heater heats up much faster than the standard heating system in a car. The heating speed is the same for all models. Currently, the “Comfort” series produces 4 variants of car heaters. The simplest model is called “Comfort 2”. This is a regular pillow designed to warm up the lower part of the seat. The Comfort 1 seat heater warms not only the lower part, but also the passenger’s back. However, this is also a somewhat simplified model. Firstly, this heating pad is made of tent fabric, that is, it has a very modest appearance- it is designed for installation under the seat cover. And, secondly, the device does not allow the user to change the heating mode - the heating pad can only be turned on and off. But this simplification of the design is followed by a significant reduction in the cost of the model. The next model of seat heater “Comfort 5” is made of automotive velor - a wear-resistant fabric used for making seats - and, accordingly, has a more presentable appearance than “Comfort 1”. In addition, this device allows you to change heating modes. The user has two modes to choose from: heating the entire seat and heating only the back. This arrangement of the heater’s operation is quite logical, since the bottom pillow usually heats up very quickly, while the heater behind the back remains cold. To fix the heater on the seat, the device is equipped with special rubber bands. Note also that the electrical wire exits from the center of the heater from the rear side. This makes it possible to install “Comfort” both on the driver’s seat and on the passenger’s seat. The design of the next heater from the “Comfort” series is designed for use in foreign cars. The fact is that the Comfort 4 model is somewhat narrower than other devices. This was done so that the heater fits exactly into the middle, deep part of the seats of foreign cars. Thanks to its good shape and elastic band for attaching to the headrest, it is securely fixed to the chair. SUMMARY The main feature of all models of Comfort seat heaters is the combination of an affordable price and a high-quality design. The reliability of their work is confirmed by 10 years of experience of the manufacturing company. |
Seat heating WAECO |
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONSVOLTAGE: 12 V. MATERIAL: cotton with polyester. A HEATING ELEMENT: CONSUMER ANALYSISDESIGN FEATURES: The German company Waeco specializes in the production of climate control in the car interior, as well as various accessories designed to ensure comfort on the road. Note that the standard heating systems in Mercedes and BMW cars are manufactured by Waeco. As an additional heater for the seat, the German company produces two types of devices: an installation kit for installation under the seat cover or upholstery and a heater in the form of a seat pad on top of the cover. All products are entirely manufactured in Germany. The Waeco seat heater installation kit includes four heat panels designed to be installed in the driver and passenger seats. The plates have special Velcro, thanks to which they are fixed at the installation site. In addition to the plates themselves, the kit includes all the mounting wires and buttons for selecting the operating mode of the device. The user can choose one of two modes. In the first of them, the power of the device is 45 W, so when this mode is turned on, the heater begins to heat up intensively. Switching to the second operating mode leads to a decrease in heater power and, therefore, to less rapid heating. This mode is useful for maintaining the temperature rather than warming up the device. An important feature of the cover heater is that it has orthopedic pillows. All parts of the surface are soft and elastic, but middle lane noticeably highlighted. The thickening is especially noticeable at the lumbar level. How comfortable it is to sit on such a heater, each buyer must decide for himself, but the manufacturer claims that this form of heating pad is only beneficial. Slip-on heating is easy to install. It is easy to move from car to car and from seat to seat. The wire comes out of the center of the heater on the rear side, so this device is equally convenient to place on the seat of both the driver and the front passenger. The heater is fixed on all sides using belts. In addition, the back side of the device is made of a special material that prevents the heating pad from sliding on the seat cover. Both models use Teflon-coated wire as a heating element. According to the manufacturer, it is able to withstand strong mechanical stress and thereby ensures the reliability and durability of the entire structure. The wires inside the heating pad are connected in series, that is, if a break occurs in one place, the entire device will fail. But inside the structure, the number of contacts is reduced to a minimum, which increases the reliability of the device. Each heater is equipped with a thermostat that turns off the device if the temperature rises excessively. This system protects the heater from fire. The manufacturer provides a 6-month warranty for each model. SUMMARY Due to the fact that these seat heaters are manufactured by a foreign company with a well-known name, their price is slightly higher than for domestically assembled heaters. But thanks to the fact that Waeco has many years of experience in the production of automobile heating systems, there is no doubt about the reliability of the described models. |
