An article about how to choose a heated cover for car seats. Features and characteristics of products. At the end of the article there is a video about heated car seats.
The content of the article:
The only thing worse than a cold car interior in winter is an equally cold seat. And if the interior can be heated quite quickly using a special heater, then the seat will have to be brought to a comfortable temperature using the so-called “fifth point”. And this pleasure is not pleasant. But technology does not stand still and the problem of cold seats can be solved by purchasing a heating cover.
What is a heated cape? Its design and features
Heaters for car seats of different models and price categories have some differences, but they are all made according to the same principle. The design of the heated cape consists of three components:
- Fabric base made of wear-resistant material.
- A heating element that can be made of insulated metal wire or carbon fiber. The thermoelement is built into the fabric base, evenly distributed over its area.
- Thermal sensor with which the degree of heating is regulated. The device is attached to the seat using special fixing straps and connected to the cigarette lighter socket.
- carbon fiber;
- nichrome wire with a PVC insulating layer;
- Teflon coated wires.
- comfort in the cold season;
- there is no risk of catching a cold due to prolonged sitting on a cold surface;
- additional protection of seat material from wear.
- if used incorrectly, the cover can cause serious illness;
- if the insulation is broken during use, this can lead to unpleasant consequences, including a fire in the cabin.
How to choose a heated car seat cover and not be disappointed
The choice of items is considerable, both in terms of design features and cost. It is better to discard cheap options immediately if you plan to use the cape for a long time.
What to look for when purchasing:
Material of manufacture of the case itself
The ideal option is artificial nubuck, made from a polymer material. It not only has moisture-repellent properties, but is also not subject to fire, which is very important in this case.
Heating element material
There are two types of heating element: metal and carbon fiber.
Everyone knows how constant loads and deformations act on metal. But the seat is exposed to external, and very active, influence. Plus, the insulation also wears out, which leads to the need to either repair the heater or replace it.
Therefore, you should pay attention to products whose heating part is made of carbon fiber.
Carbon fiber is a material that is based on very thin threads formed by carbon atoms. Its features include such qualities as low weight, high level of thermal expansion and, most importantly in this case, increased tensile strength. These characteristics not only ensure the fire safety of the product, but also guarantee a long service life.
Availability of straps for fixation
Some models are limited only to belts that secure the device to the back of the chair, leaving the seat itself free. This creates additional troubles, since even a product coated with a special anti-slip material “travels” back and forth. This state of affairs creates inconvenience for the driver (or passenger) and leads to accelerated wear of the cover.
Therefore, you should purchase a cape that is equipped with special fasteners not only for the back of the chair, but also for the seat.
Availability of temperature sensor and temperature controller
Some budget models are not equipped with such a part or its functionality leaves much to be desired. However, this is perhaps the most important element of the design. It is the temperature sensor that allows you to control the heating level and prevents the product from exceeding the permissible temperature limit.
Even if you ignore the excessive energy consumption and damage to comfort, a sensor is necessary. Too intense heating affects human health - prolonged use of the cape, and even in the “increased heat” mode, can provoke problems such as hemorrhoids, prostatitis, infertility and even, according to some data, rectal cancer.
The temperature controller is also important, with which you can select the most suitable heating mode based on personal preferences, weather conditions and other factors.
Power
Typically, the power of the device ranges from 40 to 100 W. However, lightweight options can also be found on the market. For example, one of the models of the Zhara brand had a power of 36 W, which made it practically useless in Russian winter conditions. The heating process at this power lasted for at least half an hour; During this time, the driver could well have arrived at his destination, having warmed the seat with his body.
For the same reason, it is worth paying attention to domestically produced products. They may not be as technically advanced, but they were designed taking into account local weather conditions.
Presence/absence of remote control
Controlling a “smart” thermal cape using a remote control promises some advantages. However, as in the previous case, the products may not be adapted to the harsh Russian realities. Typically, the manufacturer recommends taking a remote control device with you into a warm room. And even with a slight drop in temperature. What will happen to him at -30?
External or built-in model
Heaters can be of two types - removable and built-in. The first are a cape in the full sense of the word. The latter, although they fall under the category of capes, are a heating element built into the structure of the seat.
