Electric fan controls, custom
#1
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I'm currently planning the electric fan upgrade, dual electrics in place of the belt-driven fan. Subject to change, my current thoughts are to run the electric pusher fan anytime the AC compressor is engaged, and to tie the new fans essentially into the existing circuits. However, since the replacement fans each put out double the CFM of the existing pusher, I'm looking for practical, simple ways of acheiving something in between the "All" or "nothing" offered by this approach.
I think that adapting the fan control circuits from a later car is a bit more than I want to do. I think having one fan come on at a reasonable temp and having the second come on if temps continue to rise would be a reasonable compromise.
Has anyone found a dual-stage temp switch that will replace the stocker? I'm thinking of setting it up so that one fan comes on at ~80°C and the second at ~90°C, give or take a bit. I did search the archives and found nothing about this type of mod.
If someone could point me to a switch that could do this, obviously that would be ideal. But if someone could post the thread diameter and pitch of the stock unit that would be immensely helpful as well.
I think that adapting the fan control circuits from a later car is a bit more than I want to do. I think having one fan come on at a reasonable temp and having the second come on if temps continue to rise would be a reasonable compromise.
Has anyone found a dual-stage temp switch that will replace the stocker? I'm thinking of setting it up so that one fan comes on at ~80°C and the second at ~90°C, give or take a bit. I did search the archives and found nothing about this type of mod.
If someone could point me to a switch that could do this, obviously that would be ideal. But if someone could post the thread diameter and pitch of the stock unit that would be immensely helpful as well.
#2
Burning Brakes
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I will one up you on that.
Do a search on Jeg's for electric 12V fan controllers. You will find there is one that is temp sensitive. This means that they both run simultaneously but they spin faster based on the temp of the sensor.
They are about 85.00. I haven't gotten one yet but I plan on it in the next little while.
The dual fans kicking in at full blast at the same time is pronunced and maybe taxing on the electrical system.
Cheers
EDIT:
here is the link
http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerc...51&prmenbr=361
Do a search on Jeg's for electric 12V fan controllers. You will find there is one that is temp sensitive. This means that they both run simultaneously but they spin faster based on the temp of the sensor.
They are about 85.00. I haven't gotten one yet but I plan on it in the next little while.
The dual fans kicking in at full blast at the same time is pronunced and maybe taxing on the electrical system.
Cheers
EDIT:
here is the link
http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerc...51&prmenbr=361
#3
Nordschleife Master
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I recently added a 16" Perma cool electric fan. The way my Tech wired it was pretty cool.
In short my Tech spliced the wires leading to the Electric Condenser Fan - (The Plug in at top)
He then added a relay, to allow the new fan to kick on when the condenser fan kicked on.
He then wired the positive power wire to the terminal post within the engine compartment utilizing a 30 amp fuse. I now have dual 16" electric fans on my 84 - One pushing and one pulling -
I did omit the A/C unit (even the condenser) and pushed the condenser fan closer to the radiator.
Pictures enclosed -
The relay, The Power Supply with Fuse and the fan Itself.
Hope this Helps
In short my Tech spliced the wires leading to the Electric Condenser Fan - (The Plug in at top)
He then added a relay, to allow the new fan to kick on when the condenser fan kicked on.
He then wired the positive power wire to the terminal post within the engine compartment utilizing a 30 amp fuse. I now have dual 16" electric fans on my 84 - One pushing and one pulling -
I did omit the A/C unit (even the condenser) and pushed the condenser fan closer to the radiator.
Pictures enclosed -
The relay, The Power Supply with Fuse and the fan Itself.
Hope this Helps
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#4
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Dave - I did the S4 electric fan upgrade on my '82. I removed all the AC components (since they weren't working anyway) including the pusher fan in front. I bought 2 radiator fan thermal controllers (one for each fan) from a local auto parts store. The fan switches use a thermal probe (inserted between the fins of the radiator) to activate a power relay to turn the fans full on or off. I placed one of the probes near the inlet hose. It was a little unnerving pushing the probe in at first but it went right in no problem. I'ts been working fine for over a year now. For the second fan I used the factory thermal switch located the bottom front driverside of the radiator, since I'm not using the factory thermal switch for the pusher fan in front anymore. This minimizes the chance that both fans will turn on at exatly the same time. The S4 factory fans pull almost 30Amps each! I used the jumper post to get 12V to power the fans. The power relay in the kit also had an auxiliary input to activate the fans so I wired in some switches under the dash so I can manually operate the fans if need be. This aux. input could be wired to the AC solenoid so the fans are activated when the AC is turned on. Let me know if you need any more details. Good Luck!
#5
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Thanks for the info, guys... I didn't like the idea of a probe shoved between the radiator fins, but that might be OK. Another possibility might be to simply put a 5 sec or so time delay on one fan so they don't start at the same time.
I've done a bit more research... I've been told that there is a Hayden fan that mounts right up to the factory mount, but later I had a chance to look under my hood and I think it's pretty clear that I have a different setup(story of my life with this shark). I looked at Ron's 86.5 and he has a stamped frame and wire cage where I have what appears to be a cast aluminum shroud. I stopped at Pep boys and they had a 14" hayden fan, not the 16", but I'm guessing they are very similar. I can see how the Hayden unit would easily attach to the later stamped frame but with mine I don't see how it can be done.
I suppose one solution would be to put a later model pusher fan on the car, but then I have that expense plus the cost of upgrading the fan itself and I'm pretty close to the cost of just slapping in a pair of Spal 16" fans.
The Spal 16" fans only draw 20 amps, and blow over 2000CFM each. Maybe this is overkill, but so far it seems to be only a bit more expensive than upgrading the pusher fan.
Bernie, that controller looks pretty neat.... I'll have to call and see if it will support 40A.
I'm still wide open to ideas, though I'm leaning toward the dual-Spal setup.
I've done a bit more research... I've been told that there is a Hayden fan that mounts right up to the factory mount, but later I had a chance to look under my hood and I think it's pretty clear that I have a different setup(story of my life with this shark). I looked at Ron's 86.5 and he has a stamped frame and wire cage where I have what appears to be a cast aluminum shroud. I stopped at Pep boys and they had a 14" hayden fan, not the 16", but I'm guessing they are very similar. I can see how the Hayden unit would easily attach to the later stamped frame but with mine I don't see how it can be done.
I suppose one solution would be to put a later model pusher fan on the car, but then I have that expense plus the cost of upgrading the fan itself and I'm pretty close to the cost of just slapping in a pair of Spal 16" fans.
The Spal 16" fans only draw 20 amps, and blow over 2000CFM each. Maybe this is overkill, but so far it seems to be only a bit more expensive than upgrading the pusher fan.
Bernie, that controller looks pretty neat.... I'll have to call and see if it will support 40A.
I'm still wide open to ideas, though I'm leaning toward the dual-Spal setup.