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONSNUTRITION: 12 V. MAXIMUM CURRENT: 4 A. MATERIAL: cotton fabric, polyester. A HEATING ELEMENT: Teflon coated wire. POWER: 45 W. CONSUMER ANALYSISDESIGN FEATURES: Of all the products presented for testing, the WAECO seat heater has the most attractive design. The working surface has orthopedic pillows, which, of course, has a positive effect on the level of comfort, but significantly weakens the thermal field of the product itself. The thermogram clearly shows that the average temperature of the heater after 4.5 minutes is the lowest among all presented samples - about 27 degrees by the end of the test. At the hottest point (35 degrees), the temperature change in 4.5 minutes was 13 degrees. The reason for this is the heating elements located too far apart from each other. The space between them warms up weakly, and the lumbar region does not warm up at all. It is also surprising that, given the fairly large dimensions of the heater itself, the heating elements occupy a very small area. Based on the test results, we can also conclude that the power of the heating elements is insufficient for this heater design. Such disappointing results were obtained at an initial temperature of 22 degrees, but what will happen at -22? CONVENIENCE OF OPERATION: a sample tested can operate in two modes, with the first mode being better used to maintain the temperature already reached, and for heating it is necessary to turn on the second mode. The mode is selected using a button located directly on the cigarette lighter plug. An LED located next to the switch indicates that the device is turned on. INSTALLATION FEATURES: The WAECO MAGIC HEAT seat heater is fastened using rigid belts (on the back) and elastic straps (on the seat), this fastening allows you to secure the heater quite rigidly. The connecting cord is long, even too long. The device is equipped with a built-in thermostat, which will avoid overheating (which is theoretically possible) and battery discharge if you forget to turn off the heater. It should be noted that WAECO is a manufacturer of standard seat heating systems for Mercedes and BMW, but we must not forget that Germany is located in a territory with a milder climate, and, accordingly, the electric heaters developed by German specialists do not fully meet the conditions of the harsh Russian winter. SUMMARY ADVANTAGES: Attractive design, good fastening. FLAWS: poor location of heating elements, their small number. OVERALL RATING: general impression of the WAECO MAGIC HEAT seat heater: beautiful, comfortable to sit on, securely attached to the seat, but does not cope with its main task very well. |
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONSNUTRITION: POWER: 45 W. CONSUMER ANALYSISDESIGN FEATURES: The VALGO seat heater can be classified as a “good guy”. Despite the fact that the heaters are located far from each other, heating occurs evenly and, most importantly, with fairly strong dynamics. After 4.5 minutes, the temperature of the coldest point was 28.5 degrees (from an initial temperature of 22 degrees), and the temperature of the hottest point was 34 degrees. CONVENIENCE OF OPERATION: The VALGO seat heater has only one heating mode. The fact that it is turned on is indicated by the LED built into the cigarette lighter plug. The power cord is quite long, but on the model provided for testing it comes out with right side, which indicates operation primarily in the driver's seat. In addition, the connection between the power cord and the heating element is made in such a way that when a person with large dimensions sits down, it will be quite clearly felt, causing some discomfort. The interior space is filled with porous material, which allows you to better conserve heat if you need to leave the car for a while. INSTALLATION FEATURES: The VALGO seat heater is fastened using elastic bands (back) and straps (seat). This design does not allow it to be firmly secured and can lead to displacement relative to the chair. VALGO is quite large in size and covers almost the entire surface of the seat, ensuring more efficient operation. The outer shell is made of black synthetic material, and this makes dirt that appears during operation less noticeable. SUMMARY ADVANTAGES: Quite fast warm-up dynamics. FLAWS: unsuccessful fastening. OVERALL RATING: The VALGO seat heater copes with its task quite adequately, but something needs to be done with the fastening. |
Heated seats EMELYA 2 |
