Adding Heated Seat

[Vmaxkid]

Thinking about adding a heated seat to my 2018 Sidewinder LTX-SE. I’ve read a lot of posts on here regarding this. Here’s what I’ve learned and correct me if I’m wrong.
The DX models have a different wiring harness that incorporates the heated seat from the factory where there is already a plug in the harness.
When adding an OEM heated seat (Cat or Yamaha but likely Cat as all their parts are way cheaper) you’d have to plug into the accessory plug in front of the right foot rest area.
I already used that plug for my heated shield, powermadd LED lights on the hand guards and my Ride-Lite. I don’t want to overload that circuit but I do want to have the heated seat turn off when ignition is switched off. my thought was either going OEM or with a Heat Demon or even a Saddlemen seat heater as Saddlemen has a hi/low setting and Heat Demon appears to only be making or stocking the one with on off switch only.
I’ve read about making a relay to run ignition power to which will turn the relay on and by where I can wire main power directly to battery. Then all I’d have to do is tap into the accessory plug with a 2 prong trailer splitter to get that initial ignition switch juice to throw the relay which provides the main power to the seat heater via the direct battery hook up. And by going aftermarket I’d save a bit of $$ as the aftermarket is a lot cheaper.
so my questions are:
Am I correct with the above assessment?
Does anyone know or have a sequence regarding the schematic for adding a relay like I’m looking to do? I’ve checked various sites and come up with various versions.
How big of a relay do I need? 40amp? 30?
Guessing 4 pin relay?
What’s the quality of the aftermarket seat pads? If someone has one would like to know.
I don’t want to cut and splice into any wiring on the sled.
Just for the heck of it, does anyone know the output of the OEM seat heater?

 

[Turboflash]

Re: Yamacat seat heaters - (from my experience)
1. The power cord to plug it in is located near top of the battery. It does not come from a footwell area.
2. It has a high and low. High is 3.75 k ohms. Low is 4.32 k ohms.
3. Switch is located on front lower cowl below handlebars.
4. When all is working, they work - nice on very cold days.
5. The failure rate is high. IMO, the design is poor. Failure is broken wire to element pad. The wires flex right near the control chip on the pad as you ride and soon, one or more of the wires break. My dealer laughs and tells me "yeah, they only last 2 months." They have replaced hundreds of them. I repaired mine and provided much more support to the wire near the pad control chip and changed the lead wire to some special wire I got from McMaster Carr that is designed to be super flexible (even when cold) and designed for continuous flexing. The stock lead wire is junk. Cable/leadwire for seat heater pad exits a hole that runs from top side of the seat foam down and out bottom. Cable connects to a mating connector near battery.
6. Replacement seat heater pad runs about $140 from Cat. It has an adhesive backing to stick to seat foam. It's approx 1' x 10" in size.
7. PIA to replace/change/repair as you have to remove back 2/3 of seat cover (pull all staples and roll it from back towards front).

See pics. #1 show broken red wire. Common failure mode. #2, 3, 4 show what I did (and what IMO is necessary to repair and revise in order for it to last. Need to support connection to control chip and prevent wires from flexing there. Force wire to flex inside seat foam and use super flexible wire.

 

[yamamarc]

Imo go with a aftermarket set up!! My wife had oem heated seat on her 2014 and It shorted out within a month got it replaced under warranty and shorted out again the next season!
On my 19 it lasted a month then shorted out on a trip and I lost my hand/thumb warmers on a -30*c stand froze my hands (2019 uses the same circuit and the hand thumb warmers)
I disconnected the heated seat permanently not worth the hassle to lose hand thumb warmers

 

[Motorhead]

Re: Yamacat seat heaters - (from my experience)
1. The power cord to plug it in is located near top of the battery. It does not come from a footwell area.
2. It has a high and low. High is 3.75 k ohms. Low is 4.32 k ohms.
3. Switch is located on front lower cowl below handlebars.
4. When all is working, they work - nice on very cold days.
5. The failure rate is high. IMO, the design is poor. Failure is broken wire to element pad. The wires flex right near the control chip on the pad as you ride and soon, one or more of the wires break. My dealer laughs and tells me "yeah, they only last 2 months." They have replaced hundreds of them. I repaired mine and provided much more support to the wire near the pad control chip and changed the lead wire to some special wire I got from McMaster Carr that is designed to be super flexible (even when cold) and designed for continuous flexing. The stock lead wire is junk. Cable/leadwire for seat heater pad exits a hole that runs from top side of the seat foam down and out bottom. Cable connects to a mating connector near battery.
6. Replacement seat heater pad runs about $140 from Cat. It has an adhesive backing to stick to seat foam. It's approx 1' x 10" in size.
7. PIA to replace/change/repair as you have to remove back 2/3 of seat cover (pull all staples and roll it from back towards front).