The principle of operation and features of choice are similar for both options, however, the built-in model has some features that are undesirable to ignore:
Connection to on-board network
This type of device usually operates from the mains, which allows you to relieve the burden on the cigarette lighter connector, from which most of the car’s electronics are already powered.
Installation is a bit difficult
To install such heating, you will have to, at a minimum, remove the seat upholstery, install a heating element, adjust its dimensions and connect it to the network.
For this reason, it is not worth saving by buying dubious products. Changing a removable cape if necessary is not difficult, but you will have to tinker with a built-in one. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to carbon fiber heaters. Even though they are more expensive than metal ones, their service life is much longer.
The ideal solution for heating rear seats
Firstly, attaching a regular cover to the back seat is problematic. Secondly, as a rule, the load on these chairs is less, so the service life of the device will be much longer.
For the front seat, especially for the driver’s seat, it is better to purchase an external version, which, if necessary, can be removed or replaced.
Child seat heating
In fact, the features of choosing a thermal cover for a child seat are no different from the adult version. The thermostat must be present; If you can still risk your health, then in the case of a child such freedom is unacceptable.
Another nuance is the base material. The fabric must be well breathable and have moisture-conducting properties. In all other respects the requirements are similar.
Conclusion on choosing a seat cover
When used correctly, a thermal cover for a car seat will make life easier for its owner and save him from many troubles. At least against a cold.
It is only important not to abuse the benefits of the device. After the seat has warmed up, it is best to turn off the device and switch to normal interior heating. This is especially true for men, for whose health intensive use of a thermal cover does not have the best effect.
Video about heated car seats:
Heated seat covers are often used on car seats and can be purchased at a great price to provide comfort, warmth and coziness during your travels. The advantage of such a cape is its ease of use; it easily fits over the covers and gives the driver and passengers the desired warmth. Heated capes can only be appreciated in harsh winters with low temperatures; here the price is no longer particularly important, since the driver’s health takes priority. The cape is easy to use and durable, it connects to the cigarette lighter and has an operating voltage of 12 Volts.
In addition, the heated seat cover can be equipped with a special remote control, which allows you to select the most comfortable temperature settings. The cape is universal, you can buy it at a good price and use it at your own discretion, moving it from a car seat to an office chair or a home sofa in front of the TV. A special adapter will be used as a power source, allowing the cape to operate from a standard network.
Heated car seat cover
A heated car seat cover keeps the driver healthy and helps provide him with maximum comfort and convenience. The minimal cost of its acquisition and ease of use will give excellent results. The use of such a cover is relevant not only for trucks, you can always take it with you into the car on an early frosty morning, it will help you forget about cold and uncomfortable seats. On the road, such an important accessory is simply necessary; today, not all cars are equipped with standard heated seats; a cape will be an excellent way out of the situation and prevent the occurrence of many dangerous diseases of the body.
On the eve of winter, I decided to improve my winter driving conditions and purchased a Chinese-made ZL033 heated car seat cover in one of the chain stores for less than ten dollars. I planned to buy a more expensive one, but for that kind of money it was difficult to refuse the purchase. The manufacturer honestly indicated in the technical specifications that the service life of this heated cape is one year. And indeed, until spring the cape warmed the body perfectly, but when the frost ended, it stopped warming.
Despite its low cost, the Chinese heating pad turned out to be easy to use. The cape itself is made of polyester, the stitching is even, there are elastic loops and elastic bands with hooks for attaching to the seat. The connection is made through the cigarette lighter socket; there is a switch for two modes of heating and switching off. The plug has an LED connection indicator.
Only during operation did one drawback appear: it is not clear what position the switch is in and in the dark you had to find it by touch. I eliminated this drawback by installing two LEDs of different colors in the mode switch.
As a result, it turned out that the red LED, in addition to the planned function of indicating the activation of the heating mode, also performed an additional function - indicating the integrity of the winding of the heating element of the cape.
Before its breakdown, the red LED began to glow periodically when the cape was bent in the LO switch position, when only the green LED should have been lit. After analyzing the electrical circuit of the cape, it became obvious that the lower winding of the heating element according to the circuit was on the verge of breaking, which ultimately happened. When the nichrome wire in the lower winding broke, voltage was supplied to the red LED through the upper heating winding.