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONSNUTRITION: 12 V. MAXIMUM CURRENT: 4 A. HEATER MATERIAL: carbon fiber. POWER: 50 W. CONSUMER ANALYSISDESIGN FEATURES of heated seats EMELYA: Apparently, it was no coincidence that the TeploDom company chose the name of this particular fairy-tale character, whose main vehicle was a Russian stove, as the name for its products. Just 20 seconds after the start of work, the temperature of the coldest point (which, by the way, was very difficult to detect) was 25.4 degrees, and after 4.5 minutes - 28.9 degrees. The maximum temperature at the end of heating averaged 37-39 degrees, which was the best result for the entire time of the test (AUTOTHERM does not count, since, due to the local location of the heating elements, its average surface temperature is much lower). Dense packing of the thermoelement makes it possible to create a uniform thermal field over the entire surface of the heater. But the reason for such record figures lies not only in the packing density, but also in the material from which the heating element is made. Most manufacturers use thermocouples made from metals (such as nichrome or tungsten alloys). In this case, unique carbon fiber technology is used. Its properties are superior to metal thermoelements; in particular, it is more elastic and can withstand significantly higher tensile loads. The only difficulty in using carbon fiber is the electrical contact between the thermoelement and the power cord, but TeploDom has successfully solved this problem. Among other things, the threads in the heating element are not connected in series, as in most similar products, but in parallel, which increases the reliability of the product, since if one of the threads breaks, the rest of the system will remain operational. Under the heating element there is a screen made of thermal insulating material, which contributes to more efficient heating of the outer surface. CONVENIENCE OF OPERATION: The EMELYA-2 seat heater can operate in four main modes. When turned on for the first time, the turbo mode is set; after 5 minutes, the heater automatically switches to high heating mode. Two more modes are better suited for not very severe cold and maintaining a steady temperature. To turn on the device, you must press the button located on the power plug. Each subsequent press allows you to select heating modes, as well as turn off the heater if necessary. The LED, also located on the plug, informs about the choice of one mode or another. But this product also has disadvantages. The first one is small width. When sitting in a “waddling” position, the outer side of the thighs remains outside the heating zone. Then it should be noted that the fastening design is not the most successful. FEATURES OF INSTALLING EMELYA heated seats: The seat heater EMELYA-2 is attached with elastic straps to the back of the seat, but relative to the seat cushion it remains unsecured, which leads to its displacement. However, its reverse side is made of a material that prevents slipping on the surface of the chair. Fabric with high friction properties is also used for the upholstery of the front side. The color of the heater is gray, which in case of contamination will make it less noticeable. SUMMARY DISADVANTAGES of heated seats EMELYA: relatively small size, imperfect fastening. ADVANTAGESheated seats EMELYA: good heating dynamics, unique materials, uniform distribution of the thermal field. OVERALL RATINGheated seats EMELYA: To sum up, we can say the following. The EMELYA-2 seat heater is ideal for the conditions of the harsh Russian winter, it is convenient to operate, but a little small, and the mounting could be more reliable. |
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONSNUTRITION: 12 V. MAXIMUM CURRENT: 7.5 A. HEATER MATERIAL: nichrome spiral in PVC sheath. POWER: 90 W. CONSUMER ANALYSISDESIGN FEATURES: Despite the fact that the “Comfort” seat heater surpasses all other heaters in terms of its performance characteristics (after 4.5 minutes the average temperature was 40 degrees), in terms of the sum of indicators it turned out to be far from the best. Heating occurs rapidly and evenly: at the 60th second the average temperature reached 30 (!) degrees - this is certainly a record. CONVENIENCE OF OPERATION: Firstly, I was surprised by the extremely short power cord. It should also be noted that for this heater it comes out of the right corner. Consequently, this product can only be used by a driver, and even then not a very tall one, since with the seat very far back in a large car (for example, in a Volga), the power plug can hardly reach the cigarette lighter socket. When the seat is fully pushed back, the wire is still almost taut, and besides, it passes through the area where the gearshift lever is located, which creates difficulties when driving. Separately, it should be noted the power switch, which would be better suited to some Polish floor lamp of the Brezhnev era than to a modern car accessory. In terms of its dimensions, the sample is close to the AUTOTERM seat heater, even slightly smaller, which, in our opinion, makes it ineffective, unless it will be used for small children. As for comfort... When landing, the thermocouple is quite clearly felt, and discomfort arises when sitting for a long time. By the way, about the heating element. In this product it is common for both the seat and the back and is made from one piece of nichrome spiral. Thus, if there is a break in any one place, the heater will completely fail. In addition, this installation method reduces the reliability of the product. Due to the fact that during operation the heating element experiences bending and breaking loads, in the place where the backrest meets the seat (the place where the heater bends), the threads can simply break and, even worse, cause a short circuit. INSTALLATION FEATURES: Questions also arose regarding the attachment of the seat heater, which is carried out using an elastic strap that is thrown behind the headrest. With this method of fastening, the cape is poorly fixed. SUMMARY ADVANTAGES: low price, high speed warming up. FLAWS: small size, sequential arrangement of heating elements, short power cord, unattractive design. OVERALL RATING: For such a price, many shortcomings can be forgiven for this seat heater, but a person should strive for the best... |
