12v seat heater?

[MESSMAKER]

I am getting ready for colder weather and a couple of people asked if I would clear their parking lot and or driveway if we get a big snow . It is hit and miss in KY. Do they make a seat heater that you can plug in to help out a little when you don;t have a cab. The ones I see are only for inside the cab use.

 

[Ivan1547]

I don't think it would be a good idea.

The seat would get warm and melt the snow causing you to probably get wet and even more cold.

 

[whitedogone]

CALESCO NORELLS

http://www.calesco-norells.com/PDFs/Seat Heater_14.pdf

 

[RickB]

Here's a hint from a New Yorker with a 1/4 mile driveway and no cab. Forget your butt and keep your hands, feet, and face (somewhat) warm. My *** is the least of my concerns when plowing snow.

 

[Inspector507]

I have seen seat massage/heat units that plug into a power outlet for cars and trucks. Might try something like that.

 

[bota7800]

Why not get a pair of insulated overalls or coveralls? I used Carhartt overalls in more severe WX than KY likely has with good results.

RickB is correct about hands, head and feet. Sorels, good gloves, and overalls kept me warm in subzero WX.

 

[PILOON]

My plastic seat was torn up and having some leather on hand I traced and sewed a new seat.
Was simply amazed at the new comfort level with a leather seat cover.
Guess it is because it breathes.
In the -25 deg colds you simply don't get that 'icy shock' that the plastics give and on hot summer days you don't fry your butt either.

 

[patrick_g]

My plastic seat was torn up and having some leather on hand I traced and sewed a new seat.
Was simply amazed at the new comfort level with a leather seat cover.
Guess it is because it breathes.
In the -25 deg colds you simply don't get that 'icy shock' that the plastics give and on hot summer days you don't fry your butt either.

You used to be able to find electrically heated surplus flying suits. You can buy electric socks. Some motorcyclists make their own electrically heated long handles (they are available store bought but are not cheap.) They thread a fine flexible wire with hi-grade insulation through the longies. You can put wires closer together where you are colder like in the arms and lower legs. A good way to control the heat is with a duty cycle proportional thingy, not a rheostat. Basically the same control as is used in variable speed cordless drills. If you cannibalize the trigger switch from a junked cordless variable speed tool, the kind with the little twist adjustment for setting the speed, you'd be in business.

Service centers probably throw stuff like that in the trash all the time. Wire it to your 12 volt system as the input and the output goes to your electric underwear. You need to use a great enough length of wire of a small enough gauge to ensure you don't put too heavy of a load on the controller. When an electric current passes through the wire it is heated. You regulate the current (and the heating) with the cannibalized speed control.

I have a solid state windshield wiper speed control accessory added to my VW dune buggy which has 6 volt wiper motor. I can vary the speed from stopped to way faster than stock (0-12 volts on a 6 volt motor.) IT would do the heat control job.

You can Google for info on heated motorcycle clothing (store bought or DIY.)

Their are electrically heated gloves too, both new and military surplus.

Patrick

 

[Mace Canute]

If you could devise a way to keep it from breaking apart and sliding off the seat, a thin piece of white styrofoam works wonders! It insulates you from the seat and after just a few seconds, it's as if you were sitting on a heated surface, no kiddin! I remember back in the 60s they sold a commercial product for autos and trucks that was exactly that, just a half-inch thick piece inside a flexible white plastic cover. Anybody recall those? Slippery as all get-out on the seats but, they did work.

 

[korydz]

I've been thinking about the same thing. I get out of my nice warm Chevy Avalanche with heated leather seats and on to a cold tractor seat. There are aftermarket seat heaters made to retrofit into automotive seats, but all the ones I could find were too big for a tractor seat. I think the snow melting on it might be a problem too.

The guys I ride with (motorcycle sport touring) wear heated vests and gloves. I think this is likely the most practical solution for active heating. You can get them with controls and thermostats built in and their made ruggedly for motorcycling. I can't remember the cost, but a couple of hundred dollars sounds right.

The other addition could be a motorcycle/snowmobile helmet with a heated visor. The helmet will keep you warm and the heat in the visor will keep it from fogging/frosting up.