Im installing seat heaters today and need to run them off 12v switched (on when car is on) power. The inline fuse is 20 amp, but the manual says it only needs 10 amp fused source. I would run it to the tcs button like I did my cutout switch, but I'm afraid that I'll over load it.

Any other locations I can pull from other then running a line directly to the fuse box?

 

There are a couple of unused female lugs in the fuse block on the interior fuse panel on the side of the dash. I used two of them, one for the nitrous arming switch, and the other to power the bottle heater directly which I also added a 20amp inline fuse. I'm not sure how much current they actually supply, but they are a good alternative to cutting and splicing into harnesses for other electrical systems.

 

how did you run it? i dont want to have to run the wires out the door jam like Ive seen on some cars. is there a way to hie it?

 

Once you take the trim panel down underneath the steering column and pop off the fuse panel cover, you will see a nice sized opening where you can snake wires through and they will be invisible from the outside once all the paneling is put back on.

 

Also, if you do take power from one of those spare lugs, I would be sure to crimp in an inline fuse for circuit protection.

 

Perfect, that looks clean. Thanks for all the help. it came with an inline fuse already set up, so im taken care of there. thanks again.

 

Also note you can purchase Fuses that have a power wire attached directly out the side so that you just slide in the fuse & connect the wire..... Then you can choose just about any ten amp or higher fuse and run the wire out he same spot.

Can be at any auto store.

 

I just remembered. Are those legs always hot, or are they only hot with the key in the on/acc position?

 

I'm pretty sure they were only hot with the key in the run position. I confirmed this back then with a voltmeter.

 

The lug labled "IGN" is only hot when the key is on. The one labeled "ACC" is hot all the time. They are protected by the adjacent fuses, and that 10A fuse on the "IGN" lug will blow if you overload it.

Personally, I wouldn't run a high amp load directly off the lugs on the panel. Use a relay in the circuit, and take the primary power to the seat heaters off the red "+" box by the battery, through the in-line fuse to the relay. Then use the "IGN" lug as the source of the "signal" to the relay. Much better way to add a high amp load to the system.