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONSNUTRITION: 12 V. MAXIMUM CURRENT: 5 A. MATERIAL: faux nubuck. A HEATING ELEMENT: carbon fiber. POWER: 60 W. CONSUMER ANALYSISDESIGN FEATURES: The first thing that drew attention to the ACEP 2 seat heater was its small dimensions. Compared to other heaters, this sample is simply a dwarf, the back barely reaches the shoulder blades, and the width is more than modest. The fact is that this model was developed for installation on seats with highly developed lateral support and anatomical seats, for which large heaters are not suitable. In the product range of AUTOTERM LLC there are also larger samples that have the same design concept as the heater we tested. The heating element, or rather the way it is placed inside the heater, raised doubts. At first glance, it may seem that such a design is not capable of fulfilling the task assigned to it. However, during testing it showed quite acceptable results. When analyzing the results of the ACEP 2 seat heater test, it was concluded that this arrangement of heating elements is not without meaning: in the lower cushion they are located under the hips, and in the back they heat those organs that primarily suffer from hypothermia - the kidneys and lungs. But when the body moves relative to the heating elements (which is very likely, given the dimensions of the product), the effect of the heater noticeably weakens. Due to the fact that the material from which the ACEP 2 seat heater is made has a relatively small thickness, the heating of the outer surface occurs very quickly (the area in which the heating element is located heated up by 18 degrees in 2 minutes). True, the image shows that the area between the heating elements hardly warmed up (the temperature change in 3 minutes was 1.7 degrees), but we must not forget that human body perceives an integrated thermal field. The carbon fiber used in the design is a very technologically advanced material and has excellent heating characteristics, but it is difficult to make electrical contact with it. In this model, this problem is solved simply: the power cord is connected to the heating element using crimp rings. This connection ensures proper electrical safety and durability. The product of AUTOTERM LLC was the first among similar ones to pass mandatory certification. CONVENIENCE OF OPERATION: I was pleased with the convenient and informative control panel for the ACEP 2 seat heater. It has four LEDs and a button for changing the operating mode, which is mounted in such a way as to avoid accidental pressing. The device has 4 heating stages, the activation of each of which is indicated by the lighting of the corresponding number of LEDs. The first two modes are more suitable for maintaining the temperature, the third mode is best used in mild cold weather, but the fourth mode will be just right in severe frost. In addition, the product has a turbo mode, which is automatically installed the first time it is turned on. According to the test results, the turbo mode turned off after 2 minutes, reaching a temperature of the heating elements of 40 degrees (the product was tested in the fourth mode), after which their temperature dropped to 37.6 degrees and did not change further, which indicates the presence of protection against overheating. A thermal insulating screen is installed under the heating elements to reduce the amount of heat dissipated into the chair. The heater turns off automatically after 50 minutes from the moment last change mode (thereby eliminating the possibility of battery discharge if you forget to turn off the heater). INSTALLATION FEATURES: The AChEP 2 seat heater is attached to the seat using elastic straps rather than rigid belts; such a scheme cannot ensure reliable fixation of the heater relative to the seat. In addition, the reverse side is lined with material that glides perfectly over car velor. From a design point of view, this product leaves much to be desired, and on the blue surface, dirt that inevitably arises during operation will be clearly visible. But firstly, the color range of this manufacturer is quite diverse, and it includes colors that are less easily soiled, and secondly, this heater can be washed. Just before this, it is necessary to remove the heating elements from the product through a special slot in the back of the heater. By the way, it is no coincidence that artificial nubuck was used for the exterior finishing. The fact is that this material does not support combustion at all. The instructions turned out to be very original. Firstly, it is recommended to save it “For future use” (although it is not specified for what purpose). Secondly, the advice to “read the instructions carefully” was lost in the fourth point in the safety instructions. SUMMARY ADVANTAGES: high power thermocouples, excellent control panel. FLAWS: too small dimensions, poor fastening design, impractical texture and color of the surface. OVERALL RATING: general impression of the ACEP 2 seat heater: the thermocouples have very high power, however, due to the poor location, the effect of their use is minimized. In a word, there is something to work on. |