See pics. #1 show broken red wire. Common failure mode. #2, 3, 4 show what I did (and what IMO is necessary to repair and revise in order for it to last. Need to support connection to control chip and prevent wires from flexing there. Force wire to flex inside seat foam and use super flexible wire.

Nice pic and repair info. Good to know whereas my 2017 seat failed last year and was replaced under 5 year warranty!
Great DIY job utilizing same element.

 

[cannondale27]

My Heat Demon lasted 2 seasons then shorted burning a hole right through seat cover. I miss it. Was perfect temp for the grades or slow long miles. If being active in corners it never got warm enough to matter. Basically you have to sit in one spot to feel the heat. I went right to battery with fuse and it had a connector so removing seat was easy. I added a light to circuit to avoid leaving it on and draining battery.

 

[Vmaxkid]

Is your experience with a yamacat heater that was factory installed? I see you show as having a ZR9000 limited. I believe the limited comes with heated seat from factory. And if so you have a completely different main wiring harness than someone looking to add a seat heater. Like on the DX Yamaha models that are factory equipped with heaters. Take a look at part #s for main harnesses between a DX sidewinder and a SE and you’ll see different part numbers because they equip the DX harness with a plug for the seat.

 

[Teamblue4]

my 19 LTX SE doesn't have a factory plug at the battery for the heated seat plug.

 

[Vmaxkid]

Right. It’s a different harness and from my understanding in adding the heated seat after the fact they want you to plug into the accessory port that’s on the right side. Again, which I’ve used for 3 other items.

 

[DMCTurbo]

My heated seat has worked flawlessly for 10000 kms.

 

[hellflyer]

My 16 viper Le had the heated seat and it lasted for 6900 km until I traded it in last spring. I bought an SE sidewinder this year and I think I'm going to miss the heated seat so I also I'm looking for options.It was great for those late nights coming home after a long day of riding and it drops down to -30 Celsius.

 

[Turboflash]

Is your experience with a yamacat heater that was factory installed? I see you show as having a ZR9000 limited. I believe the limited comes with heated seat from factory. And if so you have a completely different main wiring harness than someone looking to add a seat heater. Like on the DX Yamaha models that are factory equipped with heaters. Take a look at part #s for main harnesses between a DX sidewinder and a SE and you’ll see different part numbers because they equip the DX harness with a plug for the seat.

You are correct. The "LTD" OEM package included a heated seat amoung other things. Without that option, there would not be a factory-installed plug near battery.

 

[jonlafon1]

Heat demon. 7200 miles. Just make sure you put a fuse in. I ran straight to battery. With just on off basic model. Good product. Only issue is remember to turn off. I know most run off through key ingnition to prevent leaving it on.

 

[cr8zybaby]

Heat demon. 7200 miles. Just make sure you put a fuse in. I ran straight to battery. With just on off basic model. Good product. Only issue is remember to turn off. I know most run off through key ingnition to prevent leaving it on.

I know it's been a minute but I just bought the heat demon 2311030 with just the on-off switch not the high low.
Is this the one you installed and did you still have good luck with it? Also, I was wondering if you knew what size fuse you used I'm thinking a pretty small one. These are discontinued but I got one anyway off of eBay brand new. I opened the package and there's a warning label that says not for use on snowmobiles. I'm thinking as long as it doesn't get soaking wet and I put the correct fuse in I should be all right. Thoughts??

 

[DMCTurbo]

I installed one on my dad's viper. Worked great.

 

[jonlafon1]

I love these!!!! Have been using for years. I checked my fuse it’s a 7.5 amp. I will be buying 2-3 of these if they are no longer available. DO NOT ever knee your seat so you speak. You know put one knee into seat while tooling around or pulling off trailer. ONLY one time I ever had an issue with these heaters. I knee my seat and broke wires. I just put one on last year on a new catalyst 600 for the wife.