Max current draw through Cig Lighter?

[Mike_Mac]

I'm just working out the wiring to install UK heated seats and headlight adjusters into my J-Spec. I've pretty much worked out the pin-outs for the switches and where i'm going to draw the internal light power and earths from, but could do with some advice on how best to source the main power and earth for both systems.

 

I'm looking at the Cig Lighter as the most obvious source. It's rated at 15A and this is what the heated seats would have required too. My concern is that i'm also drawing the power for the headlight adjuster motors from it too, as well as whatever may be plugged into the Cig Lighter port, so I have a few questions:

 

1 - Although both these are unlikely to be on often, or at the same time, what sort of loads will they draw if they are both on together, as well as something else plugged into the Cig Lighter and can the Cig Lighter take it?

 

2 - Is there a better way of spreading the power draw across other sources in the car's loom?

 

3 - Does it matter where I earth them, as to avoid hacking into the loom too much I'd prefer to run a local earth to the vehicle body at each switch if possible. Would this cause any problems?

[SteveC]

Just a thought, but isn't the wiring loom on a UK and a J-Spec basically the same?

 

I thought there may be the possibility that all you would need to do is plug the seats and switches in. I believe the UK clock with outside temperature just plugs straight into a J-Spec dash loom and works.

[Guest ugp]

There should be wiring for them under the seats? There was on my J Spec. Plug the seats in, and get a heated seat button for the dash, pop that in and connect the loom up.

[Guest ugp]

Also, wires to the fag lighter are tiny. I'd run a new feed from the battery, switched via a relay thats controlled by the key if you didn't want to use existing wiring.

[Mike_Mac]

Just a thought, but isn't the wiring loom on a UK and a J-Spec basically the same?

 

I thought there may be the possibility that all you would need to do is plug the seats and switches in. I believe the UK clock with outside temperature just plugs straight into a J-Spec dash loom and works.

In some cases but not this one - the connector block at the seats is the same, but it's missing the two wires. Likewise the heated seat switch connector isn't on the J-Spec loom, because unlike some other options which were common the J-Specs never had heated seats. same with adjustable headlights and headlight washers.

[Guest ugp]

In that case, run a new feed, or take it from the fuse box.

[Mike_Mac]

In that case, run a new feed, or take it from the fuse box.

Just been looking into that and it does seem the better option - the kick panel fuse box has a space for the heated seats and there's a spare fuse location I can use for the headlight adjusters.

 

Allows me to fuse both of them without risking overloading something else and hacking into the loom too much!

[Guest ugp]

Although it's more work, and needs more wire to be installed, you might as well do it properly, save any fires

[Mike_Mac]

Although it's more work, and needs more wire to be installed, you might as well do it properly, save any fires

Yes - although I wouldn't need heated seats if the car was on fire - always an upside if you look hard enough!

[dive_popo]

There should be wiring for them under the seats? There was on my J Spec. Plug the seats in, and get a heated seat button for the dash, pop that in and connect the loom up.

 

same on mine, connectors are under the carpet