Choosing the right built-in seat heating

For every driver, the comfort while using the car plays an important role. Sitting in a car for a long time, especially in the cold, is not a pleasant occupation. Usually a car has a heating system for the passenger compartment, but this is not always enough. That is why the built-in heated seat will be a great option.

Types of heating

There are two ways to heat the seats:

• Slip-on or removable.
• Embeddable.

In the first case, heating elements are built into the car covers and are attached with special Velcro. This is a kind of heating pads. Built-in heating is installed under the seat upholstery.

Each of the options boasts quite good features, the question is only in the financial plan of the owner. The most common choice is embeddable. Let's dwell on it in more detail.

Working principle and materials

Stationary heating elements are mounted between the trim and the foam rubber layer of the car seat. For their manufacture, mats made of carbon fiber cloth or reinforced wires are used. These heating elements have numerous features.

Products from a nichrome spiral are distinguished by a relatively low cost. Such canvases have limitations during installation, for example, they have to be specially adjusted so that the heating element does not come into contact with the fittings. In principle, this problem can be easily solved thanks to double-sided tape.

Carbon fiber or thermal fiber mats are not subject to any restrictions. They can be cut at the desired location to attach the hardware to the car seat. The cost of such products is high, but they are compensated for by their reliability.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Built-in seat heating has many benefits:

• Electrical wiring acts as a heating element. It is mounted under the seat upholstery, so the interior will not be disturbed.
• A special unit serves as a power source, that is, the cigarette lighter will be free.
• Regulates the operation of the thermal relay device. It protects against sparks and possible short circuits, so operation becomes as safe as possible.
• The control unit can be installed anywhere in the vehicle.
• Any car seat can be heated.

Of the minor drawbacks is the price. Built-in heating is a little more expensive than a slip-on heating, but it differs in reliability and quality.

Features of work

The heating system is connected to the vehicle's on-board computer. For maximum comfort, it has several temperature settings. In addition to the ability to switch modes, there is a special sensor that turns off heating when the temperature specified by the driver is reached.

The car owner independently selects the temperature he needs on the remote control, and the system starts up. When the desired mark is reached, it automatically turns off. Some models are designed to keep heating in automatic mode using a timer.

Also built-in heaters can support the fast heating function, and then go into standby mode. To do this, you need to choose models with two heating elements.

The number of modes depends on the model, there can be eight of them. Each of the modes is determined by the driver separately. They are adjusted individually for each seat.

Popular Models

There are several popular models on the built-in seat heating market:

Waeco MagicComfort MSH-300. It has a carbon element, an electronic control unit and three heating temperatures. The Waeco kit includes wires for installation and convenient buttons.

Emelya UK-2. It is a heating cloth with a wire folded in a snake. Emelya's control units are of rotary type and have 8 heating modes. In addition, Emelya's device is protected against possible short circuits or sparks.

Emelya UK. Not a bad budget option, equipped with a two-position control button and a built-in thermal sensor.

Products of the Waeco brand are considered the best built-in heating. It is distinguished by real German quality, reliability and ease of installation. However, its price is quite high.

Waeco built-in heater is suitable for all vehicles, has several degrees of protection and two heating modes. If necessary, you can additionally turn on the emergency fast heating mode in winter, and then switch it to constant temperature maintenance.

Our Russian manufacturers offer the golden mean between low cost and quality. The most famous is the Teplodom company, which offers built-in heaters of the Emelya brands. They are named after the famous Russian fairy tale. As the drivers joke, Emelya's self-propelled oven was the first vehicle with heated seats.

However, it must be remembered that the Emelya kits are designed for two seats, that is, for the rear ones you need to buy an additional one. Russian heaters practically do not differ in quality from more expensive European counterparts, but cost much less.

Why is built-in heating better?

In order to properly install the Emelya or Waeco system, you need to remove the seat trim. This is done in a workshop, because not all drivers have enough experience and skill to carefully remove it, and after installing the heating, put it back in place.

Built-in heaters, such as Waeco, do not move, as sometimes happens with heating covers. All wires are safely hidden, and only a block with buttons is displayed on the panel. If the system is mounted in passenger seats, then the consoles are positioned individually.

It should be noted that not all cladding materials can easily withstand heat. This should definitely be considered when buying. Fabric upholstery practically does not react to heating, but genuine leather is more "capricious" in this regard.

Natural leather, during heating, releases natural moisture and may dry out over time. Also, with prolonged use of heating, it may change its original appearance.

Safety precautions and tips

Although built-in heaters are reliable, you need to follow several recommendations for use:

Do not place or lay on the seat any object that could damage the trim.

If the seat is wet, the system cannot be turned on. It may break.

When the heating is on, it is not recommended to cover the seat with blankets, cloth or other heat-insulating objects.

You can install the Waeco system on your own only if you are well versed in installation. Often it will be safer and safer to contact the service.

Alternative to capes

The main problem is that the quality of the capes or covers is poor. In addition, there have been cases when these covers caught fire on the seat, which means there is a high risk of getting burned.

Capes heat up with varying degrees of intensity. In some models, the temperature can reach 40 degrees, which is prohibited for reproductive function in men. There is only one socket in the car cigarette lighter, therefore, if you choose a cape, you can only connect it.

The hidden installation, as well as the ability to install heating for all seats or just one, also speaks about the benefits of built-in heating like Waeco or Emelya. The cigarette lighter remains completely free.

Summary

Based on experience and practical feedback, there are several criteria for choosing seat heating:

The system must be made of quality materials, reliable and safe, for example, Waeco.

The device must have thermal sensors that protect against overheating.

It is desirable to have heating temperature switches. The more, the better.

Built-in seat heating provides warmth and comfort for the driver and his passengers during the winter season.

Choose and buy seat heaters for cars with delivery in Kiev, Kharkov, Odessa and Ukraine at 130.com.ua.

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