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONSNUTRITION: 12/24 V. MAXIMUM CURRENT: 4 A. HEATER MATERIAL: thermal fiber POWER: 50 W. CONSUMER ANALYSISDESIGN FEATURES: TERMOSOFT seat heater is the leader in this test. This product implements the main concept of Thermosoft - “soft warmth”. The heater is made of a material that makes it almost imperceptible on the seat, and thermal fiber is used as heating elements - an exclusive development of the company itself. Thermal fiber is a base made of lavsan fiber, on the surface of which a thin layer of metal is applied. This design allows the thermoelement to withstand significant mechanical loads (tensile strength is up to 180 kilograms). Another advantage is that the lavsan thread is destroyed at a temperature of about 100 degrees, that is, it itself is a fuse against overheating and short circuits. The heating element consists of three filaments of thermal fiber connected in parallel and laid inside a tape made of synthetic fabric. The tapes themselves are also connected in parallel. Thus, if one thread or tape fails (which happens extremely rarely), the heater itself will remain operational. One more distinctive feature Thermal fiber is that it does not support combustion. Since Thermosoft was originally involved in the development of bedding for the American market, and according to US standards, such products must be washable, the heater is also washable. To implement this task, it was decided to make electrical contacts inside the product by bandaging in order to avoid their destruction during the washing process. Thus, it was possible to avoid detachable connections, which also had a positive effect on reliability. The power cord can be disconnected from the heater if necessary (for example, when washing). Heating occurs quickly and evenly. After 1 minute, the average temperature was 26.5 degrees, and by the end of the test - 30 degrees on the seat and 34 degrees on the back. Uniform heating is ensured by dense packing of thermoelements and the presence of a thermal insulation screen on the back side of the thermoelements. Its overall dimensions also have a positive effect on the efficiency of the product - the heater covers the entire surface of the seat. The outer side of the heater is made of auto velor - a material with high wear resistance. The color of the product presented for testing is gray, thereby the contamination arising during operation will be less noticeable. The reverse side of the heater is covered with a special fabric that prevents slipping on the surface of the seat. CONVENIENCE OF OPERATION: The operating mode can be changed by operating the touch switch located on the power plug. An LED is also located there, informing you about the choice of one of two possible operating modes. INSTALLATION FEATURES: The TERMOSOFT seat heater is fastened with straps that are connected to each other using Velcro and elastic cords in such a way that any displacement relative to the seat is excluded. SUMMARY ADVANTAGES: beautiful thermal characteristics, washable, large sizes. FLAWS: difficult to indicate. OVERALL RATING: As a conclusion, we can say that it was not possible to find at least one serious drawback in the TERMOSOFT seat heater. |
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A very convenient car accessory for seats is heated seats. For the Russian climate in winter time it is necessary. Without heating, you have to sit on a cold seat for about 10 minutes until your body itself warms up the chair. It's not healthy. But you can’t sit for a long time with the seat heater on. This could be even more harmful. Let's look at heating systems, what they are, how they are installed, which is better, etc.
- slip-on, removable (can be in a case, can be separate);
Snap-on or removable heaters can be sold together with covers; the heating elements are glued to the seat and backrest. Also, there may be removable heaters that are simply thrown over the chair and connected to the cigarette lighter or through a specially installed button.
As for the built-in heating, it is installed in the seat upholstery and does not depend on the cover. The most popular type is a built-in heater.
Operating principle of heated seats
Built-in heaters can be standard, installed at the factory, or you can do it yourself. It must be installed between the casing and the foam layer. Carbon fiber fabric or reinforced wiring is used as materials for the manufacture of preheaters. They are sold immediately in mats. You can also use a separate spiral. These materials have their pros and cons. 
