Decent 12v supply & earth around the centre console/fuse box

[zed4]

Hi,

I need a decent 12v supply for my heated seat kit I'm fitting to my Chimaera. The kit has inline fuses (I think they’re 20 amps, one per seat). Is there anywhere I can pick up a decent 12v supply, or should I go straight to the battery terminal? I’m just thinking aloud at the moment, thinking about how I can wire it all up. Also, is there a decent earth somewhere under the centre console? I plan on fitting the switches in the centre console, by the electric window switches, so I’ll have to take it out anyway. If there’s a good earthing point in there, then I can use that.

Cheers,

Dan

[paulathome]

Hi Dan,
I would go straight from the battery as there is not alot behind the dash or centre console that could supply 20 amps.
Earthing on the other hand is catered for as there are two large bolts under the carpet just where the centre console goes under the dash roughly where your left knee is when driving and the same on the passenger side. They attach the body to the chassis and also act as earthing points for most electrics inside the car.
Hope that helps.
Paul.

[zed4]

paulathome said:

Hi Dan,
I would go straight from the battery as there is not alot behind the dash or centre console that could supply 20 amps.
Earthing on the other hand is catered for as there are two large bolts under the carpet just where the centre console goes under the dash roughly where your left knee is when driving and the same on the passenger side. They attach the body to the chassis and also act as earthing points for most electrics inside the car.
Hope that helps.
Paul.

Thanks, that’s great. How accessible are these earth points? Once the centre console is out, can I lift up the carpet easily to get to them? I assume I can undo the nut without having to get under the car to get a spanner on the other side? I don’t have a lift or any easy way of getting underneath the car. I don’t suppose you know the diameter of the bolt/stud, so I can get a crimp terminal to fit?

I too think taking a live from the battery is best, it’s just I don’t want to have too many wires hanging off the battery terminal as it’s untidy. I want to use best practice really, rather than having it look like a DIY aftermarket job (which it is!)

[jojackson4]

Have you had your center console out yet
Mine has some wireing for the heated seats already

[zed4]

jojackson4 said:

Have you had your center console out yet
Mine has some wireing for the heated seats already

Cool, no I haven't. Never taken any of that apart before. I plan to do it this weekend, so I want to get everything organised and make sure I have all the bits to hand so I can get it finished.

[swallet]

What peter said:

Mine has a slot in the fuse board for heated seats, even though I don't have them - I suspect the wiring is already in the loom knowing TVR.

I've got my dash off at the moment and there are a few spare connectors. Don't know what they are for but they supply 12v when the ignition is turned on, you might find something similar.

[swallet]

What peter said:

Mine has a slot in the fuse board for heated seats, even though I don't have them - I suspect the wiring is already in the loom knowing TVR.

I've got my dash off at the moment and there are a few spare connectors. Don't know what they are for but they supply 12v when the ignition is turned on, you might find something similar.

[jojackson4]

2* 2 pin plugs white and black wires mine were powered up but no idea where from
I asked on here and that's what came back ( heated seats)

[swallet]

jojackson4 said:

2* 2 pin plugs white and black wires mine were powered up but no idea where from
I asked on here and that's what came back ( heated seats)

Sounds like mine, can't remember colour of the wires though.
I wonder if the circuit marries up with the fuse slot for heated seats on mine. I'll investigate when I'm back home at the weekend

[zed4]

jojackson4 said:

2* 2 pin plugs white and black wires mine were powered up but no idea where from
I asked on here and that's what came back ( heated seats)

Where do the wires go? Where are they terminated?

I wasn't planning on taking the dashboard off, I was hoping I could just get away with removing the centre console.

[jojackson4]

zed4 said:

jojackson4 said:

2* 2 pin plugs white and black wires mine were powered up but no idea where from
I asked on here and that's what came back ( heated seats)

Where do the wires go? Where are they terminated?

I wasn't planning on taking the dashboard off, I was hoping I could just get away with removing the centre console.

No idear there under the console
I whould pull the trim and get a test on the plugs and pull some fuses
It has to be better than trying to get a new supply

[zed4]

Yeah, if I find any wires under the centre console, I'll test them and see if they will do the job. Although, I may well just run new wires, at least then I know they'll be suitable and big enough.

The kit comes complete, already connected up with relays, fuses and switches, just need to connect the ends up and lost it under the console and carpet somewhere.

[SILICONEKID346HP]

I have heated seats ,they came from a Griff .how can I connect them up ?

[zed4]

Well, my kit is a retrofit kit from Waeco.

If your seats are heated but you have no controls fitted, you're going to need some switches, relays, fuses, wire and a bit of time!

I don't know the wire colours for the actual TVR heated seats, so I can't help you there.