Electrical diagram of a heated cape
The heated cape is connected to the vehicle's on-board network using a plug that is inserted into the cigarette lighter socket.
The supply voltage from the negative terminal of the plug is supplied to pin 2 of the operating mode switch. When the switch knob is in the middle OFF position, no voltage is supplied to the heating filaments and the cape does not heat.
To turn on the heating, you need to move the switch knob to one of the HI (maximum heating) or LO (minimum heating) positions. When the switch is in position HI, the current from contact 2 of the switch will flow to contact 1 and flow from it through the upper terminal of the lower winding to the lower one, then through the trip fuse, a 10 A fuse installed in the plug, and then through the central contact of the plug into the vehicle's on-board network.
The resistance of the lower winding is 3 Ohms, therefore, the heating power will be 48 W. If the switch is set to the LO position, current will flow from terminal 3 to the upper terminal of the upper winding. The total resistance of the heating windings connected in series will be 4 Ohms and the heating power will drop to 36 W.
LED VD1 connected in series with resistor R1 is an indicator of the presence of voltage in the cigarette lighter.
The section of the diagram drawn in blue is the result of a modernization of the cape. VD2 lights up red when the switch is in HI position, and VD3 when in LO position. Resistor R2 limits the current through the LEDs.
How to disassemble a cape for repairs
You need to start disassembling the cape by removing the clamp of the current-carrying wire. In order to remove it, you need to unscrew two screws.
Removing the wire clamp did not provide access to the connection of the wires with the heating elements and it was necessary to cut the fabric and foam rubber from the back of the heating cape. It is good to make the cut with scissors or a sharp knife. In this case, you need to be careful and careful so as not to damage the wires and the cut is smooth. Then, after repairing the cape, it will need to be sewn up with thread.
An autopsy showed that the heating winding was connected to the current supply wire by twisting followed by soldering. For insulation, insulating tubes are put on the solder joints.
A thermal fuse is included in the gap between the black wire and the lower end of the heating element for fire safety. This fact caused a pleasant surprise.
I removed the insulating tubes from the junctions of the ends of the heating windings with the current supply wire and checked the reliability of the connections. I found no defects. The rations were brilliant and high quality. I rang the windings again with the tester. The resistance of one of the heating windings, the bottom one in the electrical diagram, instead of 3 Ohms, was infinity. I had to start looking for the break point.
First, in order for the current-carrying wire not to interfere with work and not to break the ends of the heating windings with its weight, it was necessary to disconnect it from the windings by heating the joints with a soldering iron. In order to get to the heating conductors, I had to literally turn the car seat cover inside out. The following picture opened before my eyes.
On a sheet of foam rubber about two millimeters thick, the heating wires are neatly laid in a snake on glue in an insulating tube. The conductors are covered on top with a translucent sheet of thin, fragile elastic material with a sticky layer. There was full access to the wires to find the break point. All that remains is to find this place.
Finding a broken heating element
Since the winding conductor broke due to kinks as a result of mechanical action, you should start looking for a break in the part of the cape that spreads over the seat. To search, you need to connect one end of the device probe to the beginning of the winding laid on the seat; according to the diagram, this is the connection point of the two windings. In the photo above, this is the right side of the cape.
The heating winding wire has a diameter of 0.3 mm and is not covered with an insulating layer. Therefore, a method is available to search for a break using a sewing needle. You need to take a sharp thin needle, attach the second end of the probe to it and pierce the insulation of the heating winding with the sharp end to find the break point.
For a faster search, you first need to divide the length of the heating winding wire into approximately two equal parts and make a puncture in this place - a continuity test. If the chain rings, divide the far part of the winding into two equal parts, and make the next puncture in this place. Mark the puncture sites with a marker to make it easier to find. If the chain does not ring, it means that the break point is between the last two punctures. Divide this area into two parts again and make another puncture.
The method of checking the halves allows you to find the break point by making the minimum possible number of punctures. I found a break through five insulation punctures with an accuracy of 3 cm. Insulation punctures in this case are harmless, since due to the elasticity of the plastic, the holes will be closed and there will be no holes.
