Coffeelandy

Well-Known Member

• Nov 11, 2015

• #1

Gents,
I've wired in my Mazda RX8 seats to a permanant live with a 20amp fuse inline, they work perfectly. I haven't wired up the seat heaters into this circuit by the way. That'll go to a switch off of ignition and a seperate relay.
I was a little paranoid about electrical fires so I decided to have a go at putting a relay in for the seat movement.
I set this up as permanent live, 20 amp inline fuse and then to the relay but the seats won't move now. Is it overkill putting the relay in, what am I doing wrong?

 

wammers

No longer with us, RIP

Donater

• Nov 11, 2015

• #2

What are you using to switch the power supply relay?

 

Coffeelandy

Well-Known Member

• Nov 11, 2015

• #3

Alright Royal, glad you replied! Bear in mind I'm a total novice at all this, I assumed the seat movement buttons would behave as switches, did I assume incorrectly?

 

Dan_Trials

Well-Known Member

• Nov 11, 2015

• #4

Think of the relay as a switch that is operated by electrical current. A simple 4 pin relay will have 2 pins that you use for the switching circuit, and the other 2 for what ever you are powering. You would need to have a supply from your switch to the relay, this will "turn the relay on" which will then supply power to you seats.

 

Discokids

Well-Known Member

• Nov 11, 2015

• #5

Why are you using a queer relay? A normal one would do

 

blue beasty

Leaks an prone to bits dropping off

• Nov 11, 2015

• #6

This should help https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/basic-relay-info.48117/

And wires should be rated higher than fuses. Wires acting as fuses is what causes fires

 

Coffeelandy

Well-Known Member

• Nov 12, 2015

• #7

Discokids said:

Why are you using a queer relay? A normal one would do

Click to expand...

Hahaha took me a while to realise my spelling error.

 

Coffeelandy

Well-Known Member

• Nov 12, 2015

• #8

blue beasty said:

And wires should be rated higher than fuses. Wires acting as fuses is what causes fires

Click to expand...

Awesome, thanks Mate that does help a lot. I wonder if a 5 pin relay would work for me. I'll try it out and let you know the results. Will the seat movement switches behave as a switch for the relay though? Maybe they aren't triggering it? I'll change the fuse too! You just may have prevented my Landy from catching fire!!!!

 

potus

Well-Known Member

• Nov 13, 2015

• #9

Maybe worth getting someone to help you with the wiring ?, guessing may result in blowing more than a fuse.

 

Coffeelandy

Well-Known Member

• Nov 13, 2015

• #10

potus said:

Maybe worth getting someone to help you with the wiring ?, guessing may result in blowing more than a fuse.

Click to expand...

I think you're right it's not too scary to deal with the movement but if I do the heated seats bit wrongly I think there's a major fire risk there as I'm guessing they draw some decent juice.

 

Last edited: Nov 13, 2015

FlyingPete

Well-Known Member

• Nov 13, 2015

• #11

It sounds like the switches aren't getting power due to the relay being in the circuit, and hence not energising the relay to turn on the power supply.

How were they wired in the original vehicle? I suspect the seats themselves already have relays built into them to switch the motor power. If this is the case, they'd just be wired with a continuous fused live. It's worth finding the original wiring diagram so you can see what's needed.

 

Coffeelandy

Well-Known Member

• Nov 14, 2015

• #12

Yep you're bang on the money I found a diagram on a Mazda forum. That simplifies things a lot. Thanks for the tip.