The nichrome spiral used has the advantage of not being expensive. When installing such a spiral, you need to ensure that the heating element does not touch the fittings. But, with the help of double-sided tape this can be easily done.
Mats made of carbon fiber or reinforced wires have no restrictions, you can just lay them well and that’s it. They cost more than just a spiral, but are more reliable.
Pros and cons of heaters
There are several advantages of a built-in car seat warmer. This:
- From the outside it is not noticeable that there is a heater. If you use cap heating, the interior design may not be affected.
- The power source is a special unit. This has the advantage that the cigarette lighter socket remains free.
- The thermal relay controls the temperature, monitors the degree of heating of the coil so that it does not exceed the permissible heating temperature and does not ignite the seat.
- You can choose any location for the control unit.
- Can be installed on any seat in the cabin.
The disadvantage of built-in heating is the cost. The price of the built-in one is higher than the captive one. But, all the same, it is better to buy a built-in seat heater, it is more reliable.
Heating control
The heater is connected to the computer unit of the machine. You can choose operating modes, heat up as quickly as possible, or with average temperature. The driver can set the temperature, when heated to which, the heating turns off automatically. Some modifications of such heaters have a timer function that will turn the device on and off according to specified parameters.
Built-in heaters have the option of accelerating heating, and then switching to standby mode. If you need such heating, then you need to take it with two heating elements.
Depending on the models of car seat heaters, there are different operating modes, some even have up to 8 modes.
Good heated seats
As is the case with other devices, some are popular and some are not so popular. Here is a list of the 4 best seat heaters:
- Waeco MagicComfort MSH-300 (Waeco Magic Comfort). Consists of a carbon element, an electronic control unit (ECU). Has three heating temperature modes. The kit also includes wires and buttons.
- Emelya UK-2. It consists of a canvas (special electrical wiring laid in a snake), a rotary control unit. There are 8 heating modes. Has protection against short circuit (SC) and sparks.
- Emelya UK. Inexpensive option compared to others. It has a control button for two modes and a built-in sensor.
- Throne. Its heating element is thermal fiber. The fabric frame has a layer of glue to make installation easy.
According to reviews, Waeco heating is the best among built-in models. Vaeko is manufactured in Germany. Simple and reliable, but the price is higher than that of competitors. Suitable for all makes and models of cars.
From the analogue average price category, you can choose auto products from Russian manufacturers. Among domestic heaters, the most popular brand is EMELYA produced by the Teplodom company. One set includes two pieces. Rear seats must be purchased separately.
Built-in heaters or heated covers
Unlike tube heaters, built-in heaters do not move and do not need to be adjusted every time. When installed on the rear seats, the power buttons can be displayed to the driver and can be placed next to the handbrake.
Leather is more sensitive to heat, so this point should be taken into account to prevent leather seats from deteriorating. Fabric ones withstand heat better. Genuine leather releases moisture when heated, then it can dry out and deteriorate.
Safety regulations
Although it is written in the device instructions that they are reliable and protected from sparks and fire, you should still be careful when operating: 
- do not place objects on the seats that could damage the seat upholstery, for example, something sharp;
- if the seat is wet, for example, the interior has been completely washed, then it is forbidden to turn on the heater;
- when the heating is on, do not place blankets, bags, etc. on the seats;
- You can install Waeco yourself, but if you are not sure that you will do it correctly, it is better to watch the video, study all the intricacies, or contact the service.
Alternatives to tube heaters
Due to the relatively poor quality of the materials of the seat covers, there were cases when the cover caught fire. Heating capes can heat up to 40 degrees, but this is not highly recommended.
Attention! Do not turn on the heating high temperature, heating the groin area in men can affect man's health, reproductive function may be impaired.
When choosing a plug-on option, in order to connect other seats, you need to buy an adapter for the cigarette lighter.
Conclusion
- the heating element must be reliable and safe, for example Vaeko;
- When purchasing, be sure to ask if this heating unit has a temperature sensor that protects against overheating;
- It is also better if there are different heating modes.
Heated seats can be both beneficial and harmful. Do not sit for long periods of time in chairs with the heater on.
Video
How to install heated seats on a BMW X5 (BMW X5).
How to install a seat heater.
Heated seats from Aliexpress.
About heating Emelya 3.