Heating element repair
After determining the location of the break in the heating element wire, you can begin to repair it. To do this, you need to carefully cut off a few centimeters of insulation along the wire to the level of the wire, pick up the exposed wire with a needle and pull it out. Then cut off the insulation to half the diameter until the second end of the wire appears.
The test showed that the metal from which the spiral of the heating element is made can be tinned well with lead-tin solder and rosin flux. I tinned the ends of the wires, cut the insulation cut along the length and put an insulating tube on one end of the wire. I twisted the ends of the wire together and soldered the twisted area with solder. If you do not have experience working with a soldering iron, you can familiarize yourself with the soldering technology on the website page “How to solder with a soldering iron.”
Next, you need to connect the ends of the probe to the ends of the repaired winding and additionally check for any breaks, slightly bending the seat cover. If the resistance is stable, then the repair can be considered complete.
All that remains is to slide the insulating tube onto the joint and glue it and the winding torn off from the foam rubber during the repair process with Moment glue or any other heat-resistant glue.
Assembling the heated cape
The cape is turned back to the correct side, the current-carrying wires are soldered, and the cable is secured with a clamp. I secured the foam cut with tape to make it easier to sew the fabric.
All that remains is to sew up the incision with thread. There is no need for greater strength and the step of the rhyme can be made more than one centimeter. It is advisable to take a thicker thread so that it does not cut the fabric of the cape.
The heated car seat cover has been repaired and is ready for further use. Sea trials confirmed that the cover began to heat the seat as successfully as before the repair.
As you can see, repairing a heated cape is not at all difficult and, if desired, this work can be performed by almost any person, following the outlined methodology.
Setting the operating mode indicators
into the switch
To indicate the supply of voltage to the heated cape in the plug, which, when connected to the vehicle's on-board network, is inserted into the cigarette lighter, there was a red LED. And to indicate the heating power mode or to turn it off in the dark, you had to feel for the switch in the dark, since such an indication was not provided.
Therefore, immediately after purchasing the cape, I installed two LEDs of different colors, red and green, in the switch for indication. On the electrical diagram of the cape, the added elements are shown in blue. Any two LEDs, a 1.8 kOhm resistor and a small piece of wire are all the necessary parts for making an additional indication.
To disassemble the switch, you need to unscrew two screws and remove one of the covers. Next, in the cover with the inscriptions, you need to drill two holes with a diameter equal to the diameter of the optical part of the LEDs. The installation is mounted. One terminal of each LED is connected by soldering to each other and a resistor is soldered to them. A piece of wire is soldered to the second end of the resistor, the second end of which is connected to the black (brown) wire of the cable. One wire is soldered to the remaining free ends of the LEDs, the ends of which are soldered to the extreme terminals of the switch.
For reliable fastening of the LEDs, the place where they are installed and mounted is filled with silicone. As I already reported above, when the lower winding breaks, both LEDs glow in the LO switch position. In this way, you can find out the reason why the seat cover is not working.
The photo shows how the indication occurs in the switch positions OFF (off) - the LEDs do not light, LO (minimum heating, 34 W) - the green LED lights up and HI (maximum heating, 44 W) - the red LED lights up.
My review
about the heated cape made in China ZL033
The reliability and quality of the heated cape ZL033 corresponds to the price. The cape served one season flawlessly, warmed up quickly and warmed well, even in severe frosts. You can’t expect a long service life from it if you pay $10. If desired, you can extend the life of the cape for another couple of seasons by repairing it. So my review is positive.
But still, I decided not to tempt fate and bought a new, more expensive and reliable one, choosing a heated cape with a heating element made of carbon fiber.
Let's chat about Gru's popogreyki here?)
Let me start with the fact that, in my opinion, all more or less “smart” popogreikas have been approved by the State Duma and have some kind of freaking logic of operation that gives the car owner more trouble than convenience.
