Help with Hard-Wiring Wet Okole Seat Heaters

Hey guys,

i just got my new seat covers installed, and now I'm looking to get the seat heaters hard-wired. The wet okole heaters have a 12v cigarette style plug with and inline hi, low, and off switch. I'm wondering if I'd be able to get a switch like this https://www.amazon.com/Sunautobuy-U...1507416229&sr=8-3&keywords=seat+heater+switch and cut off the existing 12V plug and switch assembly. From what I've researched each seat heater draws 10amps. Will I need a relay? Here's a picture of the switch assembly.

 

and a picture of the switch assembly pulled apart

 

I'm gonna do a shameless bump here. Kinda surprised no one has hard-wired these seat heaters before

 

Can`t speak for any but me Not really into the heated seat scene .

Since I venture the circuit protection is in the plug you will need to add that to your circuit .

Will you be wiring this direct to a 12VDC source or to switched power??

Want to use a relay by all means go for it making sure to get one rated for the current draw you have .

As cheap as those switches are I would buy a few

 

I'm going to try to wire it directly in. I'll probably tap into the inverter wiring or something near by. I'm just not sure if that board regulates heat or not. I'd love to ditch it of possible, but dont want to screw anything up.

 

That board is controlling the high and low settings. You can try measuring the voltage output in each switch setting to see what it's doing.

 

That makes perfect sense. I'll do that when I get a chance. Right now, I'm thinking of detaching the switch from the board and wiring one in like the one I posted. I just hate the look of the controller WO uses. Once I get it all figured out, I'll do a write-up so the people who get the seat heater option will have a good idea how to hard wire it all in.

 

Yea that seems like the easiest option. Just hide the board somewhere safe.

 

any Updates? I am interested in doing this as well... can you wash them with the covers as well or will this limit that?

 

I have a full write up started here:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/hard-wiring-wet-okole-seat-heaters-01-04-tacoma.565131/

Will take a few days to get everything posted.

 

I just purchased a set of WO seat covers for our '03 TJ and was equally disappointed in the controllers. While searching for alternate controllers and switches, I came across this thread.
Like you, I purchased the same type of universal switches and was just going to bypass the WO switch, but i learned that the WO controller actully switches the ground, and that was going to render the hi/lo LEDs on the new switches inoperable w/o some additional wiring and components.
Your write up provided me with exactly what I needed. Thanks for taking the time to put this together.