I’ll start with the last one I purchased (I haven’t had time to return it yet - immediately after purchase it says “broken back chain”). This is AUTOPROFI HEAT HOT-700. There are a lot of descriptions on the Internet, all space technologies, blatant benefits, etc. Now about management. Remote control with LCD. I remember I was going to put everything together for my to her simple Emelya some kind of brain, so that it switches itself off based on temperature, has a protective timer, etc. They didn’t like Emeli with a brain like UK-2 because in order for him A began A(pop warmer) to warm up - you need to turn the regulator - unnecessary efforts. Although, of course, protection from fire... In Kaldinovetka (it seems) they tried to deceive this matter - in principle, it is not difficult. But adjusting the heating power until the desired temperature is achieved is a rush - it will take longer to heat - what the hell is that Mosk. So. He took the heat, and there was a remote control with an LCD. And on it: the temperature of the back and seat is set separately! + protective timer for half an hour. There is an inscription on the box - memory of the last settings. Dream! Happiness knew no bounds until I started testing...
So. Memory - this is if you turn it off with a button and then turn it on again. If you pull it out of the cigarette lighter (turn off the car), there is no memory. Fucking memory!
To start heating, press and hold the button for 2 seconds. You walk up to a car with automatic start, plop down into the icy seat and press the button. Lovely! But that’s not all (c). With the button we only turn on the remote control. To start heating, you need to press the appropriate button: back and/or butt. If this is not enough for you, you can set the desired temperature again with a few more clicks.
The next feature that I learned from the manual (well, yes, I read them sometimes) is a remote control with a freezing LCD, which you need to unfasten and take with you with a piece of hard cord (and this is still at room temperature), if the temperature is less than -20°. A phone, a player, a recorder, etc. are devices without tails - and few people want to take them off and carry them around, but here is a decent-sized remote control, and even with a thick cord. And this is a device for the cold. I don’t know... maybe they developed it in the summer and thought only about the hot beach..
In general, today this is the most sophisticated device for me.
Come on, I wish I had taken it for myself this time... and the cape would not have been defective... I would have come up with brains that would automatically turn on (although they would have been more complicated than for Emelya), I would have built a remote control near the handbrake... for both myself and to the passenger. Fuck the screen, all sorts of radio tape recorders live and nothing is done with them. But for a person who is not devoted to so many worries - well, what the hell.
Does anyone have any other options in mind?
Every owner dreams of making his car more comfortable. It is difficult to surprise anyone today with many additional functions, in particular the presence of air conditioning. But in the Russian climate, even a very powerful stove will not help to instantly warm up the car when turned on after parking in the open air. Help out the car.
Luxury or necessity?
In fact, seat heating is not an additional element of comfort, but a necessary function. Sitting on a cold car seat is not only unpleasant in winter, but also dangerous to your health. There are several options for creating warm seats. Some craftsmen even manage to independently introduce heating elements inside the upholstery. But why put in so much effort when there is a simple and convenient option? When high-quality heating of car seats is required, capes are the best solution. Their main advantage is versatility. Covers can be used in cars of any make and model. Don’t forget that there are no installation difficulties. Any car enthusiast can remove or remove the covers themselves.
How do heated capes work?
Externally, heated seats resemble regular cars. They can be made in any design. Moreover, the material can have not only any color, but also different density and texture. There are heating elements inside the fabric cover. The most common option is high resistance wire. Some models use a special tape. The heated car seat cover should heat up to a pleasant temperature. The thermostat carries out the adjustment. The device can have one or two temperature settings, but in expensive models you can set the desired temperature with an accuracy of a degree. Most capes work from the cigarette lighter, some are connected directly to the car's power system.
What to look for when purchasing?
The classic heated car seat cover only warms the seat. If you wish, you can find options that also heat the back, but they will cost significantly more. Pay attention to the fabric from which the cape is made. If it is very soft and thin, you are unlikely to feel comfortable. The best option is a fairly dense, moderately stiff fabric. There is no point in saving when purchasing heating; in the cheapest models the thermostat works very poorly. This means that, most likely, you will have to constantly turn off the cape yourself. However, it is not recommended to constantly drive with the heating on during normal operation of the stove. The heated car seat cover should turn on as soon as you start the car and run until you are warm. Otherwise, you will steam like in a sauna, and the first time you go outside you risk catching a serious cold due to the sudden change in temperature. Pay attention to the additional capabilities of the cape. Today you can find models in which heating is advantageously combined with a massage effect.
